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 LOST IN THE VALLEY. and mocb more Binned agunat than Blnnii*" ^118 wu BCKTcely the critirasm Manrice cared to hear paued npoa his Aitnre wife. He remembaiM that at one time he had been moat anzioDs to hear what Dr. Grantley knew and thought of her. Now, however, all he cared to know concemiDg her he decided he woold learn from her own lip& It seemed profanation to hear hex diecnBsed in this cud-blooded vay. "I hare btonght something to show yoo," he sud, orossing to Mrs. O'Hara ; " a ring I hare just bonght for the lady I am g(xng to many." "Yon are very yoong to think of matrying," she said, smiling kindly. " Not a bit too yonng," atM the Doctor briskly. " I don't mjam believe in a man taking the edge off his affections before he oettles down to enjoy them. As soon as a man is old enough to love and rich enongh to keep a wife, let him marry a nice girl, and gain his firat experience of women bom the best Man was not meant to live aloae." "Snre, Doctor, yon do,"sud Kathleen slyly. " Yes, bat that's my misfortime, not my fitnlt. Miss O'Hara." "And may we know the lady's name, Mr. WQde 1 " his hoetees asked, when she had admired the rin^ "Yes," end Maurice. "Yon all know her. Her name is Eveline Dooglas." fTRkV uat TT. Maurice's announcement was received by all present in a manner not particularly flattering to himsell First, dead silence; then surprise from all ; and quite violent indignation from one at least. " It is imposrible 1 absurd I Yon don't know what you are talking about, young man," exclaimed Dr. Grantley, in a fit of uneontrellable excitement "Eveline Douglas, marry you ! I never heard of such a thing. To begin with, she's years older than yon are " "Evelina's only stx-and-twenty, Doctor," interposed Kathleen. " Seven-and-twenty," corrected Manrice, " and I am twenty-three. If I find there's not too much difference between our ages, surely no one eUe has a right to object" "And how long have yon known her, pray!" Dr. Grantley inquired. "Just s s s s s

s

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about five weeks. Do yon think it is wise s to choose a companion for a lifetime from five weeks' acquaintance t " " I have not known you five days. Dr. GranUoy," stud Maurice coldly. "When I have, possibly I may recognise yonr right to catechise me as you are doing now." Dr. Grantley turned very red, and began to walk up and down the room. s Maurice roae to take his leave. As he did so, Norah jumped np impulsively ; " Sure, it was a surprise to us," she said. "We none of us thought Eveline would s marry again. But the is the sweetest woman that ever lived, and I am cett^ s she will make yon happy. Never mind the Doctor. I believe he was in love with her himself," she whispered conltdentiaUy. Kathleen and MrsL O'Hara joined in Norah's congratulations, and Maurice left, a little comforted, bowing coldly to the Doctor, who, as soon as uae door closed upon him, turned upon the ladies. "That's inst like yon women. Goneratnlating him indeed I Why, yon must s know you are sony for him in your hearts. What will his parents say, and what will s he say himself when it iJl oomes out I And, of course, she has told him nothing. Eveline is the greatest coward I know. s And she is so ndiculonsly weak-minded that, in any case, this boy would be the worst sort of husband for her. If she'^ s such a goose as to want to get married E^un, after her first enerience, it's not a child like tiiat she ouglkt to choose, but a man of the wwld, who knows her history, and is capable of guiding her, s and " "A man like yourself, for instance. Doctor," Buwested Norah archly. "Well, Miss Norah, she might do worse," said Dr. Grantley, and seinng his hat, he left the house, to vent his illhumour upon a dyspeptic patient Daring the two ensuing days Manrice found bemg engaged far more interesting than he had ever anticipated, and, now s that he was going to manjy her himself, he found Eveline's total silence on the subject of the merits or demerits of her former husbuid an unmixed blessing. He had a horribly bad face certainly, in Us picture, Maurice tlkoiight, and was probably a great brute to her. He himself grew fonder of her every moment If she had been fiucinating as a s friend, she was simply irresistibte as a s s s s s s s s s s