"And plenty of selling races bargain Shall I take you at your word, Miss Lammas ? "

" ," she answered

"Since you yourself advise me, Miss Lammas, do me the honor to marry me ? "

first time in my life the blood rushed to my head and my sight swam tell why it It useless to explain the extraordinary fascination the girl exercised over me, or the still more extraordinary feeling of intimacy with her which had grown in me during that half hour Lonely, sad, unlucky as I all my life, certainly not timid, nor even shy But to propose to marry woman after half an hour's acquaintance was piece of madness I never believed myself capable, and never be capable again, could I be placed same situation my whole being changed in moment by magic-- white magic of her nature brought into contact with mine The blood sank back to my heart, and moment later myself staring at her with anxious eyes To my amazement she was as calm as ever, but her beautiful mouth smiled, and mischievous light in her dark-brown eyes

"Fairly caught," she answered "For an individual who pretends listless and sad lacking in humor I had really not the least idea what you were going Wouldn't it be singularly awkward if I had said 'Yes' ? I never saw anybody begin to practice so sharply preached to him--with so very little loss ! "

"You probably never met man who had dreamed of you for seven months before being introduced "

"No, I never did," she answered gayly "It smacks romantic Perhaps romantic character, after all think you were if I believed you ; taken my advice, entered for Stranger's Race and lost it Try the All-aged Trial Stakes another cuff, and pencil Propose to Aunt Bluebell; dance with astonishment, and she might recover her hearing "

III

That was how I first asked Margaret Lammas my wife, agree with anyone who says I behaved very foolishly But repented of it, and I never shall understood that out mind that evening, but my temporary insanity occasion has had the effect of making me saner man Her manner turned my head, for so different from what I had expected To hear this lovely creature, who, in my imagination, was heroine of romance, of tragedy, talking familiarly and laughing readily was more than my equanimity could bear, and I lost my head as my heart But when I went back to England spring, I went certain arrangements Castle--certain changes and improvements which absolutely necessary I had won the race I had entered myself so rashly, and we were married in June

Whether the change was due orders I had left gardener rest servants, or to my own state of mind, tell At all events, the old place look the same when I opened my window morning after my arrival There were the gray walls below me gray turrets flanking the huge building; there were the fountains, the marble causeways, the smooth basins, the tall box hedges, the water lilies swans, just as of old But something else there, too-- something air, water, and greenness that recognize--a light over everything everything was transfigured The clock tower struck seven, strokes ancient bell sounded like wedding chime The air sang thrilling treble song-birds, silvery music plashing water softer harmony leaves stirred fresh morning wind smell of new-mown hay distant meadows, and of blooming roses beds below, wafted up together to my window I stood pure sunshine and drank the air and all the sounds odors that were ; and I looked down at my garden and said: " Paradise, after all " the men of old were right called heaven garden, and Eden garden inhabited by one man and one woman, the Earthly Paradise

I turned away, wondering what had become gloomy memories I had always associated with my home I tried to recall the impression nurse's horrible prophecy death parents--an impression which hitherto vivid enough I tried to remember my old self, my dejection, my listlessness, my bad luck, my petty disappointments I endeavored to force myself as I used , if only to satisfy myself that I lost my individuality But I succeeded in none efforts different man, changed being, incapable of sorrow, of ill luck, or of sadness My life dream, not evil, but infinitely gloomy and hopeless now reality, full of hope, gladness, and all manner of good My home like tomb; to-day Paradise My heart it existed; to-day it beat with strength and youth certainty of realized happiness I reveled beauty world, and called loveliness future to enjoy it before time should bring it , as traveler plains looks mountains, and already tastes the cool air dust road

Here, , live and live for years There sit fountain toward evening and deep moonlight Down those paths wander together On those benches rest and talk Among those eastern hills ride soft twilight, and old house tell tales on winter nights, logs burn high, holly berries are red, old clock tolls out the dying year old steps, dark passages and stately rooms, one day be the sound of little pattering feet, and laughing child voices will ring vaults ancient hall Those tiny footsteps slow and sad as mine were, nor shall the childish words be spoken in an awed whisper No gloomy Welshwoman shall people the dusky corners with weird horrors, nor utter horrid prophecies of death and ghastly things All shall be young, and fresh, and joyful, and happy, and turn the old luck again, and forget that ever any sadness

So , as I looked out window that morning and for many mornings , and every day it all seemed more real than ever before, and much nearer But the old nurse looked at me askance, and muttered odd sayings Woman Water I cared little what she said, for far too happy

At last the time came near wedding Lady Bluebell and all the tribe of Bluebells, as Margaret called them, were at Bluebell Grange, for we had determined married country, and straight Castle afterwards We cared little for traveling, and not at all for crowded ceremony at St George's in Hanover Square, with all the tiresome formalities afterwards I used to ride over Grange every day, and very often Margaret would come with her aunt and some of her cousins Castle suspicious own taste, and was only too glad to let her have her way alterations and improvements home

We were married thirtieth of July, and evening twenty-eighth Margaret drove over with Bluebell party long summer twilight we all went out garden Naturally enough, Margaret and I were left to ourselves, and we wandered down marble basins

" an odd coincidence," ; " very night last year that I first saw you "

"Considering the month of July," answered Margaret with laugh, " here almost every day, I don't think the coincidence is so extraordinary, after all "

"No, dear," said I, "I suppose not I don't know why it struck me very likely be here year from today, and year The odd thing, when of it, here at all But my luck has turned I ought not anything odd that happens now that I all sure good "

"A slight change in your ideas since that remarkable performance of yours in Paris," said Margaret " , you were the most extraordinary man I had ever met "