At Love's Cost

"Sold?" echoed Ida. "I would like to buy it."

She spoke on the impulse of the moment; but Mr. Wordley did not seem at

all surprised, and only smiled as he responded:

"I know no reason why you should not, my dear Miss Ida. I am not sure

that it would be a good investment; but if you've a fancy for it, I

will enquire into the matter. Yes; certainly you can buy if you want to

do so."

Long after he had gone Ida sat, leaning forward in her chair and gazing

at the fire. Stafford was now Lord Highcliffe, a peer, but poor and a

wanderer. She started: was it really he whom she had seen on the cattle

steamer? Then they had been near each other, had looked into each

other's eyes! Perhaps she would never seem him again--but, ah, yes! it

was quite probable she would, for was he not engaged to the wealthy

Miss Falconer, and would he not come back to marry her? The following

evening she received a short note from Mr. Wordley: it informed her

that the Villa was not for sale. It had been purchased by Mr. Falconer

for his daughter.