The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1886-04-14
CHAPTER vIu.-CoNT1NUEp.

connolsseur. g Her eyes are like Ar
thurs. Clara, what makes children
like their fathers and mothers? Am
like papa9'
eyes, DEAR" said the mother, bend
ing over the child and feigning to ar.
range some trifie of its dress to hide
her eyes, "you are very like him."
"Clara," the child asked, suddenly,
didn't you like Gorbay better than
Londonp"
"Yes, dear; much BETTER
81 didn't like the last place.
said the child. at was very nasty
and the old woman was nasty. This is
better; but l like Gorbay better, and
Tregarthen is lovely. Shall we 60 back
to Tregarthen? Why do the people all
call Arthur the same name as the Isl.
andp'
Her sister had not the heart to for.
babe her these themes, but allowed her
to ramble on, and answered her when
she could. In the midst of the child S
clatter Lorrimer was announced.
81 have brought an agreement, ma
DAM" he said, after fatherly salu-
tation. 81 have had it drawn up by a
lawyer, and before you sign it, Ishould
advise you to consult legal adviser on
your own side. There's nothing like
having this sort of matter fairly under
stood at the beginning, and this little
document binds us both for three years.
So you see, it's question of some i'm
ls !
your interests are properly looked
after. It's in duplicate, you observe;
and all that is to be done is for me to
sign your copy and you to sign mine.
Now, when can you see your lawyer?"
Let me see the document, Mr.. Lor-
Timer," she answered; and he handing
it to her, she read it through. 81 think
understand it well enough" she said
then; land lam sure I can trust YOU,
sir
Madam" said Lorrimer, with the
confidential family adviser manner
strongly marked, ''trust nobody. No
body. know no more fatal habit than
that of confidence"
Mrs. Tregarthen smiled quite cneer-
fully-the first time for many day.
81 quite understand the agreement"
she said; "and / am willing to bind
myself by it. think the terms you Of
fer very favorable, sir, and l hope you
will not have cause to repent them"
=" have but seen you in three char
acters, madam, returned the manager,
approaching her, pen in hand, 'sbut
there are not many men in the world
who know their business better than
George Augustus Lorrimer; and / am
pretty sure of my ground, madam
pretty sure of my ground"
At the close of this speech he handed
her the pen, with a bow, and she
signed her name at the foot of the doc
ument which lay before her. Lorrimer
drew up a chair to the table, seated
himself, and assuming pair of gold
trimmed eyeglasses, which were Of no
service to him, signed the duplicate,
like stage emperor signing away a
province.
I" There, madam!" he said, as he
arose, ''we are now bound for term
OF three years, and nothing but death
or mutual consent can separate us for
that space OF time.
Miss Lima, the sensible child had OBJ
served all this with open eyes.
" Clara" she said in whisper, at
her sisters ear, ''you haven't married
this gentleman, have youp'
No." answered Mrs. Tregarthen,
aloud; "this is a matter of business
which you can not understand.
The child caught her sisters tone,
and spoke aloud also:
" But you're not going to marry
him, are you, Clara?"
In spite of herself Mrs. Tregarthen
blushed scarlet; but Lorrimer, with an
unctuous, STACEY chuckle, stopped and
patted the child's head.
"No, my DEAR he said, with
grandfatherly information. "There is
no intention of that sort in your sisters
mind, | am sure. And for my own
part" continued Lorrimer, suddenly
quitting the grandfatherly attitude and
manner, and bowling jauntily at Mrs.
Tregarthen, Il am quite a resolved old
bachelor, and not even Miss Churchill's
inestmable charms could persuade me
to the sacrifice of liberty" He saw
vaguely that this style of waggery was
scarcely suited to the lady's taste and
became disconnected. Though am
sure" he added, by way of atonement
for possible blunder, "that if any
charms could pierce a thrice-armed
heart Miss Churchill owns them
This being no better received than
the former compliment, Lorrimer be-
came almost sheepish for a moment,
but speedily recovering himself de-
parted with the stately grace and cor
diality of a beau of the old school, re-
turning Immediately with legal air,
to secure the document signed by Mrs
Tregarthen, the which he folded and
pocketed, with business-like frown,
and then relapsing into smiles again
bowed himself away finally
That is very funny gentleman"
said Miss Lima, gravely
HE is a very good man, my darling
returned her sister, land has been very
kind to both of u.s."
She was so unworldly that no touch
OF suspicion was in her mind when she
thought of Lorrimer and the baby's
coral. 1t is probable that she would
have conceived that device to be no less
than diabolical if she had pierced its
meaning, but the manager was blown
out with pride at its own knowledge of
human nature whenever he remembered
the expedient.
"Lorrlmer," he would say, wagging
his joyial head, you know your way
about, dear boy 1t was the coral that
did the trick. You are bachelor, Lor-