The state republican. (Jefferson City, Mo.) 1871-1896, 1894-12-06

N'iiN - VIZ "AA' 'oaN
the subject, and he tells me he does
not think there is any danger of his
daughters refusing you. So, for
goodness sake, donot let us have
any more fuss about the matter. No
more hating, Clement, or you will
make me quite i'll. | insist desire
that you propose to Lady Gertrude
Tonight"
Clement did not answer at once,
he looked so terribly troubled that it
almost seemed as if his voice were
not under his control. 1t al not
until Sir Louis, speaking much more
shrilly as he went on, cried out
"To-night, Clement, dye hear,
to night,' that Clement reused
himself from the stupor into which
his uncle's command had thrown
him.
lie looked at the old baronet and
was startled by tho appearance of
his features. Contradiction had
made him livid, and his eyes looked
| so sttang and .bloodshot that Glenn
ent began to fear he would have a fit.
lie must be soothed at any price.
"To-night," murmured the young
er man. eyes, to night, | will speak
to Lady Gertrude.n
The reaction from annoyance to
pleasure was almost too much for
Sir Louis, and for two or three min
utcs he sat gasping as though for
breath.
Yes. he was quite right: il this
marriage was to take place during
his life ii must come about quickly.
Clement saw this now for the first
time, and he turned pale at the
thought.
Sir Louis, however, did not per-
ccIve his emotion. Had he done so
ne would probably have attributed it
to regret at seeing his dear uncle
suffer.
Far was it from Sin Louis to read
between the lines with Lady Marcia
Foljambe's quickness, and decide
that there was a mystery and a Sc
cret affecting Clement Dunravan's
life.
Yet even poor blind Sir Louis
could scarcely have failed to see that
there was something very much
amiss had he seen Clement when
having assured himself that his uncle
had recovered his equilibrium he
some ten minutes later, strolled GU
into the grounds.
''To-night,n he repeated, ''to
night at Lady Foljamhe's ball
Great heaven! if only to-nigh
+ would never come. What can | d
to avert this climax"
He looked at the placid waters c
, Che lake which was one of the beau
a, ties of Aboyne Court. Yes, tina
would end the difficulty without
/. doubt; but Clement loved life, h
, loved the good things of this world
and he could not make up his min
to tear himself away from them.
j, Had he not done so, it would hav
been easy to refuse this narriag
with Lady Gertrude Nerschoyle an
forrgo his heirship, but ii he did thi
he would be penniless, and to b
puuuiless meant no more luxurie,
no more indulgence in pleasan
vices, and this would be most antag
ouistic to his pampered tastes.
NO; he must find some way out {
his present dilemma without offend
. ing his uncle but how-great pow
crs!-how? What was to be done
3 lie had been a fool, a great foo,
, and he deserved to pay for his folly
=, Yet it was hard that he should b
. called upon to marry this stated
, Lady Gertrude N~erschoyle, who wa
by no means to his taste.
+ He never for a moment considere
Lady Gertrude as he surveyed tn
+ situation, or what her position woul
p. be if he condescended to marry he
I for very assuredly he would nj
f render her life a bed of roses
8 lie decided that she and HI
p father, the Earl, had induced S
Louis to bring about this marriat
t and by Jove, she should pay for it!
II But post-nuptial revenge won
n not do him much good.
"If only she would die,n l
IS muttered, so terrible was his strai
SC bitter the hatred that he DO
d poor inofiensive Lady Gertrud
e who was a charming, unselfsh gil
It with one fault, that she loved ham
some, weak, halting Clement DuI
II raven. And he did not love he
had he done SC she would have be-
a piece of perfection in his eyes, {
II she was a dainty morsel, for viii
al more than one good fellow pine
II Pierce Vaughan among the rest.
ID But was Pierce Vaughan a go
he fellow?
All that was a riddle which
rs one had as yet guessed to their 81
~ isfaction. Steady going and no,
~ as in all outward appearance he W
lg more than one of his acquaintan'
III said that he was bad to the core.
Between the two cousins thu
ou was no love lost, but that prov