Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1898-02-21
CHAPTER X.


81 am so glad to see you'll she ex-
claimed impulsively as she came into
the library and kissed him affectionate-
1y.
tsI thought you would be- said the
banker, taking a seat. $ read the news
at lunch and my wife and l both
thought it was my duty to hasten out
at once. presume you would like to
come over to us. Your room is always
yeady, you know"
Miss Hastings moved uneasily in her
chair.
'sUncle, I don't see how I could
leave Just now under the circum-
stances" she said "You know Alice
and 1 are great friends, and it would be
cruel to desert her at such time when
even her aunt is away"
Mr.. Hastings gave her cold glance
of disagreement.
''But," he said, suspicion has fall
en- on the family. The papers are full
of speculation and dark hints. I am
sure your father would insist on my
taking you home if he knew the situa-
ton. I want to do, you see, as should
like him to act for me under STELLAR
circumstances.
"Suspicicn has fallen OH some one
here?" gasped Miss Hastings. ''Surely
you are mistaken. Why, who"-
''It is very vague at present" an
Ewered the tanker, 'but it looks very
squally for the son-what's his name?-
Ralph. You see, his father was heavily
irsured-more than $3.50, 600, it is said
and the young man is his heir and
badly in need of ready money. They
say he is pretty wild and sort Of come
easy, go easy chap, with coed many
debts hanging over him. "
81 don't believe a word of it. - The
young lady clinched her hand and to
give emphasis to her words almost
stood up "He may be-Mr. Benton
may be in debt-most young men are
but he is the very soul of honor. You
don't know him. The public does not
know him, else it would never dream
of accusing him. The ideal It's alb
surd. -
''That may all be as you say" re-
piled the banker, somewhat nettled,
@@but suspicion has fallen on him, and
until be has got from under it l do
not intend to have Hastings mixed
up in it. Why, have already been
asked three times today if you are
relative of mine, and it has been en-
barrassing to admit that my own niece
is visiting a family about which thee
is so much unpleasant gossip. 1t is So /
that old Benton and his children never
could agree and that they lived like
cats and dogs -
$50 they have even got that into the
papers, said Miss Hastings. Nothing
is sacred nowadays. / know this, uncle
Ralph-Mr. Benton-has had a word
of trouble with his father, who Vi IS
really losing his mind, and the trouble
Alice has had with her aunt and her
father has almost killed her."
cit is certainly no place for you,
said Mr.. Hastings sternly, land l
have come to take you to your aunt's.
The morning papers shall at least sly
that you have gone. I will not have it
any other way"
"You are not my guardian, If you
are my uncle" replied Miss Hastings
with spirit. Il shall not desert my best
friends at such a time just to crafty a
whim of yours.
The banker grew red with anger.
y
scampp' he cried furiously. 'You need
not deny it,
81 am engaged to Mr.. Ralph Ben
ton," was the cold reply, land the en-
gagement is as sacred to me as mar
riage You will not now expect me to
prove false at such time. +"
Mr.. Hastings took a deep breath.
''Does your father know of this?'' he
asked.
''No. Ralph wanted to write TO him
a week ago. but as he intended to 60 to
Boston on business in few days I per-
suaded him to wait and see papa per-
sonally."
''Well, you have got-you-self into a
pretty pickle is all 1 have to say re-
turned the banker, rising to his feet.
t'You have too much of your fathers
stubbornness to be moved by any argu-
ment, so / shall not make myself ridic-
ulous by persisting in trying to bring
you to your senses. No young man of
any true feeling would allow young
lady to remain here under such circum-
stances
HE limited to me only half an hour
ago that it might be well for me to go
to you" answered Miss Hastings, ''but
told him it was my desire to remain
with his sister, at least till some one
could take my place as her companion. F"
81 shall write your father at once, "
said Mr.. Hastings. eff he should come
over, presume
81 should not leave here now if all
the relatives L have on earth should i'm
plore me on their Bonded knees was
10
and red by turns from suppressed an
ger, Mr.. Hastings left the house and
stepped into a cab at the door.
Miss Hastings sank into chair,
overcome with weakness from her en-