The times., 1900-12-23

looking up at him lovingly. He was a
handsome man, slender in build. with
black, crisp hair clean -shayen, scholar
ly face, prominent chin, long, straight
nose, an iniiexible curve about the lips,
and eyes of n deep, luminous black-in
every way a striking contrast to his
daughter. Lotus, for ali her frank love
Of him, ever stood in no little awe of
him. Perhaps the answering obedience
OF her mother to his slightest wish had
really lent him a somewhat despojic
manner which his daughter grew to ex-
aggeTate. never having questioned it.
And during the last few years this feel
ing in her had been intensified by a habit
of moody irritability that had frequently
fallen on him. Now. seeing his grave
face and drawn brows. she rose and
moved a chair toward him.
In a few days" he said to her, going
straight to the point you will be sew
enteen. On that day l have arranged for
your betrothal to my old friend Roger
Drayton. You will then accept him as
your future husband. and your marriage
Will take place six months later. He is
rich man. and you will have everything
TO make you happy.
The girl listened to him with a paling
face and lips half-parted in dumb pro-
test. The mutinous set of her mouth as
he finished brought a sort of wonder to
his eyes.
He had all the French idea of a ia
TIERS right to arrange the marriage of
his daughter, and never for moment
had it occurred to aim that Lotus would
prove untractable. Her very conduct
hitherto in laughingly supporting his re-
lection of suitors she had apparently
liked had only served TO intensity his
opinion.
Don't let me have any scenes. beg
you," he said, anticipating her outburst
My mind is quite made up: everything
Is arranged; and my will and the care /
have had for your interests should be
for you"
But Mr.. Drayton. father"' she gasped.
an Indignant look flushing ner eyes. He
is so old,-and so very ugly. Why. he
must be as old as you are
Il am not aware that I am so very
old" he answered. stifay, rising How
ever, the matter is settled. and when
Drayton arrives l trust your common
sense viii have returned-and your cour-
tesy"
Lotus watched him talk solemnly away.
then, dropping into the great armchair,
she curled herself up and fell into a rev.
erie. AT the end Of half an hour her face
was little more flushed, and round the
d:mpling, curving lips 4 tender smile,
half-shy, but wholly Tesolute, was play
ing.
"Mananal Manana,' she whispered,
slowly. Tomorrow the betrothal-but
Then she trippcd gaily off in search Of
her cid coolie nurse and confdante. whom
all the world called Coco by reason of her
resemblance to an aged paroquet.
The day of the betrothal came. finding
Lotus in a mood of nippant obedience that
taxed her fathers patience sereIy. She
went through the public betrothal cere-
mony with mock air of roguish cocuetry |
that made her mother blink and her IA |
ther mutter strange French oaths. Dray- !
ton, however, found her enthraling. |
ana Larry. who had purposeiy been in |
Vited by Deyaine. witnessed the affair |
with stolid imperturbabilit that utterly |
discounted Mrs Devaine's suspicious
Roger Drayton. however, as he stood |
behind large palm at the doorway, |
watching Lotus bid the guests farewell |
after the dejeuner, received q sudden /
cheek to his bliss.
Fer as Larry clasPed the girls hand he |
distinctly saw her pass note to him. and |
beard the words. Five o'clock, water /
all,"
The suddeness Of the shock took his
breath away, and he stood for some mo-
nents gazing vindictirely after the
youthful figure OF the Irishman
he looked at his watch and found it was
ust on four. He knew the waterfall well; !
1 was a half-hour's ride and he had lust
'esolved to be party to the rendezvous
when Mr.. Devaine. touching him on the
irrn, remarked, Wen get cur little bust
less over now, Drayton, if you don't
mind"
For a moment he was tempeted 10 re-
,ount what had passed hut he thought
sctter of II. He was of a Suspicious na-
ure, and he thought he could manage a
little eavesdropping without Devaine's as
istance- He followed his friend into his
tudy- and, with ill-coneeaied ,impatience.
istened TO the planters progings over the
lays events.
He was a small, corpulent man. with a
,ard, legal-looking face. rather thick lips. |
'ound. bald skull, 2 short nose. and large.
ierce moustache. His eyes were email
seen, and shlfty as 4 Eerrei's. and in man
Ter be had all the aggressive pomposity
II a successful insurance agent. He had
eng discarded sugar for cacao with the
esult that while his neighb0rs were be-
pg ruined he was making money, and
ending it at heavy interest to meet their
antilles In the island. and in his way was
genial enough companion. Being shrew1
ie had never disturbed Mr. Deyaine's
goistic complacency Of superiority. Con- !
the latter liked him, and when
-ear after year the price Of sugar fell
md new economizing engines became a !
-ital necessity, DevaiEe had accepted the
,thers proTered loans with the easy es-
urance of a spendthrift receiving an ad-
'ance from Jew, never dreaming that
he Jew would have the logical imperti-
lence Of considering him fool. In this
way, little by little. Deyaine's whole os-
ates had glided under mortgage. until he
ound, by the time Lotus was fifteen that
ie owed Drayton some forty thousand
with practically no chance Of ever
icing able 70 do more than pay the in
crest.
II was then that Drayton suggested that
IN alliance would unite the estates. can
,el the bonds, and put his daughter in
he position she had a right to expect. !
)evaine did not like it at first but two
,ad seasons and the constant recurrence
# the idea accustomed him to the thought |
# it. He felt a considerable delicacy. /
however, in approaching the subject this
fternoon, and for long time beat about
he bush.
Drayton, however was finely uncon-
cioug of such susceptibility. He had
fought Lotus and looked to pay the price
nd being no niggarG. considered lac had
lis bargain.
"You want to speak about the mort
ages mani" he said. bluntly. at length.
Wen, I'll send them up to my lawyer
his week, and you can tie them On TO
our girl as fast as you Ike. I'm not the
nan to do a thing halfway. And now I'm
If for 4 ride. l saw your daughter go
If while ago. and l may as well do a
VT OF courting, now eyerythings above