The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-04-20


her. and. with eyes fixed gravely upon her
face, took her slim fingers in his own.
MY love" he said. slowly. Il did not
want TO spoil your appetite-and mine-by
referring to the matter earlier. butt have
bad news for YOU"
"Bad-news.'
My dear. compose yourself. 1 beg. To
agitate oneself has never yet been of the
slightest use. Yes-bad news! / am in
low water. Linda. in very low water. in
deed. My means are exhausted. Delling-
holme is mortgaged for every penny of its
worth. and the fellows are dunning me
right and left. They will give me no more
time. There is nothing for it now. my
girl. but-the Bankruptcy Court"
Father
In spite of his philosophical advice. she
was agitated beyond measure. She had
risen; her face was utterly bereft Of color;
she wasa trembling from head to foot.
Father! Father! How has this hap
pened?'
He shrugged his shoulders half-impa-
tiently.
What is the use of going into details,
Linda? You have no head for such things.
Indeed, 1 have none myself, which is partly
the reason. l suppose for this-h'm-mis-
fortune. We have been living above our
means. of course, and then. too. a couple
of years ago L made some unfortunate
speculations."
1t was not necessary TO explain that the
unfortunate speculations had been made
on the roulette table of Monte Carlo out of
sheer caprice.
His daughter stood motionless like a
statue of despair.
And II have been playing the Lady
Bountiful in the Sums" she said, blankly,
ION money that belonged to other people.
1 have been giving the children summer
holidays in the country and May-day
feasts. and-oh. father!" her voice broke
and tears welled up. 1T is too cruel!"
such misfortunes happen every day" he
murmured.
'Dellingholme is ours no longer she al
most whispered. "Grandfather's house.
And he must have been so proud of it.
Father, why did you let me go to this
great party-get all these expensive
gowns?'
Because, my dear child" he answered.
in his smooth. mellow tones, Il wanted my
daughter to have as much amusement-be
as we'll dressed as any other. Because L
am a weak father, l daresay. Perhaps,
also" his voice for a moment took a harder
ring, because L hoped you would make
some use of your splendid opportunities
Sir Everest Hardy's son is no
Don't. father she broke in. ~clapping
her hands to her ears. "He has never been
a moment in my thoughts-never will be.
But, OH" she looked at him with searching
curiosity. chow strong you are. father.
How calmly, phisosophically you can take
this horrible calamity. II am heart
brokeni'
Then suddenly Mr.. Delling rose, whipped
from an inner pocket a large blue envelope,
and. taking from it a letter, hourished this
before her.
DRY your eyes. my daughter" he said,
with dramatic solemnity, choking back 4
sob of emotion. 1T is your unfortunate
father only who is poor-a bankrupt! You,
my Linda. are-an heiressi'
What" She stared at him incredulous-
ly. ct? An heiress! Whose heiress?''
Read this" he said. cit came two days
ago. and as I saw it was a lawyers letter
1 took the liberty of opening it. Your god
mother. Mrs. Tempest. has been true to
her threat, has disowned that foolish
nephew of hers for his insane marriage ano
I has made you. my dear, the heiress to a
very pretty fortune"
, She took the letter and slowly read ii
/ through. Yes, it was here in black and
white. She was an heiress. Her fathers
eyes, fixed searchingly upon her face. saw
l the color return. He held out his arms.
Come, my love-" he said with a coaxing
? smile, land let your poor father nave q
IL F. IL 1.-r-- -
\ Somewhat coldly she suffered herself &c
r be embraced, then freed herself.
why have you frightened me so, IA
ther?' she asked Indignantly. what was
D your reason? How could you do it? What
Y fear is there now of the bankruptcy court
Dellingholme will be ours again and every
debt be paid"
T Nonsense, childi" he answered. testify
$ MY affairs must take their course. Will
q my debts you have nothing at all to do
Certainly you may pay off thS mortgage
y on Deringholme-it would be a very sensi
BILE investment-but as for the other mat
ers-nonsense There is no law"
2 Law? ! have never thought of law. The
g law of light is enough for me. Do yol
mean that. having actually the money witt
s which to pay them, we are toto chea.
n these people who have trusted us?'
$ He halted in bis fretful pacing and hi
r fine eyes were afame.
9 "You use pleasant words to your father
Linda. What 1 want to ask you is this
Do you imagine for a moment that If yol
spend this fortune of yours-a happy wind
fall. / must say-On paying debts which
Y need not concern you i'm the least there viii
be anything left on which to keep Up Dell
o ingholme?'
"Oh, no. she answered a little sadly
r Il have some small notion of arithmetic
father. DellinghOlme when 1 have paid of
e the mortgage must be let and we must tax
a smaller house and try to be as happ,
e there. Or perhaps for its names sake Uncl