New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-09-26
Sir Humphrey Poffer'S First LO1je.
BY HAROLD oHLsON.

his presence he looked very big and imposing IN
bis shirt font Vas this the iover OF her dreamsf
W5sR ne 93s s n ss ~ a pSnq t Sssh afSsr
re5narking the beauty Of the eveninS-so much
Ss asked h sTeR she ToS ss h S
For a moment she did not reply. sir Humpsry
ana that lovenness and TIE rsoonhsht threw him
her In Ms sTus ana Kiss her the matter was GET
ting beyond the strict res1mTe Of b. sine s So.
i could Of course. ee only a matter Of minGsss
Minutes? clarissa vas speaking:
Nc. have not that pleasure.
He anticipated no trouble in that quarter. wu
ne not Sir Humphrey Potter
! think you viii not-cannot-renew this proposal
Yes grssd SIR Humphrey. as Clarissa paused
su5iSls a15 PRISON bs ns SS sI N 800 y0' b
r TN prison Faspsd Sir ,HgmPhrsyi -,,--.. ~.
rushes and died away again. A waksful corncraks
eTeaked once and then suosded as u ne were ,
Sir Humphrey was thinking. He could not decide
on the instant what he should do But the noon
light stl exercised its power over him He sun
He was grateful for the interruption that oc-
STrrsd before he was compelled to speak again.
on them breathlessy.
Humphrey. l didn't see you'll I've been to post
Miss Iatiner believed the truth TO be anything
you could make people believe
Sir Humphrey had only one more opportunity OF
Speaking privately to Clarissa that evening lFlo
Latiner's powers OF conversation we're wonderfuD.
That he utilized by Whispering, 7 should IKE To
renew our-er-conversato ton in the morning
Sir Humphrey retired early that night. anxious
for solitude. that he might consider the situation
have what he wanted. But the daughter OF a telonf
People would find out and the respecta5ility that
factor in his business-would be seriously TN
But he wanted Clsrfssa.
He tossed and turned on his bed. trying TO make
Up his mind what 70 do. The father would one
day-hs thought. sOrrowfully-get out OF prison.
to acknowledge him He wondered what crime me
man had committed. Forgery. probably; perhaps
But he wanted CIarissa
Latimer should have told BIN; II was monstrou.
% have introduced him TO this girl without "A word
as to her fathers disgrace She was. ne sup
There would be a faint Of crime in nsr blood,
anG pST6aps. ne naT I nsr hr-, Scua
When At last he fe asleep he had ai1nost nads
that Re did not once consider her wishes In the
powerful The hand that signs the eheque rules the
world He was confident Of IT,
But when he evoke in the morning found his
love much less obtrusivs and his business Instincts
predominant Sentiment had faded with the
He wondered how he could have hesitated. Such
a marrisge was impossible He must tell Clarissa
50 at the first oDpoTtunity The Esws should Si b
the girl. but there must be doubt left in her
! mind II was impossible she could be his wife .
learn are in such unfortunate position he
said when me oppor'uni5v came nuI you mus
cannot repeat the offer made Yesterday evening.
/ OFFER that 7 should not have-that Is to say. had
I bee7 informed as / should have been OF the cir
curnstances. should not have-er-put Us both In
, this painful position"
/ Sir Humphrey spoke at civic banquets-
F'I hope you VIII 1et-er-bygoneS be bygoneS. and
/ remember friend"
Cisrissa heard his sTeech to the end IN silence.
She had expected IL. Now ~ her turn. She had
/ long realized the perfect self-concett OF the
man He had thought that she was ready 70 throw
herself into his arms should he choose to open
them She had decided that 20 be tricked and de-
ceivsd by a girl would be invaluable lesson 70
I him.
/ She ONLY acting for MS good.
She raised her and lcoted At him steadily.
Then she told him that her father was indeed IN
a prison He had been there nearly al his life. ~
was Of the largest and most important prisons
/ IN England
He the governor OF It.
-CThe Sketch