Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1904-01-29

VI uuSlHeSS, anu, II she
could spare me a few minutes CONVEX
sation, should feel grateful
Inc door opened and a young lady
entered.
rose to my feet, and. as nv ewes
ieil on her face, l dropped back a pace.
IN amazement. She was the lady of
La Turbie-my lost divinity!
so you have actually found us out
at last? she exclaimed. you can't
thlnk how sorry mother was that she
forgot to give your our address. 1t
was unpardonablew
pulled myself together with an
effort.
ITO be perfectly honest, it is a sheer
accident. l had not the slightest idea
thai Miss Effie Brennan was you!"
saw a slightly puzzled look creep
over her face l hesitated for a mo-
ment, then plunged into the object of
my visit.
Its rather a delicate matter. but.
perhaps, had better begin by explain
ing that I'm the oldest friend of Lord
Dennis Gorison." 1 paused. "And I
came at his requestas-well, shall we
say, a mediator?"
"A mediator-is one necessarily she
said.
I'VE are hoping so. You see, Dennis
mas told me everything, poor boy! How
he fell very much in love with you be-
fore he went out to the war"
Did he tell you that?" she said.
quietly.
Eyes. And. by the way. he gave me
a very accurate description of you," |
continued, with a glance at her. 'He
said you were a charming, refined, tai
ented young actress playing comedy
parts in a highly artistic manner"
His present attitude would seem to
suggest that he has changed his mind"
explained the sacrifice he was max
Ing, pleaded eloquently in his defense,
drew a touching picture. of his aged
parents, to whom this marriage meant
so much. She listened silently, with
her face turned away from me.
"And the American girl-does lie
love herT' she asked, in a subdued
voice, at the conclusion.
Hell marry her, be good to her, but
he can never love her! 1t is lust the
usual vulgar exchange of dollars for
title, brutal but necessary, and vital to
the honor Of the Southbrook name.
There, I've put the whole case before
YOU He has had to make his sacrifice.
l ask you to be generous, make one
yourself, give him back his letters, let
him off,
But 1t was a very good chance for
me-" she said, doubtfully.
20, you will have others; you simply
can't help otw 1 said, eagerly.
you think 500" she said, with a lit
tie blush. She looked perfectly raw
ishing, and for the moment | forgot
myself.
why, to convince you" l cried,
l just saved myself in time. She was
utterly charming, and of course, my
lost divinity, and was as much in
love with her as ever; but, still, l
hadn't quite accustomed myself to the
breach-of-promise idea.
"Well, to convince me, what?" she
asked with a smile. y
l hedged.
20, that before many years pass you
will have one" 1 said vaguely. Come,
what do you say-will you be. gener-
Gus and let him off"
She gave a little laugh and held out
her hand. every well, l promise-~he
shall beg ute free as far as ! am con-
cerned."
Her cool, firm little hand pressed
mine, and l felt a thrill go through me.
l drew up just in time again. You
see, l had been looking into ner eyes,
and, as | had told Mrs Ventry, they
were wonderful. But again the breach
of-promise scheme loomed up before
me.
"Well, now you have found US, you
will come again, say, tomorrow, for
tea? Mother does so want to thank
your
l tore myself away and walked back
to my rooms. l had plenty of food for
reflection on the way.
after all, a divinity is n divinity,
whether she threatens to bring breach
of-promise actions or not" l solllo-
quized. "And she didn't really mean
it. Directly l pointed out the nature
of the case she was generosity itself.
1t was perfectly natural, too, her being
angry. Any girl would have done the
same-yes, any girl! l repeated, reas-
suringly.
l reached my rooms and found a tel
egram awaiting me. tore it open. 1t
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