The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-07-26

him This his eyes betrayed, being
CLASSY in their distracted gaze and
rarely resting upon any object as tho
to observe it for more than an instant.
When Gavin entered, tremulous hand
indicated chair drawn up near by the
table. The earl was the first to speak
and he did so with averted gaze and in
a loud voice which failed to conceal the
hesitation of his words.
hear Of your unfortunate acct
dent for the first time, Mr.. Ord he
said slowly. Let me implore you to
run no more risks Of the kind. The
belfry. tower is too old to write new
histories''
Gavin replied with an immediate ad-
mission of that which he owed to Eve
But for your daughter, my lord. ,,
he said, 81 should not be here this
morning to speak to you of very grave
things. Please do not think me insen-
sible of your kindness to mention that
at once. | have asked Lady Evelyn
to be my wife and she has given her
consent. Naturally tell you of this
upon the first possible occasion. You
know something of my story, or you
would not have paid me- the eomph-
ment of asking me here I have an
assured income Of some two thousand
should double it in as many years.
That is a vulgar statement, but neces-
sary. Ny father was Lord Justice Ord,
as you possibly knew; my dear moth
er is the daughter Of Sir Francis Win
nington of Audley Court, Suffolk. These
at such times, SO please bear with me.
am sure that Evelyn would wish me
to; continue in the profession / have
chosen; and, with your consent, / shall
do so. There is nothing else / can tell
yousif it is not to say how very deeply
tnu lon hfnr ND hot 81 Hn-
ieve her love for me Is not less. -
The earl heard him without remark.
When he had finished he made no inn
mediate response. seeming to lack words
rather than decision.
nMr. Ord, he said at length, seyou
had every right to speak to Evelyn.
make no complaint of it, But she can
not be your wife, for if she is not al
ready the betrothed of another, there
is at least an honorable understanding
that she will make no marriage until
he has been heard again. This affair
no longer able to ask you to remain my
guest here, you will understand my diff
fculty. I cannot answer you in any
deed that I could
Gavin had fully expected this; but
it did not disconcert him in any way.
The battle which he must wage for
Evelyn's sake had but begun. Set
thing himself in his chair and looking
the earl full in his face, he said:
sDoes Lady Evelyn know of this,
my lords. Is this the answer she wishes
you to give metz
Gin no sense. But speak as one
who consults her interests before all
things
Gavin smiled perceptibly.
Forgive me, Lord Melbourne he
said; "but all this is so very character
istic of your house and its history. A
hundred years ago it would have
sounded well enough and / should have
called a coach obediently as any gem
obliged to do. But we live in the TWEEN
tieth century, my lord, when men and
word liberty when the de-
sires and schemes of other people
Schemes, Mr.. Ord
stNo other word is possible. You do
not desire the marriage for purely self.
ish reasons. am not Impairment
enough to inquire into them, but Eve
1yn has told me something, and the
rest deduce from the answer you have
just given me. To save yourself. my
lord, you would marry your daughter
to a scoundrel, who is known for such
in his own country and ours; and. when
you did it, some false logic would try
{ to tell you that it was for the sakeof
your home and name; while all the
time it is done to save you some incon-
venience, some penalty you should in
justice pay to the past. ] am NOT so
blind that cannot see the things which
are happening all around me. Evelyn IS
consent to my proposal gives me this
right to speak plainly to you, in her
interest and my own. Would you not
be wiser, my lord, to deal with me as
am dealing with you-to tell me, in
word why this stranger can coerce
you when an Englishman is answered
in wordf think that you would. I