Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-07-18
CHAPTER II-(Continued)

-HlGu IuSy were ITOW Henry. Again
they reiterated his apologies for the
afternoons disappointment. The per-
fume of the gardenias filled the room
as she sank into chair before hsr
dressing table and hurled her face in
the masses Of delicate blossoms. The
quiet servant gathered up the tangled
hair.
Her ladyship would like you to
for the opera" she said, as she drew
the brush across the soft brown locks.
Diana did not reply.
Yes she was admitting to herself
she had been unreasonable, as her
father said. Life was beautiful and
wonderful. and she meant to gather all
It's sweetness and bloom
CHAPTER III.
The rain had battered down the
glory Of color into the soaked earth
Of the park had slashed and beaten
black. struggling lines against the
gray stonewall of the buildings In
Lfncoln's Inn. The radiance Of the
sun never wholly penetrated the, court,
but today the old place seemed like a
tomb. In one Of the Notwithstanding
dwellings, in his solicitors chambers,
sat Lord Kerhill. He glanced around
the silent room, and aimlessly took IN
the array Of large tin boxes, with their
painted family names, piled high on
the shelves encircling the walls. Con-
spicuous among them was his own.
With the exception of few unattrac-
tive pieces of solid mahoganE and
some large leather chairs, the room
was almost empty. It's ugliness Jared
him. AS he sat there. his face in re-
pose showed that the years had given
an added touch of bitterness to his
expression. He still retained his we'll
cut features, and their beauty Of line
was only a little marred by a certain
heavfness that had recently developed
HIS dark mustache hid the. weak
mouth with its suggestion of sensual
ity; indeed, the whole man showed 4
strong tendency towards grossness as
yet only noticeable to the careful OBJ
server
He still had the ineffable quality Of
charm, when he willed to exert it.
which made his selflshness seem to
many only the outcome of impulsive
youthfulness. In shamefaced way
he admitted to himself now that he
was in the wrong and that he had
stupidity involved his affairs, but he
comforted himself in the same nom.
emit, with the fatuousness of self-indul-
gence, that everything would work
out all right. To tide over this diff
Guilty or adjust and evade for time
the demand of the hour had been his
policy for SO long that he could not
realize that an end was possible to the
long tether he SO often abused.
He had come In response to an mr.
gent summons. Opposite him. deeply
absorbed in some papers, sat Johnston
Petrie, the trusted solicitor of the
Kerhill family since Henry's father
came into the title. He was large
powerfully built man of fifty-five, with
a massive head, piercing black eyes
under shaggy eyebrows, and close.
cropped iron-gray curls above the
shrewd face. Henry rose impatiently
to CO.
AS he did so, Petrie lifted his
glasses on their black ribbon to his
eyes. and said, "Pm exceedingly sorry
your Lordship, but you must give me
time to look more closely into that
AFFAIR before can venture a final opin.
lon as to the condition Of the estate.
BESIDES, I have several other matters
OF the greatest Importance to question
you about; they pertain to some bust
ness transactions you made recently
without my knowledge, while you were
abroad"
He motioned his lordship to chair
as though to pursue deeper the CONVEX.
sation and drew several documents
from drawer. Henry Kerhill fidget
ed
Lady Elizabeth in a recent interview
had assured him that the coming mar
riage would be the turning point in
Henry's career. Nevertheless he fear
ed her Judgment. Something In
Henry's attitude to-day had made him
more apprehensive; it had been i'm
possible to pin him down to serious
consideration of his affairs. Petrie
determined to venture final effort
by enrolling his brothers services tc
strengthen his admonitions,
Lord Kerhill," he said. my brother
is also most anxious to see you
regarding some stocks you asked his
advice about" He touched bell; a
clerk answered from an adjoining
room.
ASK Mr.. Malcolm Petrie to come
to us. Say that the Earl of Kerhill is
here
Henry chafed under the calm firm
ness of his solicitor. He had come In
answer to an imperative note. and the
discussion of his complicated affairs
was extremely disagreeable. He was
in no mood to continue it further. He
moved to the door as Malcolm Petrie
entered; a smaller counterpart of his
brother, and silent member of the
firm. he took the same personal inter
est In the Kerhill affairs that his
brother did. AS he started to speak he
was stopped by Henry.
"It's no use. / can wait no longer
A most important engagement de
mands my leaving at once Advise me
by letter-it will reach me tomorrow. =
And before either Of the men could
urge upon him the necessity of being
allowed to advise him on certain nego
tiations, he had reached the outer door
of the chambers, mounted the few
steps leading to the court, and was
in the square where his cab was
WAITING o,,rood tbo ~