The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-06-09

1t would be if it were so-and how wonderful!
 In Sir Peregrine orme Lady Mason found champion of quite another sort. The stately. kind-hearted old baronet was filled with indignation at the vil- lainly of Mason of Groby Park.
 T will not desert you, Lady Mason, said he; ''of that you may be sure. You have no occasion to frighten yourself What documents can Dockwrath have found that can possibly harm you? Ignore the whole thing, Lady Mason, unless you get some legal potice which requires answering"
 Dear friend" murmured Lady Mason, and Sir Peregrine, like MT. Furnival, thought how well preserved and uncommonly pretty she was.
 Dear. persecuted creature" thought the baronet as he sat a<one after the interview. And then, after a while, as he unused. he said aloud to himself: why should I not? Why should not?"
 The news of the discovery of docu- ments bearing on the great Orley Farm case that might cause Lady Mason to be indicted was spread broadcast by Dockwrath, and all Hamworth talked of little else Lucius Mason confident ly and angrily commanded his mother . He was her natural protector aI.j would prosecute for islander the first man he caught repeating the story. MT Fur nival? Sir Peregrine? What had they to do with the matter? He, Lucius, was the only person 10 De con- suited in a matter of tiT1s kind.
 It took Lady Mason. MT Furnival and Sir Peregrine combined to induce Lucius to subside, and when he did so he did it with a surly and superior air. thinking that the elder people were fools and he a practical person who might settle the matter out Of hand
 Lucius was in love. as much as his cold nature would allow him to be, with Sophia Furnival, daughter of his mothers attorney. and Miss Sophia, prudent damsel, reciprocated his feel ings as warmly as was consistent with her desire to choose a husband dis creetly. As she had an offer from Judge Staveley's son Augustus. Sophia had decided to temporiZe until the final possession of Orley Farm was decided.
 That hearty young fellow, Peregrine Orme, meanwhile had fallen over head and ears in love with Judge Staveley's daughter Madeline But Madeline, not possessing the practical qualities of Miss Furnival, had gone and fallen in love with somebody else. which somebody was briefless barrister, one Felix Graham.
 "Oh, dear" said Lady Staveley to the Judge, why can't she love Peregrine? The Cleeve is such nice property and lies so near our own And Felix Graham has no money ana no puslhess. Oh. dear!'
 well, my love-" replied the Judge. neither had I when you married me
 "oh, that was quite different" re- torted Lady Staveley. And she thought the learned Judge was rather stupid to make such a comparison.
 Well, my dear" said the Judge soothingly, perhaps we had better let Madeline choose for herself. But Lady Staveley said to young Peregrtne; DO not give up hope, my dear boy. Go away now and come back later and trv again." And she set a date when he was to come back for second at tempt on the heart of Madeline. Pere- grine was a straightforward youth and did not like this waiting and trying again but he obeyed.
 Soon it became certain that Lady Mason would be indicted and forced to stand trial for perjury. They had elected to try her on that charge rather than forgery which would have been harder to prove. Sir Feregrifes answer to this was to say to Mrs, Orme: My dear, we ought to be es- pecially good to Lady Mason in her great trouble. The countenance of such a family as eours will be of great help to her You must invite her to The Cleeve to stay until this. atrocious persecution Is ended,'
 Mrs. Orme. who was lovingly attach ed to Lady Mason and liked her. con sented gladly. When had the gentle Mrs. Orme ever failed to rejoice at be- ing able to hold out helping hand to those afflicted in mind. body or estate. or when had the chrivalrous Sir Pere- grine not rushed to the defense of those oppressed?
 ''Mother," said Lucius, there is cloud over us now. Your place Is here and I am your defender until this das- tardly conspiracy is brought to naught