Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1907-02-13

Other-Werc alone in the drawing room
when we arrived. Thinking that l
might be de trop. l withdrew and left
the young people to settle it among
themselves, which they have apparent
ly done | am, like yourself, great
advocate for allowing young people
to settle things among themselves.
They are also welcome to their enjoy
uent of the consequences so far as
/ am concerned"
But Nlillicent was never engaged
to Guy Oscard."
Ibid she tell you 500" asked Sir
John, with queer smile.
Yes"
"And you believed herr"
"Of course-and you"
Sir John smiled his courtliest SMILE
Il always believe n lady," he an
swered, before her face. Guy
DISCARD gave it out in Africa that he
was engaged to be married, and he
even declared that he was returning
home to be married. Jack did the
same in every respect. Unfortunately
there was only one fond heart waiting
for the couple of them ut home. That
is why l thought it expedient to give
the young people an opportunity Of
settling it between themselves"
The smile left his worn old face
He moved uneasily and walked to the
| fireplace, where he stood with his I'm.
steady hands moving idly, almost nerv-
ously, among the ornaments on the
| mantelpiece. He committed the rare
| discourtesy Of almost turning his back
upon lady.
II must ask you to believe" he said,
looking anywhere but at her, that
did not forget you in the matter.
may seem to have acted with an ut
| ter disregard for your feelings
He broke off suddenly, and, turning,
he stood on the hearth rug with his
feet apart, his hands clasped behind
his back, his head slightly bowed.
Il drew on the reserve Of an old
friendship" he said. "You We're kind
enough to say the other day that you
were indebted to me to some extent.
You are indebted to me to larger
extent than you perhaps realize. You
owe me fifty years Of happiness; fifty
years of life that might have been
happy had you decided differently
when-when we We're younger. / do
not blame you now. l never blamed
you. But the debt is there. You know
my life; you know almost every day
of it. You cannot deny the debt. l
drew upon that"
And the white haired woman raised
her hand.
Don't" she said gently, please
don't say any more. know all that
your life has been, and why. You did
quite right. What Is a little trouble
to me, little passing inconven-
fence, the tattle Of few idle
tongues, compared with what Jacks
life is to you? see now that l
ought to have opposed it strongly in
stead of letting it take its course. You
are right; you always have been right,
John. There is sort of consolation
in the thought. I like it. like to
think that you were always right and
that 1t was who was wrong. 1t con-
firms my respect for you. We shall
get over this somehow"
1.-THE young lady," suggested Sir
John, will get over it after the man.
ner of her kind. She will marry some
one else, let us hope, before her wed.
ding dress goes out Of fashion"
"Nillicent will have to get over it as
she may. Her feelings need scarcely
be taken into consideration"
Lady Cantourne made little move
ment toward the door. There wat
much to see to; much Of that women's
work which makes weddings the wild
confused ceremonies that they are.
II am afraid" said Sir John, "that
never thought of taking them into
consideration. AS you know, I hardly
considered yours. l hope I have no
overdrawn that reserve"
He had crossed the room as he spok,
to open the door for her. His finger
were on the handle, but he did not turn
it, awaiting her answer. She did no
look at him, but passed him toward
the shaded lamp, with that desire tt
fix her attention upon some inanimat,
object which he knew Of old
1.-The reserve" she answered, twill
stand more than that. 1t has accumu
lated, with compound interest. But
deny the debt Of which you spoke jus
now. There is no debt. have paid IT
year by year, day by day. For eacl
one Of those fifty years of unhappines
have paid year of regret"
He opened the door and passed OH
into the brilliantly lighted passage ant
down the stairs, where the servants
We're waiting to open the door and hell
her to her carriage.
Sir John did not go downstairs will
her.
Later OH he dined in his usual soil
tary grandeur. He was as carefully
dressed as ever. The discipline of hi.
household, like the discipline undel
which he held himself, was unrelaxed.
what wine is this" he asked, wheI
he had tasted the port.
yellow seal, SIR replied the butler
confidently.
Sir John slipped again.
ut is new bin," he said.
Eyes, sir. First bottle of the lower
bin, SIR"
Sir John nodded with an air Of sell
satisfaction. He was pleased to have
proved to himself and to the damned
butler" who had caught him mapping
in the library, that he was still young
man i'll himself, with senses and taste
unimpaired. But his hand was at the
small of his back rs he returned to the
library.
He was not at all sure about Jack
did not know whether to expect him OF
not. Jack did not always do what one
might have expected him to do undel
given circumstances. And Sir Joh1
rather liked him for it, Perhaps il
was that small faint of heredity which
was in blood. and makes it thicker thar
water.
Nothing like blood, sir" he was Ii
the habit of saying. Sin horses, dog.
and men, And thereafter he usually
threw back his shoulders.
The good blood that ran in his veins