The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1907-10-07

| Il disagree WITH you. u true iONSL
does not talk to all and sundry con-
corning the most sacred feelings Of his
heart Moreover, your remarks at our
last meeting were not to my taste"
81 apologize" said Mrs. Krill prompt
~ land VIII not offend in that way
again. 1 did not know you then, but
since Mr. Hay has spoken about you
to me / know and appreciate you, Mr..
BeecOt."
But Paul was not to be cajOled in
this manner. The more suave the wo-
man was, the more he felt inclined to
be on his guard, and he very wisely
obeyed the prompting of his instinct.
81 fear you do not know me, Mrs.
Krill," said he as coldly as Hay could
/ have spoken, "else you would hardly
ask me to discuss with you, of all peo-
| pie. the lady whom I intend to make
my wife,
"You are rather a difficult man to
deal WITH" she replied, drawing her
thick white eyebrows together. But
| l like difficult men. That is why
admire Mr.. Hay. He is not silly,
useless butterfly like that young lord
there"
"Silly he is not, but l doubt his be-
! ing useful So far as / can see, Hay
looks after himself and nobody else"
HE proposes to look after my
daughter"
$50 1 understand" replied Beecot
politely, ''but that is matter entirely
for your own consideration"
Mrs. Krill still continued to smile
in her placid way, but she was rather
nonplused all the same. From the
appearance Of Beecot, she had argued
that he was one of those many men
she could twist round her finger. But
he seemed to be less easily guided
than she expected, and for the mo-
ment she was silent, letting her hard
eyes wander toward the card table.
round which sat the four playing an
eager and engrossing game of bridge.
"You don't approve of that, perhaps p
NO" said Paul calmly; Il certainly
do not"
Are you Puritan, may / askW
Beecot shook his head and laughed.
AZ am a simple man who tries to do
his duty in this world" said he, land
who very often finds it difficult to
do that same duty
Glow do you define duty. Mr.. Bee
cotY'
1--WE are becoming ethical" said
Paul, with q smile. Il don't know
that l am prepared with an answer
at present"
Then the next time we meet, foI
I hope" said Mrs. Krill, smoothing
her face to a smile--it had grown
rather somber-"that we shall often
meet again. You must come and see
US. We have taken house in Ken.
sington."
Chosen by Mr.. Hay?"
Eyes. He is our mentor in London
society. don't think" added Mrs
Krill, studying his face, that you like
Mr.. Hay"
LAS I am Mr.. Hays guest" said
Paul dryly, that is rather an unkind
question to ask
Il asked no question. 1 simply
make q statement"
Beecot found the conversation rather
embarrassing. In place of his pumping
Mrs. Krill, she was trying to pump him
which reversal of his design he by nc
means approved of. He changed the
subject of conversation by drawing q
powerfully attractive red herring
across the trail You wish to speak tc
me about Miss Norman" he remarked.
Il do" answered Mrs. Krin, who
saw through his design, but apparent
~ that subject is as distasteful as a
discussion about Mr. Hay"
Both subjects are rather personal. ]
admit, Mrs Xviii However, if you
have anything TO tell me which you
would like Miss Norman to hear 1 am
willing to listen
"Ah! Now you are more reasonable, =
she answered In 4 pleased tone. 1T is
simply this, Mr.. Beecot: 1 am very
sorry for the girl Through no fault OF
her own she is placed in q difficult posi-
ton. l cannot give her a name, since
her father sinned against her as hi
sinned in another way against me, bu
can. through my daughter who is
guided by me, give her an income. I
does not seem right that I should hay,
. all this money
THAT your daughter should have al
this money" interpolated Beecot
MY daughter and are one" replied
Mrs. KriIl calmly. when I speak fol
myself 1 speak for her. But, as say
t doesn't seem right we should be il
af1uence and Miss Norman in poverty
So 1 propose TO allow her FIVE hundred
, a year on conditions. VIII she accept
do you think, Mr.. Beecot?'
u should think her acceptance woult
/ depend upon the conditions"
. They are very simple said Mrs
5 KriH in her deep tones and lookinl
very straight at Paul "She is to MARI,
: you and go to America."
! Beecots face did not change, sine
: her hard eyes were on it. But he wa
puzzled Under his mask of Indifference
l WHY did this woman want Sylvia &