Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1907-12-26
CHAPTER XII-(Continued.)

dropped In to know if he were here.
should like TO see him before he goes, II
you don't mind my waiting here"
Go in and see him at once" said L.
Il have done with him."
He thanked me and went into the Office,
while | slipped into my dining room,
which, as l have said, is divided from
the Office by half-glazed door, that in
tercepts sound so slightly that what takes
place in one room is audible in the other.
If anyone thinks it is wrong to play at
eavesdropping let them remember that l
am only lawyer. | have no compunc-
ton to listening in a case of this kind.
They had got through their first greet
ing when l reached the door, but as
saw through the old green taffety cur
tains, they still held each other by the
hand
"A mere sprain; that's all. Painful
enough at first; just enough to keep me
from running about, you know Lynn
was spying in his bluff, open tone.
Why on earth didn't you write word
or two to us?" asked Audrey.
"Oh, | didn't want to make a fuss
about trife-especially at such time
ana you know what women are when
there's anything the matter with fell
low" Lynn replied, throwing himself into
q chair.
Your silence made rs think that the
accident was not tri1e," Audrey said,
half seating himself on the table and fac
ing his friend.
Il see now that l was to blame. I'm
sorry for it, That's all | can say, my
dear fellow"
Il am sorry also. 1t must have trou-
bled Miss Dalrymple; it would have of
Tended her had she been an ordinary girl.
Old Keene here doesn't like you; | war
rant he has put a bad construction on
your silence and done his utmost to set
her against you. Indeed it taxed my
ingenuity to find excuses for your neg
lect.'
Lynn toyed with his riding whip in ST.
lence for a few minutes during which
his quick brain had conceived a plausi-
bic means of escaped, and then he said :
"Awdrey, old fellow. | must tell you
all. | can't keep a secret-at any rate,
from you. | purposely stayed away
was purposely silent"
w ny Let US nave CHe WNOle matter
out from beginning to end"
Some months ago this old rascal here,
Keene-for what purpose | cannot i'm
agine-let me to believe that l was heir
to Flexmore's fortune. In the belief that
/ should before long be in a decent posi-
ton to maintain a wife, | sought to win
Gertrude-Miss Dalrymple. Well, on the
day of Flexmore's death | discovered the
truth-that / had nothing to expect from
him"
The barefaced effrontery of this lie
nearly took my breath away.
II had been living rather extravagant-
ly." continued Lynn-''beyond my means,
In fact-relying on being able to recoup
myself sooner or later, and then suddenly
| realized that | was thrown upon my
own resources, in debt, and incapable of
providing the woman | loved with the
home | had absolutely offered her a few
days before. Of course, | am to blame
/ know that. I ought to have been pru-
dent, ought not to have counted upon
Flexmore's generosity, ought not to have
offered my hand before l was assured
beyond the possibility of doubt that
had enough to marry upon. But you
know what l ana headstrong, impuls-
i've, thoughtless, reckless, thriftless, I'M
happy wretch y His voice faltered, he
covered his face with his hands. rose alb
ruptly. stamping with Impotence at his
own weakness, and turned in silence to
the window, 1t was not a bad piece of
acting; it took Awdrey in completely. He
rose, went to the window, and. slipping
his hand through the others arm, said ::
There's nothing objectionable in that,
Lynn-nothing that she will not readily
forgive"
Il know it, Audrey, and that's the
worst part about it. l must break off the
engagement, but l know not how with
such generous girl as that. | know
what she will say when | tell her am a
beggar; she will say, No matter, | can
wait till you are rich Wait-good gra-
cious! | am in debt now; penniless
beggar | must remain. l haven't the
ability to gain fifty pounds a year. and
never shall have. No; it must be broken
off. | said that from the first. Do YOU
know, | forced myself to affront her, that
she might throw me over-I pretended a
brutally cruel feeling towards dear little
Laure, poor child that Gertrude might
think me unfeeling. l went of to Lon
don without a word of farewell. | re-
Trained from writing one kind word-all
with the same purpose. Don't you see
now?"
Yes; but all that must be made clear
to her" said Awdrey, slowly.
MADE clear to her? Is that the way
to break off this unfortunate engage
ment?"
No; but there is no necessity to break
off the engagement
What do you mean? Surely YOU
wouldn't have me ask her to wait till
grow rich-rich! 1, who never did a
decent days work in my life"
NO; you will not ask her that. She
did not inquire whether you were rich
or poor when she consented to be YOUR
wife; she will not refuse you now for any
reason of that kind. You must explain
your silence, and ask her to marry. YOU
at once. Listen TO me, Lynn am not
advising you without reason. Flexmore
wished you to be the guardian, with Miss
nalrymple, of little Laure, and to take
the interest of the money in trust for her
until she came of age. By an accident
that wish was prevented from being legal
ly carried OUT but. virtuah.,, you are as
much entitled to the money as though the
accident had not happened. Miss Dali
rymple has consented to take care of the
child NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. me of a GER
tain part of my duty. Legally l shall
remain her guardian, and shall in fact
exercise my function whenever a question
arises respecting her welfare, but virtu-
ally she is Miss Dalrymple's ward, and
her services must be paid for. l shall
settle upon her all that is paid me as in
terest arising from Flexmore's bequest"
But. my dear fellow, you are robbing
yourself-you are carrying generosity be
yond all the bounds of reason, :" exclaim-
ed Lynn.
No, | am doing nothing of the kind.
l shall simply be carrying out Flexmore's
intentions. and l shall remain as rich as
1 have been. Whether you marry Miss
Dalrymple or not, shall settle the money
on her But now you know you have no
ayeusa for hraa kiuC off thp aDpa rpr,opf -