The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-11-03
BY
FLORENCE WARDEN


would have liked 10 put.
'And-do you think he means-reaIly
means to let me have your said ne.
dropping his voice to a whisper. and nut
ting his arm round her as he spoke.
on, what makes you think he
doesn't?"
He heard at once. by the tone OF her
voice. that she herself had had no doubts
on me subject. And she refused to allow
such a suggestion TO pass
"Ct course OF course he does. Why
should he tell you what he did? II would
have been so easy TO say something 70
put you of
Plainly the girl had no suspicion what
ever OF the deep game St. Quintin be-
Heved her uncle and aunt to be play
ing Her own trust began 10 infect him.
i dare say I'm prejudiced because
tney'r French, and French people al
ways think so much more of money than
they do OF love IN a marriage. I ask
myself whether they're not waiting 10
see which Of US is the richest before bind
ing themselves definitely 10 choose q
husband for you"
Her face clOuded
They've always been so kind she
said, that / think they would listen 10
what 1 had 10 say in the matter In
deed, my uncle has done so. for he told
my aunt 20 write asking you 10 come to-
night, as soon as / asked him 10. and
he Jet me see you all by myself-as T
wanted to. For I thought" she said.
hlushing rosy red AT the ingenuousness
OF her own words. that you would Ike
to hear from my own lips Just how
things were with US"
m undyingly grateful TO you for the
happy thought said St Quintin, "and
II y0uH only promise 20 stick % me, and
not 10 hear Of any one else having Won.
and if you'll say the same 90 this VIII
Jams when he comes, why. we can snap
our fingers at uncies and aunts. Marbeaus
and Darnalls, and live happy ever after
He had got another kiss from her. and
he could read in every look. in every
word. the assurance that he was She
man she loved. And although there was
still little cloud hanging over them.
something indefnable which neither cared
10 try 10 analyze. yet. on the whole. they
were happy, trusting each other az least
il they felt doubts and fears about others
which they dared not openly discuss
81 QUlntln WAS rather anxious 20 note
what sort OF reception he should have To-
endure at the hands Of her uncle and
aunt. But he was reassured when he
met nothing but smiling faces. and found
himself treated with even more affec-
tionate consideration than ever before.
Indeed, but Tor what he had learned from
Capt. DarnalL and in other quarters. he
might have felt secure IN the belief that
he was indeed the favored sutton. as GER
tainly with the elders as with Miss Dens-
ley herself
After dinner, instead Of leaving the
dinlng-roOm all together. as was usually
the custom at BTiar Lodge, they broke
up in the English fashion, Monsieur L.
blanc pleasantly suggesting to madame
Inat they should follow the custom VI
Mr. 81. QuInun's country. I'm order that
they might have q little talk together.
81. QuintiE hailed the opportunity with
delight
But 1t was with still greater satisfac-
ton that he received the first announce
meHt made by his host when the ladies
had left the room.
Mr.. St. Quintin. he said. 7 have done
something yesterday which ought. if all
YOU have told me IS 1EUe-as I believe
1t 10 be-to cause you the greatest joy"
Indeed. monsieur then can guess the
sort Of news YOU have for me" said the
young man AZ once.
His host smiled a little, but rather rue
fully
1t has been done a; a heavy cost" he
went on in a grave and even sad tone
But there was no help for IT, I wished
10 leave the matter Of my Iiece's mar
rage open until the arrival I'D London II
her other guardian. as you know But
Marie took such a decided stand in your
favor that l have been forced 10 write
10 Capt Darnall. and 10 tell him he must
retire from the COntest-in your favor"
Indeed, that is good news" cried St
Quintin, in delighted excitement Then
ihare is no longer any obstacle 10 our
marrying"
Monsieur shook his head obviously.
We'll there is one difficulty" he said
THE fact is. Capt. Darnan lent me $500
10 pay of a mortgage on my niece's
property, and he at once wrote back 10
demand the repayment of the loan"
The Frenchman's manner was 50 bland
and so convincing that St Quintin. even
while he felt that he was doing a foolish
thing, at once offered to find the money.
Pass the loan on u NE. monsieur"
said he, "and the thinE is done I VIII in
strUct my solicitor 10 meet YOURS. and
the matter can be arranged without de-
lay"
Monsieur smiled approvingly.
"Unhappily. said h.. 7 cannot do
that. I should have 70 disclose 10 your
solicitor the fact that I had borrowed the
money from Capt. DarnalI. and he would
at once warn you not 10 have anything
20 do with the matter. He would say.
You VIII embroil yourself with Darnau,
be wise; leave the matter alone: let him
marry Miss Densley. Now would DE
not?"
We'll, yes. I dare say he would. But
shouldn't listen to him. al I want is
TO marry your niece as quickly as I can.
and l don't care what the conditions are"
The Frenchman smiled benigniy
All, There is the real high-spirited
English lover. in whose disinterestedness
we more prudent FTenchmen find IL so
hard 10 believe said he. well. my
dear Mr.. St. Quintin. if you really care
to do such a thing. and choose to advance
the money on your own responsibility
without consulting your more prudent
friends, you shall do So"
And you'll agree 10 let me marry
Marie at once, without any more delay?"
Il will take upon myself that responsf-
bility. In the circumstances 1 could not
refuse
You must give me a day or Two 10
realize, said st. QUintin I haven't so
much money lying at my bankers at
the moment"
oh. certainly, certainly. There Is no
hurry And see. Mr. St Quintin, we
have 70 do everything in order You
shall not advance one penny till you
have seen the estate
oh. don't want"
Il insist. On Tuesday I take the
ladies. my wife and my niece and her
gOverness, to Densley Void for change
of air You shall accompany us there
And it is there that my solicitor shall
come to US, and, after you have seen
the property. and learned the particulars.
if YOU have brought the money with you
and choose to carry this through. you