The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-06-09
He left the.ro0N without
 Ifurther speech on elther s,de

nance of such a family as. ours will be | of great help to her. You must Invite her to The Cleeve to stay until this atro- cious persecution Is ended"
 .4rs. Orme, who was lovingly attached to Lady Mason and liked her more and more she saw of her, consented gladly. When had the gentle Mrs. Orme ever failed to rejoice at being able to hold out a helping hand to those afflicted in mind. body or estate, or when had the chivalrous Sir Peregrine not rushed to the defense of those oppressedZ
 Mother" said Lucius, there Is a cloud over us now. Your place is here and I am your defender until this das- tardly conspiracy Is brought to naught and its authors punished" But Lady Mason went to The Cleeve nevertheless. And in those days, while Lady Mason was staying at his house, Sir Peregrine asked himself over and over again: i'Why should l not?'
 1..e chivalrous old gentleman, who, though he was turned 70. was still keen ly alive to a strong feeling of romance. had assured Lady Mason that he would be to her as a father; but her wom- ans instinct told her that the pressure of hs hand was warmer than that which father accords to an adopted daugh- ter. As for Mrs. Orme, she had thrown herself Into Lady Mason's arms: the two were fast and bosom friends. There was much that was sweet to the perplexed woman in all this, but 1t seemed to in- crease also that idea of danger which now seemed to encompass her whole existence.
 One day Sir Peregrine cautiously opened , his question of Why should I not?" with Mrs. Orme. Then, seeing that he was making little progress, he came out plumply with: ''Edith, I love her with my whole heart. l would fain make her raX Uyif fa ageous old gentleman.
 Dearest father" softly replied Mrs. Orme, will 1t make you more happy?
 Yes" replied the baronet slowly. T think 1t will"
 So Mrs Orme was satisfied. Sir Pere- grines happiness was her only consid- eration. To Lady Mason he said: 'I am an old man-some would say a very old man. But I am not too old to love you. Can you accept the love of an old man like me? l mean the love of a husband for his wife of wife for her husband?"
 Though not exactly taken by surprise, Lady Mason was much agitated. sir Peregrine An, mel You have not thought of this, my friend-you have not remem- bered the position in which I am placed, dearest friend, dearest of all friends - and then she knelt before him, leaning on his knees as he sat in his accustomed arm chair. Tt may not be so.' she cried. Think of the sorrow that would come upon you and yours if my enemies should prevail
 By -. they shall not prevail,' swore Sir Peregrine roundly. and he put his two hands upon her shoulders.
 But there will be disgrace in even standing at that bar" protested Lady Mason.
 Who will dare to say so when I shall stand there with your replied the bar Ouat urOudly and tenderly.
 Lady Mason was tempted; ah, most sorely was she tempted. There had grown in her heart a real love for this old man, the first of the kind she had ever known. She had loved, and did love her son, but 1t was with another sort of love than this. This she felt was the love woman should have for the man she married And then her life had been so lonely and so hard beset Her son was cold toward her and half estranged Here was tower of strength, a haven of refuge. offered her when she most needed 1t.
 In her distress and her weakness she yielded. crying out at the time: oh, Mir Peregrine, 1t would have been better for you that you had never seen mel"
 That Lady Mason was soon to become Lady Orme was news that was soon flung widely abroad for Sir Peregrine Haunted the fact valiantly, as a knight of old Haunted the colors of his Iady-Iove on the lance with which he was about to enter into stern combat for her sake Lady Mason wrote the news to Lucius at Orley Farm and the austere Lucius was horrined Children always are at the idea of their parents marrying again Sir Peregrlne told young Peregrine and the grandson was surly.
 T hope you understand that 1t will not