Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1907-09-20
CHAPTER XIV.

[" HE good news was broken to
Claire by her father In the
dead Of night. She had thus
some hours in which to prepare
for what she was resolved should be
her last conversation with Dantree on
the subject Of Tom And she antici-
pated not only the last. but the riskiest
Of SO many risky interviews. She felt
that ineffable relief might prove harder
% conceal than intolefalle anxiety,
and so no sooner were her worse fearp
dlssipated than new fears took thc:r
place.
She went for n ride with Daintree.
and he wcaric1 her more than over
1t was a heavenly June day, but lus-
clOus fields and gorgeous sky were
nothing to the pOetaster. Ills own
rhymes thereon at once usurped ana
exhausted the subject. \ volume OF
his verse was in the press; every sight,
sound or word suggested a quotation.
Claire tried hard to think of all that
he had done. She found herself think
LIB VI oii anu SitcI
preston turned early homeward.
With the new year came i'll tidings
from Australia. An investment had
turned out badly. Daintrees interests
III general were suffering from his abb
sence. The very next day James
Daintree led Claire Harding into her
fathers library and, even with his
face In happy flames. struck an atti-
tude before the writing table.
''She Is Miner he cried "She has
consented to share the poets bays, to
divide with Esau his inheritance In the
wilderness"'
1t was notable that no consent was
asked Of Nicholas Harding. lie sat
back in his chair, with stifed sigh Of
unspeakable relief. Claire never for
got how his hands felt as he took both
Of hers and drew her toward him.
But you spoke of sailing at once"
said he, cloaking eagerness with an
air Of extreme depreciation. at would
have to be very hurried affair"
The first cloud crossed Daintree's
face.
"Ah, nO"' said he. Il could not take
her at moments notice to n house
unfit for her reception. l must go and
prepare 1t for her. That Is n stern
necessity. But you must bring her out
to me yourself in six months time"
Mr.. Harding shook his head. lie
was n public man.
"Then Lady Starkie must"
Mr.. Harding spoke warmly and IN
selfishly In favor Of an immediate mar
riage. to no purpose, however They
had indeed made up their minds,
though the reason was not that which
Daintree had given. Vanity forbade
him to disclose the real reason. 1t was
her solitary but firm stipulation, and
SO much for his brave desire to get
first to Sydney on Claire's account.
He was to sail in seven days.
Meanwhile the engagement was an
nounced in the Morning Post of Jan.
Is.
On the 10th Mr.. Harding found a
note from Sir Emilius ut his office:
Sir-My Morning Post informs me that
marriage has been arranged between
your daughter and my son. II you care
for the young ladys happiness, you will
put stop to this at once Yours faith
fully. EMILIUS DAINTREE.
n. b. send this word Of warning in
duplicate. both to your city and to your
private address, as / think 1t hardly
likely that you will receive both copies
II my son Is still with you.
Mr.. Harding started to his feet. He
had not received the copy posted to his
house. Was the father q liar or the
son something worse? The fathers
reputatiOn-stay!
1t was the son,
He had been down before Mr.. Hard
Ing that morning. The latter had
found him in the dining room when he
entered, and on his own plate were
such letters as he had received. Hard
ing seized his hat, then reflected,
changed color and took a pen himself.
The note which he subsequently dis
patched by hand was a model of firm.
ness, tempered by tact. He demanded,
however. an immediate explanation Of
Sir Emilius Daintree's words, and the
messenger was to wait for an answer.
The messenger returned without one. (
Then Mr.. Harding called In person. 1
Sir Emilius was not Mt home.
H4lt next morning there was another
brief note at the office:
Dear Sir-I have been thinking the mat