The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1908-06-25

CHAPTER XIII.-(Continued. }


ing a little faint. Mr.. McGrath by his
sisters efforts alone is prevented from
giving a loud and tremendous clap for
Amber. A SOW red flush has risen to Sir
Lucien's cheeks His frown deepens, but
his eyes waver. They fall
True we have not met until now"
This is distinct come-down. Il hear,
however. that, though you have not met
me, you have met some of my guests"
''She has met some of her cousins"
says Hilary, walking straight up tc her.
''Ah, so J" Sir Lucien gives him leer
glance. ''Yes, of course. her cousins
have also'-turning deliberately to her
had the pleasure'-with a sneer-''of
meeting some of your cousins. Mr. Deane
for example, l suppose l am too new
friend"-with a curl of the lip-"to con-
graduate you?"
Amber raises her large dark eyes to
his. Her face has grown rigid-haughty.
At this moment. the strange, the almost
extraordinary likeness between them is so
plain. that it strikes everyone in the room.
Il do not understand youI'
''No? Have | been indiscreet? Mr..
Deane. however, informed me to-day that
he is DESTROYS of marriage with you. That
in effect the marriage is arranged. | was
glad TO hear of it. \ most excellent ar
rangement in my opinion. He is. | I'M
derstand very well-to-do in Australia"
He smiles languidly, and glances at
Hilary, who is ga ing at Amber with
compressed lips ana dilated nostrils. A
lie A lie. Why can't she speak,
Brian may be well-to-do or the re-
verse, for all I know" says she at last
very quietly, absolutely indifferently in
deed 1T is nothing to me. If he were
the richest man on earth, | should not
marry him. and / certainly not en-
gagged to him."
And l really think" breaks in May
with gentle indignation, that to speak
like this to Amber, just on her arrival
She looks helplessly at Dolly.
'Barbarous :" says Mrs. Clarence,
promptly.
Il see l have been little premature"
says Sir Lucien, smiling. He is abomin-
abl, when he smiles. Young ladies do
not like having their little sentimental
secrets wrested from them before the time.
But still hope"-shaking his long white
hard before Amber's face and taking on
quite jocund air-"that presently-pres-
ward, you will take me into your conf
dence," and he turns away. strolls
through the window on to the balcony and
so TO the gardens below.
Don't mind him." says May eagerly.
throwing her arms round Amber's neck
Amber has sunk down into the chair
in which she was sitting before S Lu-
Glen came. There is some lassitude in
her air.
HE has frightened you," says Mrs.
Clarence very kindly. Her kindness is ex-
traordinary, as she very seldom goes out
Of her way to help anyone.
"Oh, no. says Amber, lifting her
charming chin so that they can all see
the delightful smile that gives extra
beauty to a face that hardly needs it,
Il am not afraid of him, Very softly
-"am s.ot afraid of anyone"
Hilary, who is beside her, wonders If
she means Deane by that very emphatic
anyone"
Dinner goes of very well considering
all things, chiefly perhaps because of the
fact that Sir Lucien seems too pre-occu
pied with his thoughts to give him leis-
ure to act the skeleton at the feast, or
to spread broadcast among them, as is
bis charming wont, such flowers of cruel
satire, such touches OF open venom, as
how so easily from his bitter tongue.
He had come back fresh from last in
terview with Deane, to meet Amber in
bis drawing room. This interview had
been momentous, and during it, Deane
had made the strangest proposal. So
strange. that even now Sir Lucien trifles
with the courses before him, rather than
partakes of them.
Up to to-day Deane had defied Sir Luz
cien,, had refused to give any information
about the missing jewels, had indeed
strenuously denied all knowledge of them
but in so sneering, so insulting a fashion
as to make Sir Lucien, who has a good
deal of brain, still believe that he has
some information in his possession that.
should he get at it, would enable Sir
Lucien to lay, his hand ON them should
the fellow choose to speak
Sir Lucien had gone far before to-day.
He had actually offered a bribe to Deane
But the storm of rage that followed upon
that proposal prevented him from ever
making another. He had even begun to
believe in the mans ignorance, when to-
day opened his eyes.
To-day the most marvellous thing had
occurred. Deane, instead of sneeringly
rejecting the idea of ever having seen or
heard of the missing gems, had confessed
stolidly, openly, that he could tell where
they were il Sir Lucien made it worth his
while. The condition ives Amber. The
girl was held up between the two men to
be bought and sold.
Amber once his wife-fve minutes af-
ter the ceremony-the jewels should lie
in Sir Lurien's hands. Sir Lucien had
come home intoxicated with this hiAeous
bargain The girl should be sold What
was she in comparison with those price
less gems that meant a fresh fortune to
his house? His brain was on fire as he
sat down to dinner. To marry the girl
to Deane! Why it was a most simple
thing To marry her into her own low
set, as he called it.
A whisper a mere breath of Hilary's
admiration for Amber had come to him
chiefly through Deane, who had not, how
ever, spoken freely for many reasons. He
had directed all his attention to Hilary's
demeanor towards her during dinner, but
beyond that one impulsive step he had
taken in the drawing room, he saw moth
Ing that would point to attachment Of any
sort. If there had been anything, which
lie doubted, it was a mere young mans
fancy, bound to goa mere midsummer
madness, nothing more-nothing more.
And the girl shall marry Deane.
Hilarys demeanor indeed dispels all
fears He grows ealmer as he looks al
him. He has been watching him closely
Hilary is not sitting beside Amber, and
hardly looks at her. Sir Lucien takes
special notice of this point.
And it is true, too. Hilary does not
LOOK at Amber. Yet there is something
about Adare-a touch of sudden gaiety-
of unsupported happiness, certain buoy
ancy in his whole air, that must strike
forcibIy upon an acute observer.
Sir Lucien, usually too keen, is now,
however, so wrapped up in his dreams OF