The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-10-04


 spoke, thought that perhaps good ar rangement might be a marriage. He had \ no romantic illusions about love.
 Esther sat with her hands claspng those of MT. Lyon. You will always live with me, father?' said she, striving to bring to a sense of reality this surprising dream. She had hardly uttered the words before she saw, as in a vision shown by a lightning flash, the incongruity of her past which had created around her the sanetties and affections of her life, with that future which was coming to her. Her father, with the grandeur of his past sor- rows and sacrifices. giving up his vocation and vulgarly accepting an existence of petty worldly grandeur! She was ashamed of having asked the question Her face flushed with the excitement of the vision, which five months ago she would have been incapable of seeing.
 When Jermyn learned that Esther was at Transome Court he saw his imminent peril He hurried to see Mrs. Transome and demanded that she save him. It was 8 curious interview. Especially curious were Jermyn's last words: 'You can save me If you will. It Is not to be supposed that Harold would go on against me-if he knew the whole truth
 Mrs Transome arose, with a sudden light in her handsome eyes. "Be ruined! said she "Noi Do something more das- tardly to save yourselfi I have sinned' but my judgment fell on me beforehand that I should have sinned for man like you!
 Jermyn withdrew, crushed and desper- ate Harold pushed the suit vigorously, determined to ruin and disgrace the law yer
 Meantime Harold Transome's first chance thought that all trouble about the estate might be settled by marriage t,s, hapama settled determination as he grew to know her.
 He lost no opportunity of making mmseil as attractive to her as a handsome, we'll bred man of the world can. He Woulu have been vastly surprised had ne been told that this very breeding and charm and manner only led in Esther's mlno to A. critical and unfattering comparison or him with the cravatless WorhinsAi"'' Felix Holt.
 He did. inded, learn from Esthers own lips that she took deep interest In nim, and this led him to make determined effort to save the young Radical. when Holts trial came on, he was the most mn portant witness for him, telling 1rankly how Felix had demonstrated with hlm "a rainst bribing the non-voters to enter inc town and engage in drunken disor- der.
 Felix told his own story simply and we'll He had refused to engage law yer. and pleaded his own cause nm self He called witnesses who swore that he had always tried to induce the work ingmen not to drink, and that instead or preaching political doctrine he had set up schools for the children and other wise tried to enlighten the laDorlng classes.
 But there had been many witnesses who swore that they, had seen Felix lead the rioters Esther, listening to the trial with growing misery felt that all had not been said which might have been said on his behalf Before Felix was aware or It she was on her way to the witness oox In that supreme moment she stood di- vested of all personal considerations, whether of vanity or shyness. In clear voice, as if she were making a con fesslon of faith she told of Holts visit to her on the morning of the election and of his fears that the ignorant men would get into trouble. Tt was the last thing he would have done," said she, as she ended her testimony. "to join in riot or hurt any one. His nature Is noble He is tender hearted. He could never have had any intention that was not good and brave."
 When she was assisted back to her place the rest of the proceedings were like a dream to her. She knew nothing clearly till the judge began to pronounce sentence. Then she had her eyes on Fe- lix She saw his lip tremble as the words fell on his ear: Imprisonment for four years without hard labor" But otherwise he stood firm and calm.
 They tried to comfort her by telling her that all the gentlemen of the county tories, whigs, radicals, men of all shades of opnion-had already agreed to get up a memorial to the home secretary on his
 behalf. The very next day there was great meeting in the hotel and every inn portant name in the county was signed to the paper.
 While the gentlemen were still gathered Jermyn entered and came straight to Harold Transome Harold looked at him contemptuously. "I must speak to you in private" said Jermyn. You will repent else-for your mothers sakel' Harold, angered beyond reason, struck Jermyn across the face Jermyn, pow erful man, clutched him and thrust him backward.
 .Let me go, scoundrel or I'll be the death of you!' said Harold fiercely. ''Dov replied Jermyn with equal rage. 'T am your father!'
 As Harold heard the words he started back. He turned partially and at the in- stant saw his own face and that Of Jer- myn in a mirror side by side. As 1T in mocking confirmation the glass reas- serted the hated fatherhood. Brayey he went to Esther and told her that he had heard something that sullied his name, though without his fault, and that he proposed to leave England aIteT he had put her in possession of her own. She was touched by his trouble, and showed It. At this the blood rose in his face, and she saw, with a womans in- tuition, that he would ask her to marry him if she gave him the opportunity, She escaped as quickly as possible and sat by her window till late In the night, ponder ing.
 She thought of the dim life of the back street, the contact with sordid vulgarity the summons to daily task. But she dreaded to turn her back on 1t as if it were Heaven; for only through choosing it could she choose Felix Holt, and she knew now that she loved him-the man who would never come to her in a palace, the man who proudly expected her to bring her love to his poverty or not bring it at all. Then she dreaded lest she find tho road stony and too hard. for she knew that he would make high demands. | She thought of the easy lot that Har- old offered; but at the thought of 1iv- ing by his side she was filled with . stifling sense of oppression. It was a very simple wedding when Esther Lyon and Felix Holt, pardoned, were married. But no wedding ever raised so much interest and debate. | Even very great people like Sir Maxi- mus Debarry and his family went to l the church to look at this bride who l had renounced wealth and chosen to l be the wife of man who said he would always be poor.