The Laurens advertiser. (Laurens, S.C.) 1885-1973, 1908-07-15


the prctticSt on EARTH"
"Mcchtildc talked to me, remem.
Der, Il good deal about those letters of
introduction" the chancellor reflected
aloud. "But Rhactla is long cry
from England, and letters might be
forged. I've known such things to be
done. Fetch Inc big red volume
you'll find on the third shelf from the
floor ut the left of the south window
You cant miss it. It's Burke's Peer.
age"
EGon rose with alacrity to obey. He
was rather thoughtful, for his brother
had put an entirely new and exciting
iGca into his head.
Presently the red volume was dis
covered and laid on the desk before
the chancellor, who turned the leaves
over until he found the page desired
AS his eye fell upon the long line Of
MoWbrayS Ills face changed, and the
bri%tIing brows came together in
griZ%lcd line. Apparently tho women
were not advcntu"csscs, at least in
the ordinary acceptation of the term.
There they were. His square tipped
finger pressed down. upon the printed
names with Il dig that might have sig
niliod his disposition toward their rep
rcscniativcs.
"Nhc girls mother is the widow Of
Reginald, sixth Baron Mowbray," the
old man muttcrcd half aloud; "son,
REGINALD Edward fifteen years of age;
daughter, Helen Agusta, twenty eight
Aha. She's no chicken, this young
lady. She ought to bc woman Of
the world
"TwcSty ty-eight" replied Egon. "Ill
eat my hat if she's twcnty-eight."
Doesn't she look it by daylight?"
''Not an hour over nineteen; might
be younger. Jovc, | was never so sur
Hriscd to learn woman's agel BY
the bye, | heard her telling Baron Won
Lyndnl last night, apropos of our great
Rhactiau victory, that she was eleven
years old on the day 1t took place.
That would make her about twenty
now. When she spoke remember she
gave look ut her mother across the
room ms though she were frightened.
| suppose she was hoping there was
no copy of this big red book at Lyndal-
berg"
"Ihat thought might have been in
her mind" aSSentcd the chancellor, cor
else she lie left his sentence un.
finished ana sat with unseeing eyes
fixed in IN owlish stare OH the open
page of Burke.
81 should like to know if you really
meant what YOU said about my mar
ria%c Il little while ago"-Egon ven
turcl to attract his brothers attention
-'hccausc if YOU did,
az did,
- ""ight try very hard to please you
n NY choice of wife"
'Bc Il little more explicit You mean
YOU would try to prove to Miss Now
bray that Il captain OF cavalry in the
hand is worth IN emperor in the bush
a |ramblc bush at that, ch?"
eyes; | would do my best. And, as
YOU say, I'm not without advantages"
you arc not. | was on the point of
%u@"" ting that YOU made the most of
them in Miss Mowbray's eyes until
YOU brought me this red book"
The large forcfngcr tapped the page
of NOWbrayS, while two lines which
might have meant amusement or a
SnCCr scored themselves on either side
of the chanccllors mouth.
and now you've changed your
mindE" There was disappointment in
Egon's voice.
81 don't say that. say only wait
Make yourself rs agreeable to the lady
as YOU like. But don't pledge yourself,
and don't count upon my promise or
my money until you hear again. BY
that timc-wcll, we shall see what we
shall see. Keep your hand in. But
wait-wait."
Glow long am l to wait? If the
things TO he done at all It must be
done soon, for meanwhile the emperor
makes all the running"
The chancellor looked up again from
the red book, his fist still covering the
Mowbrays as if they were to be ex-
tinguishcd. "You are to wait" he
said, "until I've had answers to cou-
pie Of kilograms | shall send tonight"