Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1908-07-30

ert WAS quiet, almost grave. Rupert
was sauve and smi1ing G.. s-ss-1
So your brother has told you about
my uncle and his will, and-andI
about me-"
He spun 1t out in a hurried way.
but II fancy L grasp the essentials.
Bob seemed precious serious about it.
but the romance caught me-"
"Romance?''
Don't you regard it so?" he light
4ly asked. ~ 4. a~-s~-s-s.<.
Certainly not. It's cruel. It's
abomihable.
He laughed softly.
"You take it too seriously" he
said.
She resented his tone.
What is it that you think take
too seriously? The matrimonial sug-
gestion?"
Perhaps. At the same time that
needn't bother you materially. It's
all in your hands. It isn't as If you
were facing poverty, you know"
II don't think that would make any
diff erence,- she said, with little
snap in her voice.
He looked at ner in his lazy way
, and nodded.
II don't believe it would with you.
| Perhaps YOU wouldn't mind telling
me?"
"Telling you what! :"
Telling me what you forfeit by
! not carrying out your uncle's new way
to pay ol6 debts?"
She hesitated, then lightly laughed.
| Call it in round numbers two
Emillions
He softly whistled.
That's surely a pot OF money!
he said. Then he added: do you
know ! don't think it was quite fair
for you to come and tell us this fairy
story, It's disquieting.''
You Hike money! said the girl.
4 @Yes. Perhaps I might say I re,
spect it, too never saw much of it
Dad had to scrimp to get me through
college. When I came out didnh
seem to have any way of earning
. money, except by playing baseball
, and dad wouldn't hear to my becom
, ing a professional. Then dads af
, fairs got into tangle-they hal
! been going from bad to worse for I:
long time-and had to give up wha
was doing-it was something brisl
and bustling that promised very fair
ly-and come into the Office here"
& "Then you and Robert are asso
ciated In the business?"
Yes, we're together. It's shar
I |, and share alike with u.s.. --=sszs;sz-,
u She looked at him curiously.
II have heard you were quite
famous man at college?" she said.
at was the sort of fame that shriy
els in the autumn wind" he laughed
"And you went to war;"
: ..It was a very little war.
And did something particular
I fine?" ~. ..ss.~o,.-->-ee :.
7 sPure melodrama. was consit
: cred very good in amateur theatrical
! you know"
7 He laughed at this and showed b
I white teeth and nodded at her with
4 delightful air Of comradeship. r
7 certainly was a pleasant fellow-an
I she Instantly contrasted him with tt
Z quiet and subdued brother bendiI
( over the dingy desk.
You are very unlike your broth'
' Robert. she told him. sstss<s;sazaszzss1-
= That's not discovery" he sal
Il "Other people have contrasted U
Is But we are very congental just tt
i same Bob never gets dollar tn
he doesn'* share with me. There a
It not many OF them, but that does1
impair the rule.
IL And you live on Roberts ear
ings?"
.o] Eyes. Why not?'
RI The girls face clouded. His ca
N manner, his careless tone, his utt
indifference to criticism. grated
t. her sensibilities.
I'VE are drifting from the busine
,e that brought me here, she said a
,e ruptly. Your brother has told y
er what it is. am trying in my o,
III way to carry out my dead uncl,
wishes. His heart was set on it.
would be very ungrateful if did \
SIX do my best" She paused and stea
rd led her voice. You will understa
that fail to regard the clause in !
~ unc1e,s will from any sentimen
IL point OF view
nd IF you did, said Rupert Some
do you wouldn't be here.
The girl Frightened up.
20 THANK YOU she said. <That<v
ks nicely Interpolated. And now WI
nd you to help me still further. # y
his will say you have no desire to MAJ
en me it will make my mission mi
ess easier"
.ra He slowly smiled as he watcf
ax- 1.-the flush rise in her cheeks.
,b- .sIa q snests.e-sn. e said. AN