Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1909-05-20

=" HE Earl of Hawcastle was near
ly at the end Of his financial
rope. And yet to look at him
as he entered upon the terrace
from the lemon grove no one would
have thought that care in the world
possessed him.
Added to the natural calm demeanor
of the Englishman of station was a
certain self possession gained by years
of standing on the brink of events,
and, while this brilliant morning his
cares had hung even a little more
heavily upon him than was his desire,
yet he gave no outward hint Of any
troubles that beset him.
He was aAwell preserved man of if
ty-six, with close cropped iron gray
hair and a straight cut military mus
tache that hid certain cruel lines in
his mouth and softened the severe
lineaments. He carried himself with
an erectness that bespoke pride in
race, If not in deeds of his own. He
was distinguished with that curious
individuality that causes those in the
street to nudge one another and ask
in whispers who another may be, and
he was Enthusiastically high bred.
True his sense of honor that would
balk at cheating in a card game or
the larceny of travelling bag was
not sufficient to debar him from con-
niving at the attachment of young
and helpless girls money with the
foreknowledge of lifelong misery for
her as the consequence.
This morning he was clad in an i'm
maculate suit Of lightly striped white
flannel, with carefully pipecfayed shoes,
and the pale rose necktie that he
wore was living monument to the
fact that the well groomed English
man knows no peer on earth, while the
jaunty exactness of his snowy PAN
anna hat was a revelation in proper
headgear.
AS he entered the terrace his alert
glance swept it from end to end, and
he noted that there was no one about.
He moved at once to the table that
Mariana had set for him. and at the
instant he sat down Michele ran down
the steps of the hotel with a folded
newspaper in his hand which he pre-
scented to MILFORD with a low bow
Mariana entered bearing coffee tray,
and the earl greeted him with cheer
full good morning which Mariana ac-
knowledged as one would favor from
king.
"Milor' is serve" he announced with
soft accents and took the hat and light
walking stick. bestowing them with
reverential care upon side table. AS
the earl unfolded II Mattino he glanced
up.
mo English papers 2" he said.
sMilor', the mail is late" answered
Michele and bowed himself up the
stairs
"Also Nine. de Champigny," growled
/ the earl as he glanced down the unfa-
miliar pages
| AS he spoke the countess, clad in the
very latest Partisan creation, swept
down the steps and approached the
| table. She looked well. and she knew
/ it.
Apparently about thirty-two. she
would probably have confessed to five
years more under pressure, but her
dark beauty was well set OFF by the
light colors she affected, and the tilt
Of her parasol revealed more to the
capable eye OF an observer than a
ream of self description or admission.
/ She was of that type that causes the
elderly dowager of any race to regard
her with suspicion and to gather her
male encourage beneath the protecting
| wings. Nine. de Champigny, raising
her hand with little gesture of greet
| ing paused an instant as she stood at
the top of the steps and cried softly:
Me voiciy'
The earl jumped to his feet and
bowed, inquiring at the same time:
my esteemed relative is still
asleep?"
The countess swept forward to her,
chair, which Hawcastle pulled out for
her, and murmured:
Il trust your beautiful son has found
much better employment as our
hearts would wish him. eh?"
Hawcastle laughed shortly and mirth-
lessly.
HE has. He's off on canter with
the little American"
Whereat the demure countess clapped
her daintily gloved hands together and
cried softly:
"Bravaw
B That they were old friends, these
two, was to be seen at a glance. There
was no inquiring as to each others
tastes and dislikes It was evident
| that long association had ingrained an