The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1909-09-02
CHAPTER XIX.
IN SUSPENSE.

~ voice trembled with suppress.
ILL ed rage.
"A fine guardian, you arer'
he said witheringly. you came here
to protect her from something you
thought was rotten. Now we all know
it's rotten you hand her overr'
The lad paused. and then be laughed
bitterly.
by Jove." he exclaimed Of a sud-
den. II shouldn't be surprised II you
consent to the settlement toow
The lawyer looked at him gravely.
"My son. shouldn't be surprised IL
I did"
by the Lord. but you play a queer
game, Mr.. Pike"
"Oh. I'm just crossing the Rubicon.
Your father used to say: II you're
going TO cross the Rubicon, cross IT,
Don't wade out to the middle and
stand there. You only get h-ll from
both banksv"
81 beg your pardon" said a voice
behind them, and they turned to find
Lady Creech. She went on, addressing
Horace:
"Mr. Granger-Simpson, have you
seen my nephew"
mo. I've rather avoided that, II
you don't mind my saying So" Horace
replied.
I'm sorry, Lady Creech," he went
on. but I've had most awful shak
ing up. and I'm thinking Of going back
home with Mr.. Pike. I think he's
about right In his ideas. You know
we abused him. not only for himself
but for his vulgar friend, yet his vul-
gar friend turned out to be a grand
duke. and look at what our friends
turned out to be!' '-s.
He stepped quickly to the entrance
and disappeared into the hotel Al
meric's voice was heard as Lady
Creech turned to go. and Pike smiled.
"Here he comes now, bending under
the blow" he said.
Almeric appeared with a white bull
pup, which he handed over to Mariana
with the remark:
Wash him a bit, old chap; tepid
water, you know, and drop OF milk
afterward - nothing but milk, you
know. BE deuced careful. sayp
AS Mariana disappeared with the
dog at arms length Lady Creech said
solemnly:
"Almerlc, really there are more i'm.
portant things, you know"
"Rotw replied the young man. 81
almost missed him. But | think I'm
to be congratulated, you know. Eh"
~ think you are, my son." said Pike
quietly. 81 have given my consent"
"Rippln'w declared Almeric. And
Lady Creech started forward.
"And the settlements" she asked.
Pike nodded.
"The settlement also-everything"
Ethel came from the side of the ter
race, followed by Horace. who seemed
to be arguing with her.
"Of course never worried, you
know" said Almeric. But fancy 1t
will be weight off the poor govern
Or's mind. I'll wire him at Naples, for
he'll be glad to know about that bally
convict chap-the arrangement you
made with him, you know"
"Almeric. | think it's noble to be
brave in trouble, butt Ethel began,
and Pike smiled behind his hand Al
meric looked at her In establishment
Il say, you know, you've really got
mew
II mean that | admire you for your
pluck. for your seeming unconcern
under disgrace, butt
"Disgraced! Why, who's disgraced2
Not even the governor, as | see It'll
You got that chap called of, didn't
you"
"Whom do you meanY' she asked
wondeTment In her voice.
"Why, that convict chap. Didn't
you send him away? You bought him
of 30 he wouldn't talk, didn't you
gave him money not to bother usl"
She whirled on him like a storm.
"Why, heaven pity you'll Do you
think thati" she cried.
Almeric was taken aback.
"Oh-what! He wouldn't agree?
oh, say. that Will be a pill for the
governor-he'll be worried. you knowP
Ethel went close to him.
Don't you see that you've got to
worry a little about yourself; that
you've got to begin to do something
worthy that will obliterate this
shame2 To work--to workw
What possible need will there be
for thatf Why, there's the settle
ment'-
Settlement" cried Ethel, aghast.
-You talk OF settlement nOwT
"Don't you seer The only objection
was the settlement, and Mr.. Pixies
given his consent to that"
Hes consented to that?" she asked
with his own hps Didn't your Al
meric asked Pike.
II did" said the lawyer quietly.