Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1909-05-27

you wish to consult your own solicitor |
you can cable him, of course.
Suddenly Horace seemed taken with |
a fit of embarrassment
1.-THE fact is, Lord Hawcastle," he |
said. I've notion that our solicitor
-Ethel's man of business, that is
| from Kokomo, Ind. where our govern
or lived-in fact, sort of guardian Of
hers-may be here at any time. I've
heard from friends that he Is coming
| in this direction
The word had caught Hawcastles
attention, and he leaped at it.
| "a sort of guardian? What sort,
eh?" he inquired, seemingly taken
aback.
II really can't say" replied Horace
apologetically Never saw him that
know of. You see. we've been on this
side so many years. and there's been
no occasion for this fellow to look us
up, but he's never opposed anything
Ethel wrote for. He seems to be an
easy going old chap"
Hum" said Hawcastle doubtfully.
Would he consent TO your sisters
| ilidrEldSe-oT Tue uidtleF OIL Settle
ment?'
Horace laughed cheerfully.
| ~ have no doubt of 1t. II he has
the slightest sense of duty toward my
sister he'll be the first to welcome the
alliance, won't hep
"Then when he and my solicitor come
they can have an evening together over
lot of musty papers, and the thing
| will be done. Again, my boy, well
come you to our family. God bless
your
He wrung Heraces hand again and
turned away as if to hide his emotion.
but really to wink at the countess.
I'm overpowered, you know-real
ly overpowered. you know" stammered
Horace, tanning himself desperately
| with his hat.
Come, Almeric,' said the earl. and
as the youthful heir to his house arose
languidly he sided close to the count
ess and whispered in her ear:
Let him know it's hundred and
fifty thousand"
Then he and Almeric went up the
steps into the hotel. leaving Horace
and the countess gazing at each other
delightedly.
She crossed over to him impulsively
and, taking both his hands again, said
"My friend, l am happy for you"
"Think of it, said Horace joyously.
'In a fortnight at the most dear old
Ethel will be the Hon. Mrs. st. Aubyn,
future Countess Of Hawcastle!"
| aEaS ~ ranIia6 tho pOuptaSS with
drawing her hands and picking up her
parasol, land there is but the little ar
rangement of the settlement between
your advocate and Lord Hawcastle's.
But you Americans-you laugh at such
things You are big, so big, like your
country
Horace followed her across the ter
race to the wall.
"Ah, believe me, dear countess" he
said. ''the great world-your world,
countess - has thoroughly alienated
me-
The countess turned her shapely
head and looked at him admiringly
and with a touch of irony at the sur
prise she was about to give him.
"Ah. you retain one quality. You are
careless. you are free and she laid
her right hand upon his arm. and Hor-
ace thrilled at the intimate touch.
"Well," he laughed. perhaps in
those things l am American. but in
others / fancy | should be thought
something else. shouldn't II"
She laughed openly at him now, but
, earnestly withal. and said:
? You are debonair man of the
, world, and yet you are still American
2 in that you are abominably rich. The
settlement-such matter as that, over
, which a Frenchman. an Italian, NIGH
? hesitate-you laugh. Such matter a:
t f150,O0O-you set it aside, you laugh
: You say, ooh, yes; take itr"
n For moment she feared that Hor
ace would fall over the low parapet
: SO white did his face become and thel
so flushed, but the boy was game al
t through. The generations of simpI
r Indiana stock came to his rescue. ant
o he steeled himself with an effort an,
f replied quietly:
"a hundred and fifty thousan,
pounds! Why, that's seven hundre,
and fifty thous-I say, countess. sh
couldn't use the money to better ad
vantager'
There was real admiration in tn
Frenchwoman's glance this time. 70
she had lost none of the little byplay
and she admired the courage of tn
youngster. So she said:
"My friend. how wise you arew
AS she. spoke she turned in time t
see Ethel come down the steps of til
hotel with, book beneath her arm an
ran to her, clasping her in her arm
and kissing her fi-