The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1909-06-04
CHAPTER VI.
EASY PREY.

Inclination or environment de.
w cides that the manners Of his
people will not serve for him
and that the customs Of the land of
his adoption are more applicable to his
purpose he outdoes even the natives
in his conformation to the existing
modes.
Horace Granger Simpson-the Gran
ger was but a recent innovation due to
the belief that Simpson by itself was
altogether too hopelessly plebeian to
attract even modicum Of attention
had consorted with the gilded youth
Of several capitals, and his education
had progressed to such an extent that
the youth Of Kokomo would have
stoned him instantly upon his arrival
at the town depot
He ambled with rocking gait,
drawn from the guardsmen he had SO
carefully watched, down the steps or
the hotel on to the terrace, and his
attire would have attracted notice from
a Hindoo idol. He wore spotlessly
white 1annels, white shoes pipeclayed
to a dazzling degree, q thoroughly
British straw hat, channels gloves and
a pale blue scarf held together with
massive pearl.
For an instant Nine. la Comtesse
looked at him and then, W.T. a little
cry Of greeting, rushed ard the
steps and took both his sta ed hands.
"Ah, my dear Horace Granger
Seempson" she said excitedly. HAS
your sister told your"
Horace swallowed once or twice
savagely and then made a heroic ef-
fort TO keep down the radiance that
was choking him, made two effectual
dabs at his eyes with the handkerchief
he took from his sleeve and responded
joyfully, though brokenly:
''She has, indeed. / assure you am
quite overcome, my dear friends.
Really, 1 assure you"
With q silvery laugh Nine. de Cham
pigny stepped backward from him,
making little courtesy as she did so.
The earl came forward with out
stretched hands and grasped one Of
Horace's between both his own.
my dear young friend" he said.
mot at all-not at ALL"
AS the remark seemed a trifie am
biguous, Horace looked at him inquir-
ingly, but, reading reinsurance in his
face, replied instantly:
II assure you l am. l assure you /
am. It's quite overpowering, isn't it,"
With a look of commiseration the
countess regarded him and said softly:
N"Ah, poor NJ. Horacer'
From his sprawled attitude in the
chair the honorable Almeric drawled
a protest.
Il say! Don't take it that way, you
know. She's very happy" 2~'.o-.
y Horace recovered himself instantly
and crossed the terrace quickly to
grasp the hand of the bridegroom to
be. The fact that it was as limp as
mackerel did not worry him an instant.
"She's worthy of fishes worthy Of
it! / know she is! And when will it
be. st. AubynT' he said.
"Enchantingw cried the countess en-
Enthusiastically. 80 clear is his grasp
of the case, eh?"
Hawcastle flashed her a glance and
turned to Horace.
"Oh, the date" he said doubtfully.
II dare say within year-two
years.
There was another little cry of pro-
test from the countess, and the earl
glared at her menacingly. Horace
started, too, and seemed to be about
to enter a positive objection, but he
contented himself with saying:
"Oh, but / say, you know, isn't
that putting it jolly far off? The
things settled, isn't it? why not say
a month instead of year"
"Ha-humw said the earl. ooh, If
you like i don't know that there is
any real objection"
II do, indeed" returned Horace.
"See here Why not let them marry
here in Italyr
Hawcastle could scarcely conceal his
satisfaction, while Nine. de Cham
pigny executed bit Of pas seul be-
hind Horace's back.
"Ah, the dashing methods of you
Americana returned the earl smil-
ingly. you carry things on so! Next
you'll be saying, why not here at Sor-
rentor"
''Well, and why not, indeed" asked
Horace instantly.
"And then" went on Hawcastle,
smiling, "and then 1t will be, why not
within a fortnight"
"Right-ow cried Horace. "And why
not within fortnightT
Almeric sat up and stared ut his no
BILE father and brother-in-law to be,
but the earl smiled once more that
cheerful smile and waved deprecat-
ing hand.
"Ah, you wonderful people! You are
whirlwinds, yet / see no reason why
II should not be in fortnight"
"Oh, here! / say, you known inter-
= Jected Almeric, heaving himself erect
In the chair and waving a protesting
crop. The earl turned on him In
stantly.