Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1909-05-20
CHAPTER XIV,


Jack Philimore was as energetic a
Young gentleman of eight t-and-twenty as
needs be. OF restless and active dis
position, he was not at all the man TO
sit with his arms crossed under any cir
cumstances That he should engage In
this campaign against the Pegrams with
with all his characteristic energy was
only natural 1t was a fight for the hand
Of the girl he loved, wholesome animosity
towards a rival that can always be de-
pended upon in the glamor of first pas
sion. He was in the Victoria road soon
after twelve and, asking for Mrs. Lyme
Wregis found that lady, as he anticipated
in the drawing room alone.
Il am afraid I did not play my cards
well yesterday" said Jack, the first greet
ings passed Il little lost my temper
| was tried rather hardly
Yes" replied Mrs Lyme Wregis you
had chance and failed TO take advantage
of it. There was moment when she
was in a melting mood; and If you had
only been tender with her then. | think
the chances are that she would have con-
fessed everything, and we should at least
| have known the why of this strange
marriage"
| ~ must do nv best to remedy the mis-
take. In the meantime. strictly between
ourselves you will promise me. Mrs
| LYME Wregis, not even to hint. not to
breathe n word of what | am going to
tell you!"
"You NAV rely upon my silence" said
! the old lady.
-+oI 70 mo
| there is something not quite right about
these Pegrams. and surely that Is point
that ought to be cleared up. | am given
| to understand that the man who holds
| possession Of the clue quite declines to
open his mouth on the matter unless he
is first firmly convinced that Beatrice is
in reality averse to this proposed mar
riage"
"Well, why do you not tell him that
she is so?'
"Ah, you see that. as rejected lover,
he would hardly credit my evidence on
that point. There is only one person
| that I can think of whom he is likely to
accept as an authority, and that is your
| self"
Me, But who on earth. pray, is this
mysterious unknown? and when, where,
and how does he expect me to testify"'
You know Mr.. Hemmingby, manager
of the Vivacity Theater, | thinkF"
"Yes very slightly; Lakington has
brought him up into our box once or
twice. ! am quite willing, if it pleases
Won. to admit that he seemed a pleas
ant. gentlemanly man enough; but you
| to nd
| him to the family counsels"
And yet if you do not. | don't know
how we are to get this clue that | re-
quire."
But. my dear Jack. it is impossible l
cannot write to a man | only Just know
about such an extremely delicate subject
as this. You must see that yourself"
"Yes. | will admit it is very awkward !;
but I do not know what else to suggest.
You would do a good deal to break off
this Pegram marriage, would you not:'
Most decidedly. although | should be
running in direct opposition to your un-
Gle. Still. | am convinced that Beatrices
heart is not in it. and that nothing but
unhapDness can come of it: but | do not
see it is possible for me to write to Mr..
Hcmmingby.'
stop. think l have it. You cannot
write TO Mr.. Hemmingby: but there is
no reason why you should not write a
letter to me. which | can show to him
and which will doubtless have the same
| effect"
Il do not mind doing that, Jack" re-
piled the old lady; only, remember, |
must not be supposed TO know that it is
going to be shown TO anybody, nor do
want 10 know anything about what you
are doing for the present 1t will be
quite sufficient for me to hear all about
! ii whenever you have that to tell to Mr..
Peeram's disadvantage which shall make
this marriage impossible. Their attempt
ing to keep me hoodwinked about the
real reasons of this match is simply a
gross piece Of disrespect on both their
parts. No: have argued my best against
this marriage with each of them, and now
trust | am about to do something more.
And so saying. the old lady rose, and
proceeded TO write rapidly for two or
three minutes She folded up her note,
placed it in an envelope, directed 1t. and
then. TO Jack Phillimore's astonishmentr
proceeded to fasten It and stamp it.
There" she said, as she handed 1t to
him. You will find that all you want; but
I prefer that 1t should go through the
post, so that there may be no suspicion
o. its having been written for Mr.. Hem
mingby's perusal. Drop 1t into the pillar
box"
Thank you very much" said Jack. a.