Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1909-06-05

ny oc<iA hoFdCe Gr6ugCss
seempsonF she said excitedly. Has
your sister told your
Horace swallowed once or tylee
sayagely and then made a heroic ef-
Tort to keep down the radiance that
was choking him. made two efectual
dabs at bis eyes with the handkerchief
ne took from his sleeve and responded
Joyfully, though brokenly:
she has. indeed | assure Won am
quite overcome. my dear friends
Really, assure you"
With a silvery laugh Nine. de Cham
pigny stepped backward from him
making little courtesy as she did so.
The earl came forward with ont
stretched hands and grasped one OF
Horace's between both his own.
My dear young friend" he said.
Not at ail-not at ALL"
As the remark seemed a trihe am
oiguous, Horace looked at him inouir-
ingly, but. reading reinsurance I'm his
face, replied instantly:
4 assure you am 1 assure Won
am. It's quite overpowering. isn't itY'
with look OF commiseration the
countess regarded him ana said softly.
"Ah. poor NJ. HoraceY'
From his sprawled attitude in the
chair the honorable Almeric drawled
a protest
i sayl Don't take 1t that way. YOU
know. She's very happy"
Horace recovered himself INSTANTLY
ana crossed the terrace quickly to
grasp the hand OF the bridegroom TO
De The fact that II was as limp as a
nackerei did not worry him an instant
She's worthy OF fishes worthy OF
II! know she Isl And when win II
be. st. Aubyn?' be said.
"Enchantingr' cried the countess en-
Enthusiastically. SO clear is his rrasn
OF the case. ehT'
HawcRstle flashed her a glance and
turned to Horace.
"Oh, the dateY' he said doubtfullv.
i dare say within a 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
eontented himself with saying:
Oh but say, you know, isn't
that putting II jolly far on7 The
things settled isn't Il? Why not say
a month instead OF a Year,"
"Ha-hum," said the earl. "Oh. ~
you like, / don't know that there is
any real objection"
Il do, indeed" returned Horace.
See here, Why not iet them marry
here In Italy1"
Hawcastle could scarcely conceal his
satisfaction. while Nine. de Cham
pigny executed q bit OF a pas seul be-
hind Honce's back
"Ah. the dashing methods OF YOU
Americans" returned the earl smil-
ingly. "Yor carry things on SO! Next
you'll be saying. Why not here at Scr
reutoT~"
We'll. and why not, ipdeedY' asked
Horace instantly.
And then" went on Hawcastle.
smiling. and then Il Will be, Why not
within a foItnightr"
"Right-ow cried Horace. And why
not within a fortnightT"
Almeric sat up and stared at his no
bic father and brOther-in-law TO be.
but the earl smiled once more that
cheerful smile and waved a deprecat-
ing hand.
"Ah. you wonderful peoplel You are
whirlwinds. yet l see no reason why
II should not be IN a fortnight"
"Oh, herel l say, you known inter
jected Almeric. heaving himself erect
in the chair and waving a protesting
crop. The earl turned on him in
stantly.
AS say. dear boy. why not7" he
inquired suavely, and Almeric wilted
Just as you say. governor" he an
swered meekly.
Enchanting Bravar' cried the
countess. and Hawcastle again turned
TO the palpitating Horace.
MY sen is all impatience," he muir
INJURED, fixing the young man with his
eye.
quite so. quite sog' answered AL
meric dazedly. and his father went on:
Shall we dispose OF the necessary
little details at once-the various mi
nor arrangements. the-er-er-settle-
ment?" and interrupted himself with
a. friendly laugh and ted Horace
upon the back "Of course as men Of
the world-our world-you understand
there are formaliues IN the nature OF
a settlement"
Horace. who was IN the seventh
heaven OF delight at the approaching
alliance between one OF the ancient
houses OF KOkomo. Ind, and the hon
orable line OF Hawcastle, broke In
eagerly:
quite so. OF counsel I knowl Ger
tainly! PerfectlyP'
Then wen have no difficulty about
that my boy. III wire my solicitor
tonight and hen be here within two
days" said the earl carelessly. "If
you wish TO consult your own solicitor
you can cable him, OF course"
Suddenly Horace seemed taken with
a 1T OF embarrassment.
The fact is. Lord Hawcastle." ne
said, I've a notion that our solicitor
.Ethers man Of business. that is
from Kokomo, Ind. where our govern
or lived-in fact. a sort Of guardian OF