The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1909-02-02
On theEdge.
BY BARRY PRESTON.
Copyrighted. 1909. by Associated
Literary Press.


@You are very much in love with /
him, dear, aren't your Mrs. Brevort
inquired, not without a certain doubt
full note in her tone, which seemed to
hint that such possibly might not be
the case.
The girl who stood by the window,
looking out at the uneven pavements
Of the Roman street, turned slowly
and smiled. In that smile were weari
ness and subtle understanding and pa
tient resignation.
Eyes, I am very much in love with
him, Aunt Elinor," she said in a col
orless voice, as If she We're saying the
words more because they were expect
ed Of her than for any other reason.
Mrs. .Brevort smiled her open APP
prevail The little frown of doubt
which for the past few moments had
wrinkled her brow suddenly disap-
peared. She crossed the room to the
girls side and threw an arm about
her.
''Of course, dearie," she cooed, your
happiness is my first, I might almost
say my only, concern. No one realizes
better than I the portent of this step
that all your future, all your lifelong
happiness depends upon it, No one, I
think you'll admit, too, is more ayerse
to the majority of these marriages
than I am, but the duke is so utterly
different from all the other eligible
men we have met. He is not seeking
your money, dear, for he is immensely
wealthy in his own right. He is an
upright, honest, splendid type of an
more like our own men in America,
think, than any one we have seen.
Isn't that your impression Of himT'
''Yes,'' said the girl in the same col
| orless voice.
Mrs. Breyort's pale face grew rather
eager Somehow have felt from the
| first that your destinies were linked,
yours and his" said she, but when
he talked with me this afternoon
understand that the matter rested pri-
marily with you; that it was your hap
piness that was at stake.
HE didn't seem quite to understand
my attitude at first, but he was per-
fectly charming about it, as he is in
everything He said 1 was to speak to
you and that he would call for me this
afternoon at 4 in the road car, and
while we went out to the aqueduct
could give him my final decision, or,
rather, yours"
The girl had turned again to the
window. She was looking distracted
ly at the passing crowd in the street
below Her brow was furrowed by a
little disfguring frown. Her lips were
set tightly together. Her eyes were
troubled
$50 suppose am to give him a ia
vorable answer, am 1 not?' Mrs. Bre
wort suggested tentatively.
The girl was silent The troubled
look in her eyes grew more pronounc
ed. Her aunt watched her narrowly
and with growing impotence.
Peggy, dear, 1 asked you a ques
tion," she reminded her niece. rs it {
favorable answer am to give?'
The girl shrugged her dainty shout
ders. Yes, yes; oh, yes!' she saiC
hurriedly. 1T doesn't matter" He
voice suddenly choked. Nothing mat
tersY'
\ Mrs. Brevort elevated her brows
Really, Peggy she began chidingly
But the girl turned swiftly and lef
the room, waving back the older WON
8 an, who started to follow her. Some
. thing like smothered sob sounded a
B the door closed behind her.
Mrs. Brevort looked rather angry 70
= moment Then she recovered he
usual composure and smiled. But Their
was something distinctly unpleasant Il
that smile.
She glanced at the bronze clock tick
a ing unobtrusively on the mantel.
pointed to half after 3. She went to
s desk near the front window and froI
a drawer drew out bundle Of letters
They were all directed in the sam
- hand-Peggy's hand. And they wer
all addressed to Mr. William Hale, q
some outlandish Spanish soundin
| town In Ecuador, South America
Mrs. Brevort smiled again. 1t ha
cost her a pretty penny to circumver
the mailing of those letters, but ther
are many itching palms in Rome, an
= what good money will not accomplish
- If it is judiciously placed, is not wort
accomplishing.
An open fire burned duly in th
crate beneath the mantel. Mrs. Br
wort stepped briskly over to it and fe
the bundle of letters to the flame
She watched grimly until there we
nothing left of them save few gra
white ashes.
Then from another drawer she toe
out another bundle of letters. The
were thick letters, all of them. tt
SPRAYING superscriptions were all fl
Peggy, and they were postmarked wit
the name of the Spanish town in Ecu
dor.
Other itching Roman palms had bee
soothed in the conventional way
+ bring those epistles into Mrs. Brevort
possession.
Ps These, too, she consigned to Il
M CRATE, watched them burn and the
to arrayed herself for her appointmel
all with the duke.
AZ rraafcaIv A he 20 mo IN, tho ros