The Ordway new era., 1909-04-09

very beautiful young lady"
Sir Peter grinned like rat-trap NJ
this awkward compliment, and re-
marked:
Yes. yes, Arabella is like my lady,
except not half so handsome. Esad,
when | married Lady Hawkshaw,
had TO cut my way, literally with my
sword, through the body-guard of gen.
tlemen who wanted her, And as for
her relations-well, she defied 'em.
that's all
tried. with all the little art |
possessed. to get some information
concerning Arahella out of Sir Peter;
but beyond telling me what l knew
before-that she was his great-niece
ON the other side OF the house and first
cousin to Daphne, and that her father.
now dead was scamp and n pauper.
In spite OF being an earl-he told me
nothing. But even that seemed to
show the great gulf between us, Would
she. with her beauty and her title, con-
descend to n midshipman somewhat
younger than herself, and penniless? l
doubted It. though | was, in general.
OF sanguine nature.
found Sir Peter unbent rs the de-
canters grew empty. although l would
not for moment imply that he was
excessive in his drinking. Only, the
mellow glow which pervades an Eng
lish gentleman after n few glasses OF
good port enveloped him. He asked
me II was glad | had Joined the
scrvice-to which | could say yes with
uppp me-
my good fortune in getting In ship
OF the line in the beginning, and gave
me some admirable advice. | left him
with feeling that | had friend in
that excellent seaman. honest gentle
man. and odd fish. Admiral Sir Peter
Hawkshaw.
When went below. told my mess
mates all that had occurred. rather
exaEgerating Sir Peters attentions to
me, as midshipmeu will. Then private
" coufided to Giles Vernon. | told
what little | had found out concern
ing the star of my soul. as | called
Arabella. TO which Giles responded
by long-drawn-out "Ph-ew'"
implored him. II he knew any Of
fcer in the ship who would be likely
10 be acquainted with Lady Arabella,
to pump him for me. This he promised:
and the very next day. as sat on a
locker. studying my theorems, Giles
came up.
"Dickey." said he. MIR. Buxton
knows the divine Arabella. She has
4 fortune OF sSo,oOO. and so has the
doyC-eycd little Daphne, all inherited
from their Eranddad, rich Bombay
merchant II seems that Lady Ara.
bella's mother bought coronet with
her money. and It turned out poor
bargain. However, the earl did moi;
live long enough to ruin his fatheTin
law: and little Daphne's parents, too,
died young. so the old Bombay man
left the girls his fortune, and made
Sir Peter their guardian. and that
means. Of course. that Polly Hawk
shaw is their guardian. Mr.. Buxton
, SAYS he would like TO see the fortune
hunter who can rob Polly OF those two
damsels For Polly says rank and
lineage are no; everything. She her
self. you know. dates back 10 the
Saxon Heptarchy. though she did
marry the son Of your dTysaltins great
grandfather. And she wants those
girls to marry men: and what Polly
SAWS on that score is 10 be respected.
considering that she married into \
drysaltiuG family 20 please herself, or
to displease her relations, don't know
which. should say. though. II You
are honest and deserving, and mind
your book. and get a good word from
the chaplain. you will probably one
day be the husband Of little Daphne.
but not ot Lady ATabella; no man
shall marry her while live, that you
may be sure OF. but when marry her.
YOU may be side-Soy at my wedding"
/ thought this speech very cruel Of
Giles Vernon. and believed that he
did not know ~hs; true love was, else
he could not so tTife with my feelings,
although there was Al echo OF earnest
ness in his iatina;ioa that he would
XIII any man who aspired TO marry
Lady AraSeli&-
We were three weeks IN the Bay o:
Biscay. thrashias TO vfadvard under
topsallaat SAILS, and expecting daily
and hourly 70 run across a French
uaaa. We were hoping for IL, because
ve found the Ajax to be q ve-y wealth.
eriy ship and fast for her class; and
both Capt Guiltord and Sir Peter. who
had sailed IN her before. knew ex.
actly how 70 handle her. And we
were to have our wish. For, one even.
ing toward suatset- ve sighted q
French ship Of the line OF our beam /;
knd by the time ve had made her
out. light French tTieaie was coming
down the wind. and in 4a hour vs
were at Il hammer and toaes with
{ both Of them
cTo BE CoNTNUEDD