The Somerset reporter., 1909-06-03

ON last Week
| no occasion for this fellow to look us
up, but he's never opposed anything
/ Ethel wrote for. He seems to be an
easy going old chap"
HUM said Hawcastle doubtfully.
Would he consent to your sisters
marriage-or the matter of a settle
ment?"
Horace laughed cheerfully.
II have no doubt of it. If he has
the slightest sense of duty toward my
sister he'll be the first to welcome the
alliance, won't he?"
Then when he and my solicitor come
they can have an evening together over
lot of musty papers. and the thing
will be done. Again. my boy, well
come you to our family God bless
you!"
He wrung Horace's hand again and
turned away as If to hide his emotion
but really to wink at the countess.
I'm overpowered, you know-real
~ overpowered, you know" stammered
Horace, tanning himself desperately
with his hat.
Come, Almeric," said the earl, and
as the youthful heir to his house arose
languidly he sided close to the count
ess and whispered In her ear:
Let him know It's a hundred and
fifty thousand"
Then he and Almeric went up the
steps into the hotel leaving Horace
and the countess gazing at each other
delightedly.
She crossed over to him impulsively
and, taking both his hands again. said
my friend. am happy for you"
"Think of it, said Horace joyously
"In fortnight at the most dear old
Ethel will be the Hon. Mrs. St Aubyn
future Countess Of Hawcastler'
Yes" replied the countess. with
drawing her hands and picking up her
parasol, "and there is but the little ar
rangement of the settlement between
your advocate and Lord wcastles
But you Americans-you laugh ut such
things. You are big. so big. like your
country
Horace followed her across the ter
race TO the wall
"Ah, believe me- dear countess" he
said, 1.-THE great world-your world
countess - has thoroughly alienated
me-"
The countess turned her shapely
head and looked at him admirinsly
and with a touch of irony Mt the sur
prise she was about to give him.
"Ah you retain one quality. You are
careless. you are free" and she laid
her right hand upon his arm. and Hor-
ace thrilled Mt the intimate touch.
well" he laughed, perhaps in
those things | am American. but in
others l fancy l should be thought
something else, shouldn't ~
She laughed openly at him now. bat
earnestly withal. and said:
you are debonair man Of the
world. and yet you are still American
in that you are abominably rich. The
settlement-such matter as that, over
which Frenchman, an Italian, might
hesftate-you laugh. Such matter as
f150000-you set 1t aside. you laugh.
You say. oh. yes: take it!"
For moment she feared that Hor,
ace would fall over the low parapet.
so white did his face become and then
so flushed. but the boy was game all
through. The generations Of simple
Indiana stock came to his rescue, and
he steeled himself with an effoSt and
replied quietly:
"a hundred and fifty thousand
pounds! Why, that's seven hundred
and nifty thous-I say, countess. she
couldn't use the money to bother ad-
vantager'
There was real admiration In the
Frenchwoman's glance this time. for
she had lost none of the little byplay,
and she admired the courage Of the
youngster so she said:
my friend. how wise you axei-
AS she spoke she turned In time 10
see Ethel come down the steps of the
hotel with book beneath her arm and
ran to her clasping her in her arms
and kissing her.