The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1909-09-03
The Betr
BY 6. PHILLIPS oPpENHEIM
Copyright. 1905. by Dodd. Mead & Co.


I passed on the sands below many
times without seeing 1t.
Rather q strange situation for .
house, is 1t not?v Lady Angela re-
marked. "My grandfather built 1t
for an old pensioner, but do not
think that 1t has been occupied for
some time"
We stood now on the edge Of tho
cliff, and she pointed downwards.
"There is little path there, you
see. leading to the sands" she
said. 1T saves you quite half the
distance to your cottage IL you do
not mind scramble" ssr
l thanked her and turned away.
But she almost Immediately called
me back.
mr. Ducaine!" ,.f
Lady Angela?" ea
Her dark eyes were fixed curl
ously upon my face. She seemed to
be weighing something in her
mind.
"Mr. Ducaine," she said at last,
ibid my father make you an offer
of employment this afternoon"
I was taken by surprise, but I
answered her without hesitation.
He made no definite Offer" I
said. "At the same time he asked
me a great many questions, for
which he must have had some rea-
son, and he gave me the idea that,
subject to the approval of some
others, he was thinking Of me in
connection with some post"
Colonel Ray was telling me, ;"
she said, 'how unfortune you have
been with your pupils. l wonder
don't you think perhaps that you
might get some others?"
II have tried I answered. $50
far l have not been lucky. At pres
ent, too, l scarcely see how could
expect to get any, for have no
where to put them. l had to give
up the lease of the Grange, and
there is no house round here which
E.could afford to take"
s."Iflyou could possibly find the
pupils" she said, hesitatingly, Il
should like to ask favor. Tho
Manor Farm ON the other side Of
the: Village is my own and l should
80 like it occupied. l would let it
to you furnished for E10 year.
There is man and his wife living
/ there now as caretakers. They
would be able to look after YOU
you are very kind" said, but
I am afraid l could not take advan-
tage of such an Offer
why not?"
81 have no claim upon you or
your father" l answered. I'VE are
almost strangers, are we not?
might accept and be grateful for
employment, but this is charity"
"A very conventional reply. Mr..
Ducaine," she remarked. with faint
sarcasm. II gave you credit for
larger view of things
There was cloud upon her face
and a nervousness in her manner
which l wholly failed to under
stand.
IF l were to tell YOU" she said.
raising her eyes suddenly to mine,
that your acceptance of my offer
would be a favor-would put me
under a real obligation to your"
81 should still have to remind
YOU" declared, that as yet l
have no pupils and it takes time to
get them. Further, l have arrived
at that position when immediate
employment. II it is molly as a
breaker OF stones upon the road.
Is necessity to me-"
She sighed.
MY father will offer you a post"
she said slowly. land you will &C.
cept 1t. l am sorry!"
Sorry" l exclaimed.
VERY. II l could find you those
pupils would" she continued. "If
| could persuade you to lay aside
for once the pride which a man
seems to think a part of his natural
equipment. 1t would make me very
happy. +"
stop" l interrupted. "You must
explain this, Lady Angela"
Explain is just what l cannot"
she said. sadly. THAT is what l
can never do"
(COntfnued