Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1909-07-16

fort to keep down the radiance that
was choking him. made two effectual
dabs at his eyes with the handkerchief
he took from his sleeve and responded
joyfully, though brokenly:
"She has, indeed. | assure you am
quite overcome, my dear friends
Really, l assure you"
With silvery laugh Nine. de Cham
pigny stepped backward from him,
making little courtesy rs she did so.
The earl came forward with out
stretched hands and grasped one of
Horaces between both his own.
my dear young friend" he said.
Not at all-not at ALL
AS the remark seemed a trife am
biguous, Horace looked at him inuuir-
ingly, but, reading reinsurance in his
face, replied instantly:
81 assure you | am. | assure you |
am. It's quite overpowering, isn't it,"
With a look of commiseration the
countess regarded him and said softly:
"Ah, poor NJ. Horacer
From his sprawed attitude in the
chair the honorable Almeric drawled
a protest.
Il say! Don't take it that way, you
know. She's very happy"
Horace recovered himself instantly
and crossed the terrace quickly to
grasp the hand of the bridegroom to
be. The fact that it was as limp as
mackerel did not worry him an instant
shes worthy of fishes worthy of
1t! ! know she Isl And when will it
be, st. Aubyn?" he said.
"Enchanting" cried the countess en-
Enthusiastically. 80 clear is his grasp
of the case. eh?"
Hawcastle flashed her a glance and
turned to Horace.
"Oh, the date?" he said doubtfully
Il 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
contented himself with saying:
"Oh, but l say, you know, isn't
that putting it jolly far off? The
things settled, isn't it? Why not say
u month instead of n year,
"Ha-hum" said the earl. "Oh, if
you like. don't know that there is
any real objection.'
Il do. indeed" returned Horace.
See here. Why not let them marry
here in Italy"
Hawcastle could scarcely conceal his
satisfaction while Nine. de Cham
pigny executed a bit of a pas seul be-
hind Iorace's back.
All, the dashing methods Of you
Americansr returned the earl smiL
insly You carry things on So Next
you'll be saying, Why not here at Sor-
rento|"
well, and why not, indeed?' asked
Horace instantly.
And then" went on Hawcastle,
smiling, and then it will be, why not
within a fortnightY"
"Right-o!' cried Horace. And why
not within fortnight?'
Almeric sat up and stared at his no.
BILE 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 people! You are
whirlwinds. yet see no reason why
it should not be in fortnight"
ooh, here! l say, you KNOW! inter
jected Almeric, heaving himself erect
in the chair and waving a protesting
crop The earl turned on him in.
stantly.
LAS l say, dear boy, why not?" he
inquired suavely, and Almeric wilted
Immediately.
Just as you say, governor" he an
swered meekly.
Enchanting! Bravav' cried the
countess, and Hawcastle again turned
to the palpitating Horace.
my son is all impotence" he muir
INJURED, fixing the young man with his
eye.
"Quite so, quite sov' answered AL
merle 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 patted Horace
upon the back. "Of course as men Of
the world-our world-you understand
there are formalities 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 course! l know! Ger
tainly! Perfectlyw
Then Wen have no difficulty about
that, my boy. I'll wire my solicitor
tonight and he'll be here within two
days" said the earl carelessly. al
you wish to consult your own solicitor
you can cable him, Of course"
Suddenly Horace seemed taken with
fit of embarrassment.
1.-THE fact is, Lord Hawcastle," he
said, "I've Il notion that our solicitor