The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1909-06-10

Horace. with fear lending wings to
his scattered senses. sprang to his feet
and began to walk toward the grove
Pike looked up.
I'D better ask" he said. and then.
observing Horace. went on addressing
him: "Hey. there! Can YOU He
stared as the young man. paying no
attention, proceeded on his way. Pike
raised his voice.
Excuse me, son. amt you an Amer
icanr AS Horace paid no more atten-
ton he turned to Mariana. Here.
waiterl Tell that gentleman l want to
speak to him!'
Mariana sprang after the retreating
Horace
Pardon. m'sieu. the gentleman. he
wish to speak to you"
Horace whirled In an angry fash.
What gentleman" he demanded.
and Pike regarded him calmly.
II thought from your looks" he pro
ceeded quietly. you might be an
American"
Horace planted himself squarely be
IOre his l0teTTOBuloT
Are you speaking to me?" be de
manded haughtily.
81 shouldn't be surprised" said Pike
genially. Amt you an Americana
II happen to have been born In the
States" replied Horace aggressively,
and Pike smiled quizzically.
well. that was luck" be comment
ed, and as Horace turned again to go
he said: Hold on a minute! I'm look
ing for some Americans here. and |
expect you know 'em-boy and girl
named Simpson,
Horace flushed deeply to the roots of
his hair.
as there any possibility you mean
Granger-Simpson?" he asked, with
elaborate sarcasm. but this was lost
on Daniel
mo. sir: just plain Simpson. Gran
gers their middle name. That's for
old Jed Granger. grandfather on their
moth. RS side. | want to see 'em both.
but it's the girl I'm really looking for"
Twill you be good enough to state
any possible reason why Miss Granger
Simpson should see your and Pike
started In genuine astonishment.
Reason he reiterated. why. yes
I'm her guardian!
The effect Of this simple statement
was terrifying. Ethel reeled dizzily
and wns supported by Nine. de Cham
pigny. The earl rose to his feet. and
Horace staggered back.
"What!' he cried.
Yes. SIR" went on Pike-"Daniel
Voorhees, Pike, attorney at law, Koko-
mo. Ind"
Horace fell back from him In horri-
fed amazement.
II shall ask her." he began weakly
and shamefacedly, III she will consent
to an interview"
Pike looked ut him In amazement In
his turn.
interview" he said. "Why, 1 want
to talk to herr
Hawcastle. with some of his finer
feelings aroused. picked up his sister
in-law with his eyes, much as q clever
hostess picks up her feminine guests ut
dinner. and arose, turning to Ethel.
This shall make no difference to us,
my child" he said and. turning sharp
ly, took Lady Creech by the arm and
left the terrace. Pike looked at Hor-
ace pityingly.
Don't you understands he said.
Pm her guardian"
For fleeing instant Horace stared
at him and then dropped his chin and
walked away.
81 shall never hold up my head
again." he said.
The sudden horror of the revelation
that Horace had drawn forth bore
down upon Ethel's mind with crush
ing weight
To her artificialized understanding
the disgrace was more than she could
ever hope to bear. and Horaces ex-
pressed thought that he should never
be able to hold up his head again was
but a viyif1cation of her own.
Surely 1t would have been bad
enough, she told herself, If this fearful
thing had come upon them privately.
but to have 1t appear in the full light
Of day and in the very hearing of the
family of the man she was about to
marry was too cruel.
And with an inward groan she leaned
for a moment against the terrace wall
where the countess had left her When
the first establishment had passed and
she had time to realize what had &C.
CURED, events that had seemed but
fleeting impressions rose up before her
Champigny had looked at her with
astute contempt, she was sure. and she
dimly remembered seeing the look Of
Mortified amazement upon the patrician
features Of the Earl of Hawcastle.
Then. with an awakened resentment,
the fighting blood Of the sturdy plebe
ian Simpson stock. the stock that had
upheld its end in the battle against
oppression in several wars. came back
to her with rush. and she decided to
see this awful man and give him to
understand that he must go away at
once and never insult her again by
his uncouth and vulgar presence. Such
business as had to be transacted could
be done through an intermediary.
With a bracing of her spirit she
stepped forward resolutely and came
up close behind Pike as he stood with
dropping jaw gazing In perplexity
after the retreating Horace. Ethel cast
a look Of loathing upon the straight
back Of the guardian Of her peace and