The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1909-06-18

AOEt 10 Keep uONu the radiance tina
was choking him. made two effectua
dabs at his eyes with the handkerchie
he took from his sleeve and responde,
joyfully, though brokenly:
NShe has. indeed | assure you l an
| quite overcome, my dear friends
Really, | assure you"
With a silvery laugh Nine. de Cham
pigny stepped backward from him
making little courtesy as she did so
The earl came forward with out
stretched hands and grasped one Of
Horace's between both his own.
MY dear young friend" he said
Not at all-not at ALL"
As the remark seemed a trifle am
biguous, Horace looked at him inquir.
ingly, but, reading reinsurance in his
face, replied instantly:
Il assure you | am. | assure you |
am. It's quite overpowering, isn't itY
With a look of commiseration the
countess regarded him and said softly:
"Ah. poor NJ. Horacep'
From his sprawled attitude in the
chair the honorable Almeric drawled
a protest
81 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 a
mackerel did not worry him an instant
She's worthy of fishes worthy Of
til l know she is! And when will it
be, st. Aubyn?' he said.
Enchanting" cried the countess en-
Enthusiastically. so clear is his grasp
of the case, ehY'
Hawcastle flashed her a glance and
turned to Horace.
"Oh. the date?" he said doubtfully.
81 dare say within 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
a month instead of a year"
"Ha-hum" said the earl. "Oh, If
you like! / don't know that there is
any real objection"
II do, indeed" returned Horace.
See here Why not let them marry
here In Italyr
Hawcastle could scarcely conceal his
satisfaction, while Nine. de Cham
pigny executed bit of pas seul be-
hind Horace's back.
"Ah, the dash.ng methods. -of-J1an
Americansr' returned the earl smil- |
ingly. you carry things on so! Next
you'll be saying. why not here at Sor-
well. and why not, indeed?' asked
Horace instantly.
"And then" went on Hawcastle,
smiling, "and then it will be, why not
within a fortnlghtT"
"Right-or' cried Horace. And why
not within a fortnightT
Almeric sat up and stared at his no
BILE father and brother-ln-law to be,
but the earl smiled once more that
cheerful smile and waved a deprecat-
ing hand.
"Ah, you wonderful people! You are
yet | see no reason why
t should not be In a fortnight"
"Oh, here | say, you know iDter-
Iected Almeric. heaving himself erect
N the chair and waving a protesting
crop. The earl turned on him In
;tantly.
LAS say, dear boy. why notf" he
inquired suavely. and Almeric wilted
Just as you say. governor" he an
;wered meekly.
Enchanting! BravaT cried the
and Hawcastle again turned
o the palpltating Horace.
MY son is all impotence" he muir
nured. fixing the young man with his
we.
"Quite so. quite sou answered Al
neric dazedly, and his father went on:
"Shall we dispose Of the necessary
title details at once-the various NIL
Tor arrangements. the-er-er-settle-
nentl" and interrupted himself with
friendly laugh and patted Horace
Ipon the back. "Of course as men Of
he world-our world-you understand
here are formalities in the nature Of
settlement"
Horace, who was In the seventh
Ieaven Of selight at the approaching
- - fhn Qnnfanf ]
Iouses Of Kokomo. Ind, and the hon
rable line Of Hawcastle. broke In
agerly:
Quite so. Of counsel I knowl Ger
ainlyl Perfectlyr'
Then wen have no difficulty about
hat. my boy. I'll wire my solicitor
onight and he'll be here within two
avs" said the earl carelessly. IF
on wish to consult your own solicitor
on can cable him, OF course"
Suddenly Horace seemed taken with
At Of embarrassment
The fact Is. Lord Hawcastle," he
aid. 1--WE a notion that our solicitor :
-Ethers man Of sasiness. that is
rom Kokomo. Ind. where our govern
r uved-in fact. a sort Of guardian Of
ers-may be here at any time. I've
card from friends that he Is coming
! this direction"
The word had caught Hawcastie's
tfention. and he leaped at It.
a sort Of guardiani What sort.
hT' he inquired seemingly taken
back.
Il really can't say" replied Horace
Never saw him that !
now Of. You see. we've been on this
de 50 many years. and there's been
o occasion for this fellow TO look us
?. but he's never opposed anything
thel wrote for. He seems 70 be an