Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1909-05-13
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CHAPTER NJ.

aTPT UOIe came HuOIIieT lToli MI L cS
ram requesting to know when it would
be convenient for him to wait upon his
lordShip upon a matter of business to
which the Niscount replied, he should be
at home the next day at twelve.
Punctual to the moment came Mr.. Peg
rams knock at the door. and in another
moment he was ushered into the Wis
counts snuggery. Lord Lakinston looked
his visitor sharply over as he motioned
him to a chair little wizened old man,
with Spiky hair of iron grey, and small,
keen, restless eyes. "A more uncompro-
missing person to do business with
thought his lordShip. Il think have sell
dom come across"
Il have ventured 10 request You TO see
me on a matter of business. Lord LAX
ington. in consequence of some conversa-
tion | had with our mutual friend, Mr..
Hcmmingby, last week. We are both. 1t
seems. concerned in the impending decis-
ion of this great lottery. In all human
probability, the eight thousand per an
mum it represents must fall TO either you
or | in the course of the next year or
two. 1t is a very big property. my lord,
and would bear dividing. Many people,
for instance. would think it more judi
cious to make a certainty of half than,
by seeing their luck out, lose all. do
not know whether | am right. but l rath-
er understood Mr.. Hemmingby that you
were somewhat of this way of thinking
Il have gambled. Mr.. Pegram, as high
as most men of nay time, but | have done
with all that now. and | honestly own |
should be quite content to make GER
tainty of four thousand year"
And yet it seems a pity not to leave
such a fine property intact. | am great
advocate for the law of primogeniture.
have always been thankful that | have
but one child myself-a son, my lord
You know best. perhaps. Mr.. Pegram."
replied Lord Lakington. with languld
smile: but do you really think that your
family affairs have any bearing upon the
matter in hand?'
Il think they have" replied the law
yer dryly. suppose | could show you
scheme tv which this four thousand a
year should be insured to you for life.
while the other half of the 'Tontine
would at once become the income of your
daughter. the whole eight thousand per
annum becoming her property at your
death. told you, my lord. tl4at | had
one son you, | understand. have also an
only daughter If you will consent to
their making a match of it, will settle
my half of the 'Tontine on your daugh-
ter at her marriage. Your half would,
OF course remain as it is. with the sole
condition that it went TO your daughter
At your DEATH
Lord I.akington rose slowly from his
chair with set look upon his face that
even the old lawyer could see BODIED dan
ger. "Do you know. sir" said the Vis-
count, in low, measured tones, that if
you were a few years younger | should
probably throw you out of the window
II beg pardon. my lord said the law
yer in the most deprecatOry tones, but
It is so obviously the way to keep the
propertv together OF course | know Bob
is no match for the Honorable Miss Phil
Tmore but | thought that. under the cir
cumstances. | might venture to suggest
1t to your lordship: and again. | had not
time to mention it before but | shall
have something pretty comfortable tc
leave behind me when my time comes and
that of course would go to my SON
II tell you once for all. Mr.. Pegram
that YOUR proposition is ridiculous, | may
say impertinent. | was in hopes yor
had some reasonable compromise to otfel
me. When you have | shall be happy t'
see you again In the meanwhile | have
the honor to wish you good morning,
and as he finished. Lord Lakington lait
his hand on the bell.
Good morning, my lord. good morning
If YOU could only be brought to see it il
q business point of view. it is the mos
nerfect arrangement that could possibl.
he made. Bob will be sorely disappointed
when he hears your lordship will no
consent"
Lord Iakington paced up and down hi
little room in a perfect storm of indig
nation for good half hour after Nh
pepram left him. but gradually he foun
himself reverting to the old lawyers idea
What a confounded pity. he thought. tn
follow is not a gentleman Every poin
that the old lawyer had so artfully in
stilled into his mind recalled itself. A
she end of the week a note reached Nj
pegram 10 the effect that. considerin
what large sum of money was involved
lord Iakington thought it would be ad
visable TO see Mr.. Pegram again. to dis
cuss if the compromise of the "Tontine
was possible between them.
Some four or five days had elapse
.;nce Robert Pegram had made his frs
onnearance in Victoria road, and sti
lord Lakington had not broken the ir
,ontion of his being there to his daughter
7. was not that the Niscount faltere
tbe least in his purpose. lie had reason
cd himself quite comfortably into tn
idea that he was promoting his daughter
banniness by furthering this marriage
.nd still more clearly did he see that sue
an arrangement would ensure his ow
comfort for his lifetime; but yet, wit
ali this, he felt a lurking suspicion ina
sbis marriage would be highly distastefl
TO Beatrice.
"Reatrice." said the Viscount one da.
.,, has become necessary that | shoul
,,aLe Won clearly understand the yer
nsinful situation in which | am place'
FIfteen, or even ten, years ago wa
that most abject thing on earth-a pa'
.,.r oeer. shrinking from my fellows .