Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1909-10-02
Continued from last week. }


wish to speak to you"
Horace whlrled 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 al
American"
Horace planted himself squarely be
fore his interrogation.
Are you speaking to me?" he de
manded haughtily.
81 shouldn't be surprised" said Pike
genially. "Ain't you an Americana"
~ happen to have been born In the
States" replied Horace aggressively
and Pike smiled quizzically.
well. that was luck" he comment
ed, and as Horace turned again to &c
he said: Held 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.
"Is 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
mothers side. | want to see 'em both,
but it's the girl I'm really looking for"
"Will 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 dizzlly
and was supported by Nine. de Cham
pigny. The earl rose to his feet and
Horace staggered back.
"Whatw 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.
81 shall ask her." he began weakly
and shamefacedly. IF she will consent
to an interview"
Pike looked at him in amazement in
his turn.
"Interviewr he said. "Why, l want
to talk TO herr
Hawcastle. with some of his finer
feelings aroused, picked up his sister
in-law with his eyes, much as a clever
hostess picks up her feminine guests at
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
Inf tha piIyn af
ace pityingly.
Don't you understand" he said.
"Tm her guardian"
For a f1eeting 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 Il crush
Ing weight.
To her artificialized understanding
the disgrace was more than she could
ever hope to bear and Horace's ex-
pressed thought that he should never
be able to hold up his head again was
but vivification Of her own.
IL WOulu nave Deeu Ddu
enough. she told herself If this fearful
thing had come upon them privately.
but to have it 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 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
feeting impressions rose up before her
in all their vivid nakedness. Nine. de
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 plcbe-
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
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 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
ground her little boot heel into the
stone tagging. She glanced up and
saw that the common German was
at Pike with grave sympathy
and even understanding. and instantly
she hated him for It, Then she saw
him take his cap from the obsequious
Marinno and turn away. When he had
gone she said in low voice:
81 am Miss Granger-Simpson."