The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-06-10
The Man
From Home
By BOOTH
HARRINGTON
and
HARRY LEON
WILSON

any possible reason why Miss Granger
Simpson should see you?" and Pike
started in genuine establishment.
Reason he reiterated. "Why, yes.
I'm her guardian"
The effect Of this simple statement
was terrifying. Ethel reeled dizzily
and was supported by Nine. de Cham
pigny. The earl rose to his feet, and
Horace staggered back.
What" he cried.
eyes, 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, ST she will consent
to an interview"
Pike looked at him In amaZement in
his turn.
"1ntervieww he said. "Why, want
to talk to herr
Hawcastle, with some Of his finer
feelings aroused, picked up lis sister
in-law with his eyes, much as 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
~, took Lady Creech by the arm and
left the terrace Pike looked at Hor-
ace pitvinglg.
"Dc gu understand" he said.
I'm / guardian"
For a feeting instant Horace stared
at him and then dropped his chin and
walked away.
Il shall never hold up my head
again." he said.
The sudden horror Of the revelation
that Horace had drawn forth bore
down upon Ethels mind with a 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 a Vivification of her own.
Surely it would have been bad
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 a moment against the terrace wall
! where the countess had left her When
the first establishment had passed and
e,I, hnI b. jr.o hat
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 Amusement 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 hac
upheld its end in the battle against
| oppression in several wars, came back
to her with a 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
ground her little boot heel into the
stone tagging. She glanced up and
saw that the common German was
looking 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
Mariana and turn away. When he had
gone she said in low voice:
81 am Miss Granger Simpson"