Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-06-28

| life, and THAT naturally counts Tor
good deal with me- And how Is youl
niece after last nights terrible expert
erce?'
"My niece? Dye mean Iris?" de
manded Bulmer, obviously somewhat
annoyed.
"Yes."
"She's not my niece. She's
Your granddaughter, then"
"No, sir That young lady as done
me the honor of promisin' to be my
WIFE"
"Ohr said Dom Corria, fixing his
brilliant eyes on Bulmer's vexed face.
There's no oh about It," growled
Dickey. ut was all cut an dried
weeks ago, an she 'asn't rued Of 'el
bargain yet, as far as l can make out
you mean that the marriage was
arranged before the Andromeda sail
ed?' said Dom Corria gently.
IVY, of course. 1t couldn't very
well be fixed after, could it?"
"No-not as between you and her
I can vouch for that. Forgive me, Mr.
Bulmer. | have a daughter Of mar
riageable age, you know, and | speak
as n parent. Do you think that 1t is
wise thing for man Of your years
to marry girl Of twenty"
"If l didn't l wouldn't do It."
"But NAV ii not be selfish?'
Then downright Lancashire tool
hold Of the argument
"Look ERE! Wot are you drivin' atT
demanded Dickey, now in white
heat of anger. He had yet to learn
that the president preferred straight
forward way Of talking.
II want you to forego this mar
riage," he said.
"WhyT
Because that charming girl loves
another man, but feels that she Is
bound to you. / understand the posi-
ton ut last. Mr.. Bulmer, you cannot
wish to break her heart and drive thai
fine young fellow, Philip Hozier, tc
despair. Come, now! Let you and
me reason this thing together. Posi-
bly, when she agreed to marry you she
did not know what love was. She Is
high minded, an idealist, the soul OF
honor. What other woman would have
consented to be separated from hel
friends on Fernando Noronha merely
because 1t increased their meagel
chances Of safety? How few women
loving a man like Philip Hozier, who
is assured of splendid reward for his
services to this state, would resolutely
DENY the claims Of her own heart In
order to keep her word"
Bulmer had never heard any one
speak with the crystal directness oi
Dom Corria. Each word Clipped
away some part Of the fence which he
had deliberately erected around bis
own intelligence. Certain facts had
found crevices in the barrier already
Dom Corria broke down whole sec
tions. But he was a hard man and
stubborn, and his heart was set on
Iris.
"You. are mighty sure she is wrap
ned up in this young spark he
growled.
"Were l not would not Lave inter
fered. Take my advice. First ask
Yourself an honest question, then ask
the girl. She will answer. l promise
you that"
"1'm a rich man." persisted Dickey.
Eyes"
Nobody forced 'er one way or the
other"
POSSIBLY. One wonders, though
why she hid herself on the Androm-
eda."
"Its true, l tell you. David said
"Who Is DavidT"
"Her uncle"
"In England, take 1t, II man
wishes to marry girl he does not woo
her uncle. OF course these customs
vary. Here In Brazil
Then Bulmer said something about
Brazil that was not TO be expected
from one of his staid demeanor. In
fact, he regarded Brazil as the cause
of the whole trouble, and his opinion
concerning that marvellous land coin,
cided with Hoziers. He turned and
walked away, looking trifle older, a
trife more bent perhaps, than when he
came out Of the house.
An hour later Dom Corria and Car
mela met in corridor. They were dis
cusslng arrangements for speedy
move to the capital when Iris ran into
them. Her face was flushed, and she
had been crying. Much to Carmela's
amazement, the English girl clasped
her round the neck and kissed her.
"Tell your father, my dear, that he
has been very good to me-" she whis'
pered. Then her face grew scarlet
again, and she hurried away.
"Excellentw said the president.
.That old man is gentleman. His
friend is not. Yet they are very much
alike In other respects. Odd thing!
Carmela, cara, can you spare a few
minutes from your invalid?
Eyes, father"
"Go, then, and find that young ENG