Staunton spectator and vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1896-1916, 1910-04-22

large vase from its bracket. The
sound Of breakage mingled with and
obliterated that low cry on its way to
the ears of his excited friends.
Poor fellow!" said North, with con-
viction.
who's his heir? There-ll be a new
defendant for you to fight"
Would they never go? They dis
cussed the affair endlessly. There
was Lallege behind the curtain, while
her aunt in commissions occupied the
background of North's thoughts.
Twelve struck. At last they were
gone. Lallege emerged from the silken
folds. North stopped to recover her
fallen cloak and scarf. AS he bent
behind the drapery Lallege heard
step ring on the mosaic of the hall.
A virile voice sounded:
North! What, julius. still on
deck?"
"Goodness!" said Lallege, wildly.
"Do you hold all-night receptions for
your men friends?"
The curtain was hopelessly disar-
ranged, but the room had little bal
cow upon which glass door. silk
draped, opened. This door was near.
Lallege stepped to the balcony and
pulled the door after her, but it did
not quite close, and she dared not
touch it again, for the strong voice
spoke in the room she had left
$50 you heard of Sandys' death?"
This was Pettibone, leading counsel
for North in the "Venning Will Case"
He detailed Sandys' sudden death,
of which he had been witness. Lal-
lege listened
"Confound it, North, where is all
this draught coming from? You seem
to live in the Cave of the Winds!"
Pettibone was elderly and testy. He
spied the balcony door and tried to
crowd it shut. 1t rebelled, because
fold of Miss Testers gown lay upon
the lower hinge. Pettibone jerked the
| door wide open to see what was the
matter. Lo! very beautiful young
woman in a Powered silk home dress
with point lace at neck and sleeves.
| Pettibone whistled
A spark in powder barrel produces
| immediate results. Lallege had, life
| long, been adulated, accustomed to
hats off and Difference. She had never
before been whistled at Rage over
| topped all other emotions-all re-
solves. She had but one refuge from
this low-minded, insufferable, hideous,
| inopportune, hateful old man! That
| refuge was julius North himself.
| Something of the tranquil, unsearch-
able, protective strength of the skies,
! at which she had just been gazing,
| seemed in his face as he stepped to-
wards her when she was revealed by
Petitioners act. Lallege did not hest
tate; she moved proudly into the
room, took Norths arm, leaned on it
confidently, and in the sweetest of
voices said:
"My dear, perhaps the room is cold.
| We do not feel chill as old people
| do. No doubt your friend has rheu-
matism"
| Now, this was distinctly venomous,
for Pettibone was always grasping
at vanished youth, and fought fierce
ly the Entertainments and approaches
Of age. Then Lallege and Julius looked
each other in the face.
Lallege had misled Todd; now she
undertook to hoodwink old Pettibone.
julius was jubilantly resolute to have
no mistake made here at the last, no
loophole for this delicious creatures
retreat.
Eyes, yes, Pettibone," he said, his
words ecstatically tumbling over each
other, "close the door, Mrs. North will
not object. Mrs. North, may present
my lawyer, Mr.. Pettibone? Pettibone,
congratulations are now in order, al
though we had not intended to pub
lish the fact quite SO soon."
Congratulations! l should say So"
cried Pettibone, regarding with pleas
ure the handsome pair. Happy man!
| What march you have stolen upon
us! Mrs. North, my ignorance of your
presence must plead my excuse for
my. unceremonious entrance at this
hour. Such tremendous incident as
Sandys' death hurried me here to see
North and learn whether he will carry
his case up or come, If possible, to
some understanding with the new de-
PENDANT"
"The case" said Lallege, calmly, as
she leaned on North's arm, will not
be carried up. How can it be? am
Mr.. Sandbys' heir, and, OF course, Mr..
North and I have all things in COM
mon"
She shot covert glance at North,
who, perhaps, had not dared to sue
in such ardent haste for the hand
which held the Tai in its dimpled soft
ness.
"Mr. Sandbys' heir?" demanded Pet
tibone.
Eyes, his nearest kin and universal
legatee," said Lallege.
"YOu are-were, / mean-then, Miss
Lallege Lester" said Pettibone, look
ing for his hat. $50 the Venning will
case, North, will not be carried to the
supreme court?"
ut has been carried there and de-
cided in my favor" said North. 'What
court is higher than the supreme court
| of lover"
Pettibone shook hands and disap-
| peared, stupefied.
"Take me home at once" said Lal-
lege, firmly, before the remainder of
your dear 500 friends appear. What
state do you suppose aunt Is in? /
know she has sent to all the police
stations and is having me shouted for
| by the town crier. No doubt she will
die of fright"
DEMONSTRATIONS of awful conse-
quences to her aunt were continued
with view to keeping North silent
as the two passed under the arched
| portal of the Tai, and so out beneath
| the stars.
|