The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1911-01-14
CHAPTER I.


fHE ANDROMEDA.
- AIRY Mr.. Bulpner! That
IA" horrid old man. Uncle.
what are You sayingT
The girl sprang to her
feet as IL she were some timid crea-
ture OF the Wild aroused from sylvan
proodinss by knowledge of imminent
danger. IN her terror she upset three
winegiassee on the luncheon table.
ous. rose tinted and ornate, crashed
20 the hoor. and the noise seemed 10
rrifnte the owner OF Linden House
more than his niece's shrill terror.
mo need to bust ND our best set M
'ock glasses just because I 'appen TO
mention ovid Diciey Bulmer," he
growled.
I'm sorry" she said and STOPPED TO
pick up the fragments scattered over
the carpet.
Leave that alone" came the sharn
order. It's Ugh time You an me 'ad
sfrsight talk an can't do WI folk
oouncin' about like an injia rubber
ball when I've got things to say to
'em."
He gulped down some Of the wine.
darted his tongue several times In and
out between his teeth. smacked his
lips. replaced his cigar In his mouth
and leaned back in his chair until II
creaked.
Iris Yorke. accustomed to this rit.
nal. found herself even In her pres
snt trouble wondering how IL was
possible that David Verify could be
her mothers Brother. This coarse
hammered man. brother TO the sweet
voiced. tender hearted gentlewoman
whose gracious wrath was left un-
dimmec In the girls memory by the
hpse or years-it would be unbeliev-
able II Il were not true But he had
shown Kindness TO her In his DOM
fneering way. Shocked almost at the
dis'oyalty Of her thoughts. Iris tried to
close the rift that had opened 80 un-
expectedly.
1T was stupid OF me to take you
seriously" she said. "You cannot real
~ mean that Mr.. Bulmer wishes to
marry mer'
Il meant IT right enough. my lass"
he said.
But. uncle. DEAR
stop a Bit Listen to me first an
say your say when I've finished. Like
everybody else. you think I'm a rich
man David Verify. ESQ. shipowner
OF Linden House an Exchange build
tngs-it looks all right. don't II, like
one OF them furrin apples with rosy
peel an a maggot inside? You're the
nrst I've told about the maggot. Fact
n. fm broke. Shipownin' Is rotten
nowadays unless you've lots of capi-
faL I've lost mine. Unless I get help.
an thumpln' big slice OF II. my name
ngures In the Gazette. l want 10000,
an oo's goin' to give II to me? put
tf TO owd Dickey yesterday, an e said
you couldn't raise money In Liverpool
today 20 bul'd ferryboat But @ said
summat else IL you wed I'm q makes
you n partner In the arm Of Verify,
Buimer * Co. See? wot's wrong
with thatf I've done everything for
you up TO date. Now It's your turn.
Simple. isn't III P'rnps I ought to
have explained things differently. but
ft didn't occur 10 me you'd hobject to
bein' the wife Of a millionaire. even II
@ II n doddrin' owd idiot TO talk Of
marryin' ag'in."
"Oh. uncle!"
With n wall OF despair the girl sank
back and covered her face with her
hands. Now that she believed the In
credible she could utter no protest
The sacrifice demanded was too great
Verify was angry. almost alarmed.
Resistance. even OF this passive sort.
raised the savage I'm him Hitherto
Iris had been ready to obey his slight
est whIm.
There's no use cryin' 'Oh. uncle
an klckln' up fuss" he snapped vi
eiousiy. Where would you ave bin.
ia like TO know. II II wasn't for me?
In the gutter-that's where your pre-
eious fool of father left your mother
an you. Your the best dressed an
best lookln' an best eddlcated girl 4
Bootle today-thanks 20 me When
your mother KEN ere ten year ago an
said her lit'rary gent OF usband was
dead. neither OF you 'ad nd a square
mel for wecks-remember that. viii
yCci II isn't my fault you've got to
marry Bulmer. It's lust bi, of In