The Lake County times. [volume] (Hammond, Ind.) 1906-1933, 1911-01-10

ITO the world no bugbear is so great
AS want of figure and a small estate
Pope
The midday meal at Brentborough
House was neither plentiful nor cheer
full The viands consisted of cold NUT
ton. with a few badly boiled potatoes.
and a small rice pudding, of which Mr..
Sheppard did not partake. He watched
with liberality born of young and
healthy appetite. and he desired Mar
tina to keep the remains of the pudding
for Miss Byng's supper.
She seems to like it uneommonlv
WELL he sneered She had better
finish il to night"
growing unbearable. this parsimonious
grudging of every morsel she ate. She
pushed back her chair and went toward
the door. but the old man stopped her
with the question:
Where are you going now?'
Il don't know. Out of doors some
where" she answered sullenly.
'Nonsense 1t is raining; you'll spoil
your fine clothes with a disagreeable
chuckie Girls are always thinking Of
their dress aren't they?
They may. when they have it to
think about she said Il do not hap
pen to be one of the favored few in that
respect
-All the more reason you should take
care of what you have got. l want you
to read to me; get the paper
Rather ungraciously, 1t must be own
ed. Audrey found the Standard of the
previous day. which Mr.. Sheppard got
at half price and read the money
market intelligence. while the old ma n
listened with eager ears and an occa-
sional grunt OF satisfaction discom-
leading articles. which. on that day.
We're unusually dull and at last when
she had given away TO a yawn., which
she could not stifiie he turned upon
her and abused her.
You are perfectly useless=you can
not even read three lines decentIy. You
girl.'
What have 1 to be grateful for?" de-
manded Audrey, throwing back her
head with the air of an empress and
regarding the irate old man in the
armchair with intense dislike.
What for?-everythng. The food
the the But | will not stand it
I'll send you back to your worthless
mother won't leave you a farthing /.
Will send for Pinto tomorrow and al
ter my Will
He stopped. checking with passion,
and. quite as angry as he. Audrey re-
piled: stop grandfather You are
quite mistaken if you think / want
your money. l would rather work
is 50 manifest1y grudged to me- And
as for leaving you. l have been dying
TO get away for ages; nothing but the
want of means has prevented me. But
now nothing would induce me to re-
main. When l have begged or borrow :
ed sufficient money to pay for ticket
snail hoN tlOubit YOU With my pres
ence. | assure you. And you are well
come to alter your will a hundred
times. as far as | am concerned"
In their excitement neither had heard
the hall door open and shut, and now
Audrey broke off a tall, well-bred
man of about 90 years of age entered
the room and looked at her and her
grandfather in some surprise
Il am afraid / have come at an in
convenient moment" the visitor said !;
but Mr.. Sheppard laughter.
Not at all Sir James, all times are
much the same here. You would prob
ably see a specimen of Miss Byng's
temper whenever YOU came. Sit down.
as Audrey with crimson face, bolted
from the ROOM
Then the old mans face changed, and
we'll and added: You want some
thing. | suppose; what is 1t? You are
not likely to get 1t. l can tell you be-
fore hand"
Sir James controlled his anger and
began concilia torily:
We have been friends and neigh
bors for SO many years"
..Neignbors. yes-not friends. They
are too expensive a luxury. always
Sir James Ashwell leaned forward
his heavy face pale. his eyes anxious
and his hands trembling.
Shepard" he said, Il am in great
difficulty. a venture of mine, a specu-
lation which l thought-which / was
assured was going to be tremendous
financial success-has gone to smash.
and-the interest on YOUR mort
eager is due next week
Matthew Shepard chuekled again
And you want me to let YOU off, Ell?
Likely, isn't it %