El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1912-05-11

the n0r-and-aud-au the rest Of
it."
Don't mention it." he said coolly.
But 7 may as well tell you now that
I intend you TO marry me, all the
same-
( me-" he added
She gave him one severe look. but
he only smiled as he watched the
I little lady turn her back upon him and
deliberately walk away from his long
ing sight. He tossed his cigar behind
a hedge which was both wasteful and
dangerous. and with his hands IN MS
pockets walked to and fro in the dear
old garden. while he apparently cog
itated very deeply and earnestly upon
some important matter.
After a while his brow cleared, he
flung back his handsome head with
a Jolly laugh. and picking up his cap
from the grass. rammed it down on his
tumbled hair, and marched cheerLully
into the house which belonged 70
his Obdurate little lady love, ana
where she lived under the chaperOnage
Of the dearest of easy-gOing old aunLs.
His behavior the rest of the day was
perfection and Elpnle IN her lnmost
heart could not help feeling touch
of annoyance at his good nature and
calmuess.
At least ne might have shown little
more sorrow over his departure, which
ne grayely informed her was ineylta-
bic on the morrow. as his friends in
/ Scotland were anxious for his pres
! ence at once
4 understand" she said cOolly, and
no doubt you are wise. I only regret
that you have spoilt your visit to Us
I with ridiculous arguments over thing
I decided long ago
If she expected him to reopen the
I question. she was vastly mistaken, he
| simply bowed and changed the subject
which she told herself was blessing
although at the same time she was feel
i'm HaHn q f-nr nj rrH saH q
going away so soon
/ At breakfast the next morning eV-
eryOne was very excited by the news
I the morning papers give-that a huge
I Australian bank had failed, and thar
its failure meant ruin 10 many Dig
firms in the city. Elphie turned pale
I when she heard OF # and her eyes
Z sought her auut-s across the table In
stinctively both OF them turned 20
I Norton Denes place to see how he was
taking the news. for they wen knew
[ that he had sworn by this bank and
/ must be deeply involved
( But Norton was not in his place; he
{ was not at the table
. A message was sent to his room. but
{ the reply came back that he was not
very well, and would they excuse his
I presence at the meal-alsO that he was
I packing so as TO catch an earlier train
Elphis grew visibly paler. Breakfast
was sent UP stairs, but sent down
again untouched Then Mrs Blair
went up. She came back deeply dis
! tressed. she had been asked through
! closed doors TO leave Norton alone for
a while.
/ Elphie fidgeted and found It diff
I cult to see the meal through. she
7 heard the guests at the table remark
4 that Norton Dene must be absolutely
I ruinedt She hated her visitors Tor
i the casual Indifferent way in which
I they treated the news
Z After breakfast was over, she hur-
! ried her aunt away into her sitting
why don't you go and find out.
I auntie2 The poor fellow is ruined
you hear Cant you understand that
/ someone ought to be with him in his
/ trouble2 Go and find out how he IS
/ taking it-surely you can do that.
/ Mrs, Blair was near to tears
] Il cant force his door. can II Do
! be reasonable. Elphie darling I don't
I like TO worry him. When / tapped. his
/ voice sounded muffied and strange
[ Norton has never known trouble, poor
dear-and goodness knows what ne
may do If ne really is ruined as they
say, and we all know that he was
mixed up with this bank-always de-
clared il was safe didn't he, Elphie2.
Elphie could not trust herself TO
speak.
me like that, girl Mrs Blair went
I on. i didn't break the bank. dear,
I but ii is broken. and one can never
tell what a fellow viii do when ruin
phie" she added somewhat pOintedly
you cant pretend TO sympathize
very deeply with the poor fellow, al
I ter the way in which you have treat
I ed him OF late
Elphie didn't even hear the last
words. She was full OF those others:
/ "One never can tell what fellow VIII
dol"
Good heavens" she thought tremb-
ling, does auntie mean he might hurt
himself. Or-or anything ike that
Z What was that horrible case she had
. lately read about some man who shot
himself because ne had lost his for
tune?
I'm going to speak to him myself
she said uncertainty. II shall com
mand him to come out Of that room at
once III say I must see him down
stairs Immediately"
III you hadn't been so rude TO him.
her aunt Quavered. you could have Of
1ered your sympathy; but he can't be-
lieve YOU noW-when you as good as
ordered him out OF your house"
Il don't care cried Elphle-'and
for goodness. sake do leave off harp
ing on what has happened!'
She ran up the stairs, and her heart
beat rapidly as she stood listening out
side Norton s door Not a sound did
less waiting, Elphie tapped on the
panel with such weak little fingers
that they hardly broke the stiffness
and she had TO rap again; this time
q NN4lG-AlAE N0-AE ans m eA ell
who is it?7
TT is I-EIphie," she said shakily.
''We-I-yOu-" Her voice trailed
away, and she made a fresh attempt
Il mean-I-yOu-" and then she
stopped. feeling a little hystericaI Il
say. come down-please come down.
I want 10 speak TO YOU at Once-aunt
wants 10 speak TO you at onceI'
She beat a tattoo on the door with
nervous fingers. and the next second I
he flung il open She started back, I
not knowing what to say now he was
there in front of her. for he looked so
grave.
i was just coming down" he said
stiffly- II have had great deal TO
thing about this morning, so forgive
me for remaining in my room"
"Oh. Of course she cried hastily,
and wishing her voice would not shake I
So "Here, come in here" and she
passed into the room which used to be
her nursery. and in which, IN years
gone by Norton had often romped with I.
her and leased her.
Did YOU have much money I'm that
wretched bank that has broken Up2''
she demanded.