Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-07

frey was the most reckless and even the
most foolish gambler / ever played with
We took advantage of that but there was
no cheating, no. as 1 am a gentleman
Under the circumstances, them, said
i, there is nothing further to be said.
But what will the poor girl do?'' he
persisted.
l shook my head. did not know how
to answer that question. for ] did not
know what she would do. Nevertheless
l was touched and pleased with his in
terest. The man had some good in him
still. Association with such a scoundrel
as >Arcester had not yet wholly ruined
him.
You should have thought Of this be-
fore" said L.
Yes suppose so,'' he admitted, rather
woefully
1T is too late to make reparation now
although the wish does. you honor, my
lord
Well. Hampton. if you have chance
to tell her what l wanted he said.
please do. l should do it myself" he
continued. .'on1y since her reputation by
that BLACKBOARD Arcester she will not adj
NIT me to speech. BY gad"-he looked
over at her where she stood in the door
way going through the dreary process
the funeral meal that followed the inter-
ment-"by CAD. if 1 were bit younger
and not so confoundedly in debt, 1 would
marry the woman myself
one Is meet IOr Dettef man, my
lord" said /. exactly as 1 had answered
the duke.
He looked at me curiously for a mo-
ment and then laughed loudly.
Doubtless he said. you may tell her
THAI too.
With that he turned on his heel and
walked away and 1 saw no more of him.
l stood about on the terrace until the
last of the gentry had gone. AS before
l did not know just what to do or just
VI hnr 10
anomalous. I wanted to be of service
but how to offer myself without intrusion
1 could not readily discover. 1t was my
lady herself who solved the problem.
Master Hampton she began. wea-
rily, will you come into the house? Mas
ter Ficklin, the lawyer. is here waiting
to go over my fathers papers with me-
You have stood by me manfully, your
people and my people have been" she
stopped a moment friends" she added,
whom to counsel. Come with me-
Sir Geoffrey's will. as Master Ficklin
read it. was simple affair. 1t left
everything of which he died possessed to
possessed of nothing; the document was
mere waste paper. Everything was mort
gagged. every family portrait even. Mis-
tress Lucy appeared to have no legal
right to anything in or out OF the castle,
save the clothes she wore.
"Sir Godfrey" said Master Ficklin, en-
deavoring to put a good face on the mat
ter, was a we'll meaning man - most
well meaning. Not only did he play high
and long at the gaming table. but he
speculated. for he was always trusting
to recoup himself, in which event, doubt
|. less. there would have been a handsome
patrimony for his daughter
You may spare me any encomiums
of my father. Master Ffcklin,'' said
Mistress Lucy. very haughtily. II knew
his devotion and affection better than
any one possibly could
There was no double meaning in her
mind to these brave words she uttered.
although / listened amazed. To rob his
daughter of her all in the indulgence Of
a wicked passion for gaming and specu-
or affection, thought. However. Master
Ffcklin was only putting the best face
upon a sorry matter, and for that hon.
ored him for all my mistress naughty
and imperious manner
1.-The point is. however" she continued,
as Master Ficklin bowed deferentially
toward her. that L have nothing
Nothing from your father, madam
But my mothers estate?
II regret to say" said T1s.-ser Ficklin,
that most of it has been converted into
money and lost by your father. Strictly
dispose Of Your property and We might
recover by suits of law from
Il gave him the right" interrupted
Mistress Lucy. quickly.
She had never given him any such
right, of course, but she was jealous for
the honor of her father and the family,
and / could only admire her action
although the plain, blunt truth ever ap-
peals to me.
I'm that case there is nothing to be
said or DONE" returned the old attorney,
who knew the truth as Well as l.