Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-12-07
CHAPTER III.
In Which I Deliver a Letter.

| delivered my little mistress to her
woman. who came at my call. and then
] summoned the butler and steward and
told them what had happened. In mo-
ment all was confusion. They brought
the body of Sir Godfrey back to the cas-
tie which was no longer his. AS the
duke had said, il was mortgaged to its
full value. The unfortunate baronet han
gambled away everything in his posses
sion-the family jewels. the heirloomS Oh
his daughter and even the property tildt
had been left to her by her dead mother
of which he was trustee Everythlh
that he could get his hands on had been
sacrificed to his passion for play.
After the inquest and after due IN
terval for decent respect for the dead
there was a great funeral. of course.
during which what little ready money
there was availa BILE was, of necessity
spent The gentry came for miles arouhu'
even Luftdon was there in the BACK
ground, although Arcester had the de-
cency to keep away. / was there, too,
finding my place among the upper serV-
ants of the household. Although was
in no sense a servant of the mouse, belhs
a free and Independent sailor man ana
my own master, still | found no place
else to stand. l was glad that L had
taken that position for l happened to be
Immediately back of Mistress Lucy. FROM
under her veil she shot a forlorn. CRATE
L
felt / was the only real friend she had
in that great asSemblage of the gentry
of the country and the tenants and de-
pendents of the estate.
Sir Godfrey. except Mistress Lucy, was
the last of his race. The brace fine, old
stock. had at last been reduced to this
one slender slip of a girl. kith or kin,
save of the most distant. she had none.
Nor did she enjoy much acquaintance
She had never been formally introduced
I,nI cd her~
and had been kind enough to her in his
careless, magnificent way. but she had
been left much alone since the death OF
her mother some Years before, and she
had grown up under the care of gov
ernesSeS and tutors. The neiShborinS
gentry had assembled with much show OF
sympathy. but l knew that Mistress Lucy
felt very much alone. and | rather giorle0
in the position which made me. humble
though l was, her friend Well. she could
count upon me to the death. She would
find / was always devoted to her, and
conSecrated myself anew TO her service
in her loneliness and bereavement.
Ii was over soon enough. the show and
parade. The parsons final words OF COM
initial were said. We left Sir Godfrey
in his place in the churchyard and went
back to the hall after which the COM
Tany began to disperse. | had nothing
TO do at the time No one paid any at
tention 10 me. / held myself above the
above me. / wandered into the hall and
stood waiting. No one spoke to me save
Lord Luftdon. who expressed heartfelt
wish and regret that he had nothing to
do with the final plundering of the I'M
fortunate baronet, which, in measure.
had brought about this sorry ending to
his career
You seem to be a man of sense. Mas
ter Hampton" he whispered. drawing
me apart after it was all over, and l
noticed the way Mistress Wherefore
What do you mean?' / asked, holly.
not liking to hear her name on his lips.
and especially resenting what l thought
was a reflection upon her.
Nothing but the best he answered.
equally. IT have still unspent some OF
the proceeds of our last bout at the
table with her father that could be con-
veyed to the lady, and"
She would burn her hand off rather
than accept anything" said L, promptly
But" he proceeded.
1T is not to be thought of"
You speak with authority he asked.
looking at me strangely.
Il have known her from child said
j. and her father before her. 1t is not
in the breed to take favors, and
But this is restitution
Did you win it fairly" 1 asked.
by Cod he answered. clapping his
hand to his sword. IF another had asked
me that 1 would have had him out
Your answer" | persisted, undaunted
by his fierceness.
He smiled his sudden heat dying out
apparently as he realized how foolish it
was to quarrel with me and discovered
the meaning of my question.
"Of course We won it fairly. Sir Geof-