South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1913-10-15
LLOYD OSBOURNE


'Frankly-yes. said the captain
There are people here who think the
irrevoeable mistake might be the other
way" she remarked.
Then, my dear young LADY" he went
on bTiskly. the people here have your
true interests at heart Believe me. there
can be no lasting happiness II a union
that Involves great Inequality OF sta
ton. II IS currently said that a man
raises bis wife 20 his own level. but
knowledge OF the world teaches Us that
only too often he-er-sinks 10 hers
Bill seems quite satisfied TO sink" she
returned In fact he's been IN a manic
lest he wouldn't get the chance"
The Bill OF yesterday and the BIZ Of
to-day are two different MIA" said the
Captain. He mas now q great place 70
I'LL He becomes the head OF one OF the
prouoest and most aristocratic families
in England. Il would be too unutterably
sad II he failed IN the duty he owes both
TO his class and 20 his rank"
His class and his rank never both
cred very much about him out here" she
said. They seemed quite happy. in fact.
to be quit OF him. He might have starved
TO death for all they cared"
Il know we lay ourselves open 10 that
imputation," went on the Captain. in a
tone Of depressed suavity. But. as the
dear Duke said in the family council we
held al Holderton Abbey, Circumstances
alter cases."
It's not Bill they're thinking about"
she said; ITS their noble and splendid
selves"
They cannot very well detach them
selves from the affair. even II they
would. continued the Captain Tran
tons disgrace is necessarily theirs"
IF the dear Duke doesn't want 70
know me. he needn't" she retorted. with
heightened color. IF he doesn't want
to play In mys yard he can always have
the aristocratic privilege OF staying OUT
Then there's the Dowager Lady Tran
ton," said the Captain; Bills step
mother"
She, too. then" said the girl.
she really feels II more than any
body sighed the Captain The same
name, you know-the possibility OF mis-
takes being made-the inevitable con-
fusion Of"
It's just what you said before. Cap
tain" she exclaimed, mcckingIy. It's
too unutterably sad, isn't it7"
II know I am expressing myself very
badly" be said. Il told them at the time
they ought TO choose somebody better
ftted for the task than J. But the dear
Duke was SO peremptory. and Lady Tran
ton cried on my shoulder. and the mem
DRY OF lifelong obligation naturally
turned the scale-and so here I am, and
making q terrible mess OF II, just as
Whitcombe said l would"
1T was certainly a long way 10 come
just to talk to a girl" she said
And then to do it so badly" added
the Captain.
Il can't see that IT'S any Of their bust
ness" she exclaimed
I was charged to acknowledgements"
said the Captain. with embarrassment
Inducements What sort OF induce
ments?"
"oh, am almost ashamed 10 say-er-
Of q monetary nat-re."
We'll. you ought to be-" she said.
How much?"
"whitcOmbe said was 10 begin at
Ave thousand pounds"
The point is. where were you 10 leave
OF att"
Ten thousand"
Why didn't you say It sooner'"
The fact is-er-the dear Duke though.
-er-Whiteombe said-"
That you might pull It of Without"
The Captain hung his head.
They must have thought you more OF
spellbinder than you are" she re-
marked, cr'ielly.
Il told Whitcombe myself I was the
last man TO talk nybody Into doing any
thing" said the captain.
Well, it's not enough for Bill" said
the girl. The price Of a thing is what
it's worth 10 you. Bills worth lots more
than that. TO me"
Il will make II fifteen thousand" said
the Captain. hesitatingly. That Is. on
my own personal responsibility. subject
TO confirmation by wire
Where's the thing for me TO sign7"
she asked
He drew out from HIS breast pocket a
large. importsnt-looking document. en-
crossed on sheepskin. II creakled richly
as he opened & and spread II fat with
his big hands II was beautifully glossy
and Helen thought the Declaration OF In
dependence must have looked like II
when Il was new. She lay back in the
hammock, took a chocolate cream, and
gave IL her disdainful attention. Bill was
renowned with q wealth OF legal detail
that was positively bewildering: re-
nounced from his head 10 his heels re-
nounced awake or sleeping or dining out
or sitting UP with a sick friend re-
nounced body and soul. alive or dead.
positively and explicitly. for ali time.
past, present, or 20 come 5hs couldn't
even say good morning 20 Bill without
violating two whole pages OF 81: she
couldn't even send him a postcard with
out mourning fourteen lines OF different
kinds OF penalties: and the whole thing
was inexplicsbly intertwined with the
Lord Chancellor's displessure and the
High Court OF Chancery. II reminded