The Eureka sentinel. [volume] (Eureka, Nev.) 1902-current, 1913-05-24

vice and information. 1t Is with regard
TO Jacquclinc. or, rather. 1t is with re-
gard to Duke da Sestos."
The Duke da Scstos." I exclaimed,
startled. II cannot see, Mrs. Gordon.
how II matter touching the Duke da
Sestus can affect -FOUR niece" | said
after Il pause.
MOI" She looked after her niece
thoughtfully. But il | tell you that
the duke is in love with her. Mr..
Humc!'
"And-and her feeling toward the
duke:"
Il have reason to believe that JAG
quelinc's wishes will coincide with
mine.' she answered compIacently.
II could imagine nothing more I'M
fortunate than that she should feel
any interest in Duke da Sestos," | said
with feeling.
She looked at me ~anxiously.
DO you know anything d%erogatory
to him. Mr.. Hume:'
NO. | answered bluntly. II know
nothing of him"
She pondered a moment. so you
know nothing But 1t would not be
difficult for you to make inquiries.
Understanding Italian life as you do.
living in Venice so long
Make inquiries, Mrs. Gordon?" I in
terrupted coldly. | should have
thought my cool stare would have dis
concerted her somewhat.
s0f bic ranL and Sfatfon - che con-
tinued. waving my protest aside. II can
judge for myself. am told he is a
personal friend of the king. His fam
lily antedates the very founding of Ven
ice. ! know not how many quarter
ings his coat of arms may boast. AS to
his finances, that naturally is IA serious
question. I could not, as a matter of
duty. permit myself to ignore that i'm
portant phase of the case. Still. JAG
queline's dot, if she has due regard to
my wishes, will not make his lack of
means an insurmountable obstacle.
But, Mr.. Hume, his character-that is
of Importance"
Yes / said significantly, lit is. But,
Mrs. Gordon, can o not guess some
thing of a mans character without
knowing all about him:'
"Still, Mr.. Hume she answered
slowly. II should say that you do not
appear to me to be quite disinterested
in your statements"
And If that is true, Mrs. Gordon
/ flung away my cigar and my caution
If / confess that l am not disinter-
ested, as you call 1t. what then? Say
that | love your niece, and / suppose
it is right that you should know that,
my love for %Jacqueline is great enough
not to grudge her happiness even if
that happiness is to be with another
man. But to see her persuaded into a
marriage that every instinct tells me
is wrong, that | know must prove I'M
happy, | cannot allow that to be done
without IA protest, though in making
that protest L have betrayed my own
love for her. Mrs. Gordon, if l know
nothing of Duke da Sestos | do know
something of his class"
She gathered her shawl about her
and looked at me with stony indiffer-
ence. | might as well have appealed
to the little waves that Tapped the
shore.
You are speaking of a class and not
of an individual, Mr.. Hume she an
swered Jelly.
She rose and confronted me with a
placidity as obstinate as if | had not
spoken.
What you have said | will try to
put to the best of motives, but you
have not shown a generous spirit. In
my turn | must appear ungenerous, |
fear. l must protect Jacqueline, and
unfortunately, in my opinion. her mar
riage with you would be quite as dis
astrous as you pretend hers would be
with the duke. And, as l was about
TO say, though it may appear ungra-
cious, | am compelled TO withdraw my
h~ere-unless. of course. you will give
me your promise that in no way
Il understand" / said stifiy. II
should not feel happy TO stay under
those circumstances. / shall leave to-
night"
/ bowed.
MIR. Hume she retorted spitefuily.
"in these affairs of the heart each
must decide for oneself"
Yes, yes" | cried eagerly. Then
something i'm her strange smile made
the words die on my lips, and | falter-
ed, ~''Jacqueline has already decided
that-that she loves the dukeT'
II have reason to believe so. The
duke himself assures me that she has
given him encouragement. More than
that. Jacqueline herself does not deny
it,
THANK you" | said miserably and
vent into the hotel TO pack my things.
The worst had come then, for. much
as | disliked Mrs. Gordon, | did not
do her the injustice to suppose that
she was lying.