The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1913-09-25

around. Even Luftdon was there in
the background. although Arcester hau
the decency to keep away. was
there, too. finding a place among the
upper servants of the household. /
happened to be Immediately back of
Mistress Lucy. From under her veil
she shot a forlorn. grateful look at me
as she came in.
Sir Godfrey. except Mistress Lucy,
was the last of his race. The brave.
fine old stock had at. last been reduc-
ed 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 to society. Sir
Geoffrey had loved 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 neighboring
gentry had assembled with much show
of sympathy. but knew that Mistress
Lucy felt very much alone. and |
rather gloried in the position which
made me, humble though 1 was, her
friend.
1t was over soon enough-the show
and parade. No one spoke to me save
Lord Luftdon.
You seem to be a man Of sense,
Master Hampton" he whispered,
drawing me apart after it was all
over. land | noticed the way Mistress
Wilberforce looked at you when she
first came in. | have still unspent
some of the proceeds of our last bout
at the table with her father that could
be conveyed to the lady, and
"She would burn her hand off rather
than accept anything" said promptly.
you speak with authority?" he ask
ed, looking at me strangely.
81 have known her from child"
said l, "and her father before her. 1t
is not in the breed to take favors,
and"-
But this is restitution, ALTHOUGH we
won it fairly. Sir Godfrey was the
most reckless and even the most fool
ish gambler / ever played with. We
took advantage of that, but there was
no cheating. no, as l am gentleman"
Under the circumstances. then"
said ]. there is nothing further to be
said"
But what will the poor girl do?" he
persisted
i shook my head. ! did not know
how to answer that question. for did
not know what she would do. Never
theless | was touched and pleased with
his interest. The man had some good
In him still. Association with such a
scoundrel as Arcester had not yet
wholly ruined him.
1T is too late to make reparation
now, although the wish does you hon.
or. my lord"
well. Hampton. If you have a
chance to tell her what | wanted" he
self" he continued, 'only since her re-
pudiation by that blackguard Arcester
she will not admit me to speech. If
were a bit younger and not so con-
foundedly in debt | would marry the
woman myself"
she is meet for a better man. my
lord" said |, exactly as | had answer
ed the duke,
He looked at me curiously for a mo-
ment and then laughed loudly.
DOUBTLESS" he said, you may tell
her that too"
With that he turned on his heel and
walked away, and | saw no more of
! him. | stood about on the terrace un-
Ill the last of the gentry had gone.
My lady spoke to me:
Master Hampton" she began weari-
ly, "wil you come into the house?
Master Ficklin, the lawyer, is here
waiting to go over my fathers papers
with me. You have stood by me man
fully, your people and my people
have BEEN she stopped a moment.
friends" she added, "for 500 years.
l have no one else with whom to coun-
sci. Come with me-"