The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1914-08-10
Just In Time
For the Duke
Prompt Action Made Him
Lose the Prize.
BY BARRY PRESTON.

You are very much in love with
him, dear, aren't your Mrs. Brevort |
inquired, not without a certain doubt |
ful note in her tone, which seemed to |
hint that such possibly might not be
the case.
The girl who stood by the window, |
looking out at the uneven pavements |
of the Roman street, turned slowly
and smiled. In that smile were weari-
ness and subtle understanding and pa
tent resignation.
Eyes, am very much in love with
him. Aunt Elinor," she said in a color
less voice, as if she We're saying the
words more because they We're expect
ed of her than for any other reason.
Mrs. Breyort smiled her open ap-
prevail The little frown of doubt
which for the past few moments had
wrinkled her brow suddenly disappear
ed. She crossed the room to the girls
side and threw an arm about her.
"Of course, dearie," she cooed, your
happiness is my first, l might almost
say my only, concern. No one realizes
better than l the pOrtent of this step
that all your future, all your lifelong
happiness, depends upon it. No one.
think you'll admit, too. is more averse
to the majority of these marriages than
l am, but the duke is so utterly differ
ent from all the other eligible men we
have met. He is not seeking your
money, dear, for he is immensely
wealthy IN his own right He is an
upright, honest, splendid type of an
more like our own men In America, |
think, than any one we have seen.
Isn't that your impression of himT'
YES" said the girl in the same col
orless voice.
Mrs. Brevort's pale face grew rather
| eager. Somehow l have felt from the
first that your destinies were linked,
| yours and his" said she, ''but when he
| talked with me this afternoon l gave
| him no definite answer. l let him I'M
| derstand that the matter rested pri-
marily with you; that it was your hap
piness that was at stake.
HE didn't seem quite to understand
my attitude at first, but be was per-
fectly charming about it. as he is in
everything. He said was to speak to
you and that he would call for me this
afternoon at 4 in the road car, and
while we went out to the aqueduct I
could give him my final decision, or,
rather. yours"
The girl had turned again to the win
dow. She was looking abstractedly at
the passing crowd In the street below.
Her brow was furrowed by a little
disfiguring frown. Her lips were set
tightly together. Her eyes were trou.
bled
$50 l suppose I am to give him ia,
vOrable answer, am | notY' Mrs. Bre
wort suggested tentatively.
The girl was silent. The troubled
look in her eyes grew more pronounc
ed. Her aunt watched her narrowly
and with growing impatience.
Peggy, dear, l asked you a ques
tion," she reminded her niece. us it {
favorable answer l am to give?"
The girl shrugged her dainty shout
ders. Yes. yes; oh, yes! she said bur
riedly. ut doesn't matter" Her voic,
. Mrs. BrevoFt elevated her brows
Really. Peggy"-she began chidingly
But the girl turned swiftly and left tn
: room, waving back the older woman
who started to follow her. Something
: like q smothered sob sounded as tn
e door closed behind her.
Mrs. Brevort looked rather angry 70
Y q moment. Then she recovered he
!. usual composure and smiled. But Their
n was something distinctly unpleasant i
that smile.
She glanced at the bronze clock tick
h ing unobtrusively on the mantel. !
!. pointed to half after 8. She went to
o desk near the front window and froT
q drawer drew out a bundle Of letters
Il They were all directed in the sam
+ hand-Peggy's hand. And they wer
r all addressed to Mr. William Hale. q
t some outlandish Spanish soundin
d town in Ecuador, South America.
M Mrs. Brevort smiled again. 1t ha
81 cost her a pretty penny to circumveT
the mailing of those letters, but ther
d are many itching palms in Rome. an
d, what good money will not accomplish
n Il it is judiciously placed, is not wort
: accomplishing.
\ An open fire burned duly in til
: crate beneath the mantel. Mrs. Br
i wort stepped briskly over to it and fe
u the bundle of letters to the flame
At She watched grimly until there We
nothing left of them save a few gra
white ashes.
Then from another drawer she toe
= out another bundle of letters. The
:. were thick letters. all of them. TT
3 sprawling superscriptions were all f
ne Peggy, and they were postmarked wit
ne the name of the Spanish town in Ecu
IN dor
n Other itching Roman palms had bee
81 soothed in the conventional way
- bring those epistles into Mrs, Brevort