Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1920-01-01


That is q vulgar statement, but neces-
Bary. My father was Lord Justice
Ord, as you possibly knew; my dear
mother is the daughter Of Sir Francis
Wilmington, Of Audley Court, Suffolk.
These things, I know, must be talked
about at such times, SO please bear
with me. am sure that Evelyn would
wish me to continue in the profession
/ have chosen, and. with your consent
l shall do SO. There is nothing else l
can tell you if it is not to say how
very deeply I love your daughter and
that believe her love for me Is not
less"
The Earl heard him without re-
mark. When he had finished he made
no immediate response, seeming to
lack words rather than decision.
"Mr. Ord" he said at length. you
had every right to speak to Evelyn.
make no complaint of 1t. But she
cannot be your wife, for If she Is not
already the betrothed of another,
there ia at least an honorable under
standing that she will make no mar
riage until he has been heard again.
This affair must begin and end to-
day. If am no longer able to ask
you to remain my guest here, you will
understand my difficulty. l cannot an
swer you in any other way, For your
sake wish indeed that l could"
Gavin had fully expected this; but
1t did not disconcert him in any way.
m ,1,1,l oh, h. f<,-
Evelyns sake had but begun. Set
Ting himself in his chair and looking
the Earl full in the face, he said:
Does Lady Evelyn know of this,
my lord? Is this the answer she
wishes you to give me?"
"In no sense. But speak as one
who consults her interests before all
things"
Gavin smiled perceptibly.
Forgive me. Lord Melbourne"
he said; "but all this is so very char
acteristic of your house and it's his
tory. hundred years ago it WOULD
have sounded we'll enough and |
should have called a coach obediently
rs any gentleman of those days would
in the twentieth century, my lord,
when men and women have learned
the meaning of the word liberty
when the desires and
schemes of other people"
Schemes, Mr.. Ord"
mo other word is possible. You do
not desire the marriage for purely
selfish reasons. | am not imperti-
nent enough to inquire into them, but
Evelyn has told ME something, and
the rest deduce from the answer you
have Just given me. To save your
self, my lord. you would marry your
daughter to scoundrel who is known
for such in his own country and ours;
and, when you did it, some false logic
would try to tell you that it was for
the sake of your home and name;
while all the time it is done to save
you some Inconvenience, some penal
ty you should in justice pay to the
past | am not so blind that | cannot
see the things which are happening
all around me. Evelyn's consent to
my proposal gives me this right to
and my own. Would you not be wiser,
my lord, to deal with me as am deal
Ing with you-to tell me in word why
this stranger can coerce you when an
Englishman is answered in word?
think that you would. think it would
be we'll If you said, Here is a man
VINO wishes to be my friend and will
be so regardless of the coase.
quences.
The boldness of his utterance found
other circumstances he would have
rung the bell and ordered carriage
for Mr.. Gavin Ord; but the whole
problem was too full of perplexities
for that. 1t may be that Lord Mel.
bourne was fully alive both to the
truths and falsehoods of his position
He had done IA man great wrong and
TO hid him right the wrong and act
Justly. How easy would 1t all have
been II Evelyn had loved this son and
married him! No story then To de
light scandal-loving multitude: n
fear, growing upon weak nerves. tina,
the man who had suffered Nigh,
avenge his wrong. Yes. Evelyn could
save him and here was 2
stranger who forbade her to do so.
"You speak very freely" he said
to Gavin presently. II will do yo,
the Justice to believe that you als'
speak honestly. II Evelyn has tolr
you anything. it will be that Coun
Odin is the son of one of my oldes,
friends"
II have learned that from two
sources" said Gavin. "Will you lel
me add. my lord, that you are proba
bly, speaking of man who is dead?"
The Earl started and looked up
quickly.