The Miller press. [volume] (Miller, S.D.) 190?-current, 1920-01-15
CHAPTER !.

ChAS EN- !.
-
Andrea Peilor stood on the edge OF
Che cliff at the back OF the Indian
Ocean hotel and gazed out across
twenty-five miles of moonilt bay. 1t
was not for lack OF a partner that she
stood alone. She had promised this
very extra to four insistent men. but
had excused herself to one after an
other OF them. "Just for a moment.
Just while I powder my nose"
They had all seen her run up the
otnfrs In the main hallway; they had
not seen her travel steadily on
Through the length Of the hotel and
come down the ladder-llke exit into
The garden. Why had she done IT.
That was q question that she herself
could not have answered but that did
not occur to her as a matter for soiu-
tion. so often had n similar impulse
snatched her momentarily away from
q crowded world.
Andrea had a past. but very little
history. She was the only daughter
of Lord Pellor of Pelior. a iand-poOr
baron who could distribute five titles
among his five sons but very little
cash. As a result Andrea had lived
Che life. if life you can call It. OF. tab
uIated impoverished English gentle-
women: Everything that the traffic
will bear for the men Of the family
and for the girl just enough frocks at
her coming out to dIssemble the bait
that clothes the hook that catches the
man with millions.
During her first season offers had
come to her; not the measured ad-
vances Of buyers In the marriage MIR
ket, for about the brow OF such bud.
ding m~aidenhood as had been hers
fhere hangs a guardian halo that
blinds the eyes of sane-aged men. but
The Overlapping ~onsiaughts OF youth
tneddened hearts.
II a In her fifth season that the
hrbiters Of her fate raised the shears
Of destiny and clicked them. He who
Tell to her lot was q man OF humble
origin Who had reached the ripe age
OF dfty.eight without ever having had
Zine to merry. His life. with q DIFF.
ference. had been just as narrow. hide
bound and conventional as had hers.
The difference was that he had trav-
eied the stereotyped Dick Wilmington
trail to high finance rather than the
social highway. He had started out In
Africa with a pack of cheap jeweiry.
an open mind and an easy conscience,
and had emerged after twenty-five
gears as one OF the few Gentiles In. the
combine that controls the worlds dIa-
mond output. His wealth was so great
that an ultimate reerage was almost
q matter Of course. But. as usual. an
~aristocratic marriage had to come
drst.
The contract was as cold-blooded as
any ever perpetrated by a royal house.
Allowances, carefully graded. were
stipulated to be paid at fixed times to
Andrea's parents and to each of her
i've brothers. She herself came ia for
q large aid ~inalienable marriage set
Element and was further secured In
such details as to where the town res
tdence was to be located as well as to
the number and nature Of the country
places which we're to be maintainedi
When the document was finally com
pieked II was casually submitted to
Andrea for approval. Nobody dreamed
thas she would doubt for q moment
that those In family authority were
kmost able to decide what was best for
her aud nobody was right. She merely
skinueed through the typewriter
pages Of the prenuptial agreement, sat
listed herself that a vast sum Of money
was destined to the upkeep of Pellor.
and dreamy-eyed with sudden memo
ries, nadded her adorable head in con-
sent.
All doubtless would have taken Its
appointed course had not the Euro
pean war put In its nightly discon-
ccrting finger. Surprising things hap
pened IN South Africa. Andrca's afi.
ancea aailed on twenty-four hours mo-
tice. The diamond mines closed down,
took d short nap. and then suddenly
awakened to the fact that America
alone was demanding as much of their
product as had the whole world before
Il turned Its entire attention to max.
3pg munitions and paying for them
Andrea's betrothed found himself har.
messed 20 his Job. possibly for the du'
nation Of the a As q result It was
decided n family conclave that It was
lncumbert upon Andrea to take nd.