Coulee City dispatch. [volume] (Coulee City, Wash.) 19??-19??, 1923-11-02
MY YLADY'S MONEY
An Episode in the Life
of Young Girl
By Wikkie Collins
By Wilkie Collins

letter in your hand? Give 1t to
me-"
The valet was a Frenchman. In
other words, he had sense of what
was due to himself. His master had
forgotten this. He gave up the let
ter with certain dignity of manner,
and left the tent. Hardyman opened
the letter. He turned pale as he
read it, crumpled it in his hand, and
threw it down ON the table. "By
Cd, it's a lie!" he exclaimed fu-
riously.
The guests rose in confusion. Mrs.
Drumblade, finding the letter within
her reach, cody possessed herself Of
it, recognized her mothers handwrit-
ing, and read these lines:
Il have only now persuaded your
father to let me write to you. For
Gods sake break off your marriage
at any sacrifice. Your father has
heard, on unanswerable authority,
that Miss Isabel Miller left her situ-
alton in Lady Lydiard's house on sus-
picion of theft"
mo bad news, dear Alfred, hope?"
she said, in her most affectionate
manner. Hardyman snatched the let
ter from her, without answering. and
led Isabel out of the tent.
Read that" he said, when they
were alone. "And tell me at once
whether it's true or false"
Isabel read the letter. For a mo-
ment the shock Of the discovery held
her speechless. She recovered her
self, and returned the letter.
1T is true" she answered.
Hardyman staggered back as If
she had shot him.
True that you are guilty." he
asked.
mo; l am innocent. Everybody
who knows me believes in my inno-
cence It is true that the appear
ances were against me. They are
against me STILL" Having said this,
she waited, quietly and firmly, for
his next words.
He passed his hand over his fore
head with sigh Of relief "It's bad
enough as it is" he said, speaking
quietly on his side. But the remedy
for it is plain enough. Come back
to the tent"
She never moved "why? she
asked.
do you suppose don't believe in
your innocence, too?" he answered.
"The one way Of setting you right
with the world now Is for me to
make you my wife, in spite of the
appearances that point to you. I'm
too fond of you, Isabel, to give you
up. Come back with me, and will
announce our marriage to my
friends"
"You are very kind, Alfred. My
duty is plain to me. l will marry
you-if you still wish it-when my
good name is restored to me-not be-
FORE"
He laid one hand on her arm, and
pointed with the other to the guests
in the distance, all leaving the tent
on the way to their carriages.
Your good name will be restored
to you," he said, ION the day when /
iAAohO yOu my WAlO. IAC WOI60 6u0Iuy
you have cannot associate my name
with a suspicion of theft Remember
that and think a little before you
decide. You see those people there.
If you don't change your mind by
the time they have gotten to the
cottage, it's goodbye between us, and
goodbye forever. l refuse to wait
for you; l refuse to accept a con-
ditional engagement. Wait, and think.
They're walking slowly; you have
got some minutes more"
He still held her arm, watching the
guests as they gradually receded from
view. 1t was not until they had all
collected in group outside the cot
tage door that he spoke himself, or
that he permitted Isabel to speak
again.
Now he said, you have had
your time to get cool. Will you take
my arm and join those people with
me, or will you say goodbye for
ever?"
Forgive me, Alfred" she began
gently. Il cannot consent, in justice
to you, to shelter myself behind your
name. 1t is the name of your family,
and they have right to expect that
you will not degrade it"
Il wait plain answer" he inter.
posed, sternly. (Which is It? Yes
or No?"
(To Be Continued)