The Scarlet Feather

E

check which promised such unexceptional possibilities of retaliation if, as he suspected and hoped, it was a forgery. Dick Swinton, publicly denounced as a felon, c

rang the bell and ordered the check to be brought to him once more. Then, he asked for Herresford's pass-book, and any checks in the old man's handwriting that were available. He displayed renewed eagerness in comparing the

the same as that in the signature. It had darken

rector, could stoop to a fraud. Surely, only a man would wr

old man thank his banker for making an accusation of criminality against his grandson

detected a fraud. But it was not the way of Mr. Vivian Ormsby to act in haste-and it was near the hour for luncheon, to which he had been invited by Colonel Du

people, the Ormsbys, and made calculations in their love-affairs as in their bank-books. The old banker approved, and Vivian had hoped that Dora would accept him before he went away. He knew tha

in which was Colonel Dundas's house, he hardly slackened speed as he swung around the corner. And there, just before him, a group of children playing stretched across the street. Instantly, Ormsby applied the emergency brake. The huge machine jarred abruptly to a st

ief that the 53 patient would live, but he certainly would not go to the war. In the

as going t

ated pattern in the carpet and sorry signs of wear in the leather chairs. A glorious morning; one of those rare days which go to make th

which had sent the blood of shame tingling to the roots of his hair, a letter that would also hurt his wife-and this meant a great deal to John Swinton. He was an emotional, demons

n, as always, appeal to his wife for help, and she would have to beg again from her father. The

was short a

that if your son attempts to leave the state before his obligati

s tr

iam

kindly, earnest letter from man to man, warning him that he must immediately settle with a certain stockbro

to purchase shares weeks ago, orders faithfully carried out. The shares were now his, bu

e had imagined. Seven hundred and fifty for Dick, and a thousand for the broker-seventeen hundred 55 an

d the room a

t you come in to breakfast? Didn't you hear the gong? Dick went off at eight, and I've had to feed all alone. Th

me since we had a chat, Netty. You're getting almost as much a social personage as yo

not even respectably middle-aged. But

my dear,

s is a red-letter day for me; and, when you

n attending to the house-keeping lately, and I want you to try and cut down the expenses. I've had bad ne

you mustn't worry me. The house-keeping is all right. It worried me, I hate it so. Jane's doing it, and she's more tha

am I to

els; they are magnificent, worth a king's ransom. Why don't you say something-something nice and pretty and app

a present? And who gave it to my P

ngagement ring. Harry and I s

ar

to talk about anything unpleasant or ugly to-day. If you do, it'll make me wretched, an

The rosy dawn doesn't always maintain its promise. But we mustn't begin the Sunday sermon to-day, eh, Persian? And now, run away, for I must be quiet to think over

be very pleased about it. Ah, here's mother!" she cried, scrambling to her feet as Mrs. Swinton, dressed for driving in a perfect costume of blue, ente

ir by the fire. "Another headache?" He rested his hand lovingly on her shoulder. "You are ove

fully worried. 58 What was it y

me she is engaged to Harry Bent,

ry for love-never love anybody better than herself, I fear; and, since he's quite willing to give more t

rs by Friday, and, if you haven't sent off that check to the builder of the Mission Hall, you must let it stand over. No, no, don't shake your head like that. I only want t

old it. Your plight can't be worse than mine, Mary," he groaned. "God help me, I didn't mean to tell you, but pe

e quickly-tell me," and her voice dropped to a sobbing whispe

tter threateni

starting up. Her voic

o pay a debt of seven hundred and fifty dollars. I," added the rector, in a broken voice, "a man withou

ill stand by you and help you. No one shall be able to say that you work alone in the future. I'll live your life, dear. Only let us get out of this awful tangle, and all will be right. I'll go to f

inked her arm affectionately in his. "It will be all right. Our luck must surely change, John. I feel

has been given against him, and the money-lender has power to make him pay with the first cash he

own without Dick's affairs crippling us at such a time. He absolute

ouble, darling? Why must y

d some more new frocks for the Ocklebournes' parties. She has refused to give me any more cre

on heirlooms. Your father distinctly warned 61 you th

? They are mine, of course they are. I'm not pa

dear one. You certainly

John. The woman threatens to sell them, unl

e question. You must per

p to town to-day. But my d

how

ed how she spent her private income. But the time for ceremony was past. Ther

wo thousa

ses-only

-pad, while Mary stood looking out of the window, crying a little and shaping a new resolve. It was useless to go to her dressm

up in her heart, and she relieved h

e's driving us to ruin. There's nothing too bad one can say

ney is his own, not ours. If he were to find out that you had

ed, with a mirthless laugh. "A ma

s just the sort to outrage all famil

turning around on him very suddenly

rrupted by a t

, sir, to see Mr. Dick." The manservan

he want wit

ir, he s

hat does

tress hesitatingly, as though he wou

el

rrest him-but he would

some mistake.

ed curtly to the rector, and endeavored to bow more cerem

u come?" ask

t. It has been reported

on? I only received Wise

the day befor

letter, and found that

sion. What are we to do?" asked the cler

liating moment. She longed to call her manservant

with the arrest if there was any possibility of the money being for

, "while I see what can be done. You've taken me at a disadvanta

of your being able to do any

Mrs. Swinton, taking up her muff.

till this eve

then. Until

es

clock," the man ag

"Dick has been a shocking muddler in his affairs-as bad as his father, without his father's exc

t to be in receipt of a handsome allowance from his grandfat

my darling

et money from him, by hook or by crook. We m