Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1900-11-21
wreai the nerves q . msazs Buadha.

wreck the nerves a 4 HOME Buddha.
I'll have to get her out Of this"
So he rushed matters q little, and 1t
was all settled for Christmas week.
The professor gave his consent, re-
luctantly enough, Herkomer thought.
and the count congratulated him with
On ironical sneer that made HerkQmer
long to give him toss IN the air fr6ln
which be would alight on the top of
his curly black head.
When he and common sense sat face
to face, common sense told him that
Minora loved him with all the strength
Of her high strung nature. What else
is there in 1t for her, common sense
argued, for the majors Inheritance was
limited to what his sword might cut
down from the pagoda tree, with the
exception Of triains allowance, bare
ly large enough to settle his monthly
gym account.
That was the way common sense put
it, hut the other, intuition, or whatever
other alias he lnasqucraded under, said
there was something behind it all, and
for once in way they were both right.
The love was there right enough, and
also something else behind it. and this
something else might have all come
cut one evening II Herkomer had not
been 80 stupid-honorable he called It
at the time.
1t lacked two weeks of Christmas
time. and they were sitting on the We
randa, us they had sat that other even
ing. Atinora, putting her cool white
hand on Herkomer's wrist and turning
her face q little into the shadow, SO
that he did not notice how set and
white 1t was, said. II have confess
sion to make, Rolando!
Don't make 1t then, little woman.
Confessions. are silly things for which
we are always sorry afterward.''
But shall be happier If you let me
tell You about this. l can't marry you
without telling you fist. won't''-
Look here, Minora," said the major,
turning her around 80 that he could
look into her face, my objection to
your confession is purely selfish. You
see. couldn't let you confess all ON
your side, without unloading some of
my sins into your ears and ii we ex-
change e1periences-well, well,
fancy the count would appear such a
saint by comparison that l should lose
4 you altogether. BY the way, I'll COM
promise" lie added laughingly. "I'n
just ask you one question, which you
mny answer or not, and then we'll call
the whole thing off,
y will answer" she said quietly,
"only-only"-
well, has 1t anything to do with tho
count, what you were going to tell
me?"
| mo"
'Then l can't possibly listen"
| And SO the chance went by, the evil
went on-went on for two weeks longer
and it was the eve of the wedding day.
Love does many, strange things
among others causes a pony to gallon
80 fast that syce cannot possibly
keep pace with the winged rider. That
was why Herkomer arrived at Minerals
home syceless. AS there was nobody
to hold his pony, he led him around
behind the bungalow to the stables.
Minora's rooms were in the nortl
wing of the bungalow, and as he
passed the great windows opening OF
to the yeranda and reaching from
ceiling to floor, and open save for the
shutters, voices that he could not hell
but hear fell upon his ear.
For an instant he stood petrifed. L
was the counts voice, speaking to Mi
nora.
"You will wreck your happiness To-
. fancy" sneered the voice.
Herkomer quickened his pace, so thai
he might hear no more, and of her an
swer, whatever 1t was, he only caught
the one word confession" as he
turned the corner Of the bungalow.
| But all the fierce jealous passion that
had Numbered in his heart for weeks
arose and smothered him--smotheret
everything-an sense Of shame, Of
Justice, Of prudence, and he rushet
into Minora's boudoir a passion mao
man.
What right had she, who was to be
come his wife the next day, to holt
secret intercourse with the count Their
in her own apartments?
| With a startled cry Minora thrus
something into the drawer of sec
retnire beside which she was standing
and stood with her back to it q
though she would guard the secret.
perhaps am de trop." remarke,
the count. passing beyond the purdal
with a low bow, and as Herkome
thought, a sneer on his pale face.
"Why-why have you rushed in here
Rolando, and frightened mcY aske'
Minora confusedly.
81 am sorry Y have frightene
you," said the major shortly. land
will answer your question by askin