Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1904-07-21

ber when early autumn had flung an
incompatible glory of color over the
country.
In the evenings he steadily devoted
himself to Edith, so far as she would
allow him. Occasionally she sang or
played TO him at his request, or took
Il hand at dummy whist with him
and her aunt, but as much az possible
she avoided being alone with him. and
did what she could to discourage the
labored compliments he continually
strove to pay her
Somehow, since the morning on which
news of the tragedy was broken To
them, some subtle coolness whose
origin she had no wish TO trace and
shrank from analyzlng, had risen be-
tween them; but If he We're aware OF
this he steadily ignored ii.
Years ago. almost from boyhood he
had come 10 regard her as his future
wife. They We're in n way connections.
his father was her guardian: they had
been brought up together; and she WAS
an heiress whilst he was penniless; all
solid reasons to his mind why she
should marry him and thank provi-
dence for sending her such Il man.
He understood her so little as To
wonder If her GOODNESS to him was sim
ulated in order to make him more
ardent: Il plan he knew WAS adopted
bs. many girls. Perhaps she wished
10 tlirt. Dunstan would hardly have
proposed TO her without encourage
ment; when he did he got the reward
of his presumption. Then she had Ger
tainly seemed Very friendly With that
hasrster fellow though. of course, she
could rot be in ove With a man
twenty years her senior.
Nhpn he told his father l,a Vap3pd
change. and would like to rum across
the channel and stay a few days in tine
French capital the count who Was
fond of and indulgent TO him. agreed
that it was necessary he should have
recreation and amusement.
Il know it must be very dull for
YOU here, my dear boy he said i'm his
soothing. gentle voice. and that it will
brighten you to rub shoulders With the
crowds of y great city"
'i'es. my dear boy he said, go TO
Paris my all means
ITS awfully good of you. rater, but :.
answered Max With his practical air
II must tell You that. what With one
thins and another, | have only II few
shillings left of my quarterly allow
ance.'
You are hopelessly extravaganza"
the count remarked
II fear | am. | can't keep money"
Because you don't try. should feel
terribly anxious about your future, IL
1t weren't that you are to marry am
heiress,' the count told him jestingly.
The heiress doesn't seem to care
much about me at present. Max am
swered i'm an irritable tone, recolect-
ing the many Sights he had recently
/ received
You must have patience and perse-
verance. At present She is upset by
that unfortunate occurrence, and by the
trial. But i am sure she cares for you,
with whom she WAS brought up and
taught to think of as her future hus-
band.
Girls think for themselves about
4 their future husbands. Max comment-
ed. of late | have had a hard time
striving To please her. but without
much success"
Don't despair or You will never win
4 her" his father advised. Hope is the
iorerunner of victory. BY the time YOU
come back she may be more inclined To
listen to You. She knows ii is the
4 great desire of my life TO see her your
wife. and think have some influence
/ over her. AT all events. i'm your abb
I scence will prepare her mind TO ac-
+ ccpt your proposal
! Good. When l return will plainly
ask her to marry nie. If she refuses -
I Don't lei us anticipate anything so
7 unfortunate. replied the count hur-
/ rieIliN.
/ ON the morning when Max started
from the Hall his father gave him a
1 hundred pounds for his expenses.
This is more than expected, pater,"
he said. gratitiel by this evidence OF
4 generosity.
II hope you will spend only what is
4 necessary to give you Il pleasant hui-
< day.
II will do my best not to be extra
/ VACANT, the young man answered
4 meaning what he snid.
4 Above all things, don't gamble:
/ promise me YOU will not gamble the
count said earnestly.
II am not likely to have amy tempta-
ton TO play In Paris"
"One never knows There are gam
4 bling helIs i'm all great cities, and like
the magnet with the steel, they AT
direction. ="
j AS mine does" Max admitted.
AS yours does" said the count sad
ly.
You know that?"
THAT knowledge is the punishment
of my sin; for In my young days l was
II gambler and with me it was a pas
sion IN the blood. a madness in the
brain, drunkenness was sanity I'm com
parison When | think OF that l am
filled with fear for you; vices are i'm
herited, or. In other words, the sins ol
the parents fall upon the children"
My dear pater, don't he SO tragic
Max said lightly.
4 "Ah, my boy, you c:ranot know. and
cannot tell you. where such a vice ma.
lead II man. who seeing his weakness
does not renounee II firmly. without
compromise or dalliance for once
caught in its force 1T is a cataract thai
sweeps him 10 destruction
Continued Next Week.)