The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1905-02-24
CHAPTER VII.

HAp1E VII.
~ ARL STEINMETZ lifted his pen
from the paper before him and
scratched his forehead with his
Al forefnger.
Now, l wonder" he said aloud,
how many bushels there are in a ton.
Ach, how am l to find out? These
English weights and measures, this
English money, when there is q met
rcal system"
He sat and hardly looked up when
the clock struck I. 1t was a quiet
room this in which he sat, the library
Of Paul's London house. The noise Of
Piccadilly reached his ears as a faint
roar not entirely unpleasant but socia-
BILE and full of life. Accustomed as he
was to the great silence of Russia.
where sound seems lost in space, the
hum of q crowded humanity was q
pleasant change to this philosopher.
who loved his kind while fully recog-
nizing its little weaknesses.
While he sat there still wondering
how many bushels of seed made a ton
Paul Alexis came into the room. The
younger man was in evening dress.
he looked at the clock rather eagerly.
will you dine here:' he asked, and
Eteinmetz wheeled around in his chair.
II am going out to dinner" he explain
ed further.
"Ah!!' said the elder man.
sT o-, ,o;r- ~ Nfr- C-I~ar p,,,
borough's. l shall probably ask her to
marry me-"
and she will probably say yes"
81 am not SO ure about that said
Paul, with a laugh, for this man vas
without conceit. Il do not see why she
should" he went on gravely. He was
standing by the empty fireplace, a
manly, upright figure, one who was
not very clever, not brilliant at all,
somewhat slow in his speech, but sure,
deadly sure, in the honesty of his pur-
pose.
Karl Steinmetz looked at him and
smiled openly, with the quaint air of
resignation that was his.
You have never seen her, eh%' in
Quired Paul.
Steinmetz paused. then be told a lie,
o good one, well told, deliberately.
NO"
Eve are going to the opera, box F..
II you come in l shall have pleasure
in introducing you. The sooner you
know each other the better. | am sure
you will approve"
Il think You ought to marry money
"Why?'
Steinmetz laughed.
"Oh," he answered, because every
body does who can! There is Catrina
Lanovitch-an estate as big as yours.
adjoining yours; a great Russian fam
LIZ, a good girl who is willing
Paul laughed, a good wholesome
laugh.
You are inclined to e1aggerate my
manifold and obvious qualifications
he said. "Catrina is a very nice girl,
but l do not think she would marry
me even If l asked her"
which you do no Intend to do.
Certainly not"
Then you will make an enemy of
her" said Steinmez quietly. 1t may
be inconvenient, but that cannot be
helped. A woman scorned, you know.
Shakespeare or the Bible, l always mix
them up. No, Paul, Catrina Lanoyitch
Is a dangerous enemy. She has been
making love to you these last fouI
years, and you would have seen it il
you had not been a fool l am afraid
my good Paul, you are a fool, God
bless you for it,!
Il think you are wrong said Pau
rather curly; not about me being a
TOOL, but about Catrina Lanovirch. II
you are right, however, it only makes
me dislike her instead Of being perfect
" Indifferent to her"
His honest face flushed up finely. and
ne turned away to look at the clock
again.
Il hate your way of talking abou,
women, Steinmetz,' he said. You're
a cynical old beast, you know
Heaven forbid, my dear prince!
admire all women-they are so clever
30 innocent, SO pure minded. Do no,
Jour English novels prove it, your Eng
hsh stage, your newspapers. so hiet
toned: Who supports the novelist, tn.
playwright, the actor, who but You
English ladies': p
Better than being cooks. like You
German ladies' retorted Paul stoutly
Better thar bejno coorcr
doubt it! very much doubt it
my friend. AT what time shall I nra
sent myself at box F. this evening",
About Gas 500 as you like"
30 Paul Howard Alexis sailed fort,
% seek the hand of the lady Of hi:
enolce' and as he left his own door tina
ady was receiving Claude de Chaux
1uN N her drawing room. The TIVE