, 1905-02-22
Carrot Owens
A1tS1C By
Nl LILLIAN
NOuASCSN BELL
Copyright. 1901, by Lillian Bell
Copyright. 1901, by Lillian Bell
Continued from last week

anu StOppcu DOWihs.
"Come, my dear brother, and meet
our guest, Herr Garrett Owen,' said
Elena in German. And then as the tall
man approached she gave him an anx-
iOus glance and hurried away.
"My poor friend!' cried the count.
speaking in German. Can you ever
forgive u.s."
MY fever always increases under
apologies" said Owen. smiling. IF
you proceed on that line your sister
will have her patients recovery put
back by a month"
The count lifted his head and flung
out a laugh which taxed the capacity
of his great chest.
Besides" added Owen, do you
think me so unappreciative that |
would not willingly have a broken
bone or two for the pleasure of know
ing your sister and-and your moth
err" he added hastily as he saw the
counts keen eyes bent suddenly upon
him.
my sister, repeated the count, still
with his penetrating gaze upon Owens
pale, high bred face.
Owen turned cold for fear he had
been precipitate in mentioning the
young girls name, but he was so eager
to know if any traditions or family
prejudice would prevent his marriage
with her, provided he could win her
love. that he plunged ahead.
"Count Alexis" he said, twas l too
abrupt in speaking of your sister
"Do you love herY' cried the count
eagerly.
with al! my SOUL answered Owen
~fervently. 81 would dare anything for
her sake. Prove me, Suggest some
thing difficult
"And dangerous" demanded Josef.
"And dangerous cried Owen, with
flashing eye.
Good! l trust you. l suspected a
love affair from my sisters manner,
but my mother suspects nothing.
Elena has dashed her hopes too often"
Dashed her hopes." repeated Owen.
"Does your mother desire her daugh-
ter's marriageY'
"Does she mott" cried Josef. There
in lies the whole of the dispute. Elena
has a will of iron, and she has fatty
refused to be 'hawked about the coun-
try as she terms it. My mother and
all my aunts go every year to Berlin,
Paris and Rome to secure husbands
for their daughters, but Elena, the
youngest. the baby. would never go.
She VOWS she will never marry. but
wi. devote all her life to charity. This
enrages my mother so much that the
only time she has been induced to set
her foot inside this little pavilion is
since you have been our guest"
do you think-has your sister said"
-stammered Owen.
Have you not spoken to her!' asked
the count. Then | will not arouse
any false hopes. | will only say that
| see IA great change i'll her manner
she was always too cold-and l attrib-
ute it to you"
"Then, If | could win her, would l
have your sanction?" demanded Owen
breathlessly.
"Stop!' said the Pole, coming to the
bedside and speaking in a low tone
eff you will enter our family by shar-
ing it's dangers, you may count not only
on me. but upon the whole family. But
my sister must know nothing of the
affair. Promise that you will not re-
veal one word without my sanction, and
| will ever now salute you as my
brother"
Il promise," said Owen solemnly.
The tall Pole stopped and kissed the
American on both cheeks.
Three DAYS later the Countess SysZ-
kiewicz, surrounded by her family, had
Just been summoned to dinner when
Henryk, the driver of the troika which
had rescued Carrot Owen, entered and,
bowling low, approached and whispered
a few words in the countess ear.
Instantly she turned so pale that the
others knew that something terrible
had happened. They crowded around
her, and her tall son knelt at her side,
gently stroking her hand.
what is it, Henryk? What is It,
dear mammal cried Elena.
"The American, our friend, our guest,
has been arrested by the Russian Sc
cret police and taken away, God knows
where" said the countess in French.
"Arrested!' cried her son. This is
the work of that spy Polinski! He
AT that moment Polinski entered the
room unannounced.
"You will pardon me, madame, for
entering unceremonlously. l had ex-
pected to be obliged to explain this I'M
fortunate situation, but your sons