The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1905-04-05

first time with DEAN rnree car iengtns
away
He had left Rosemead that might.
1t was all he could do. He thought
she would understand. Ii not. there
was no danger but Mrs. Wilmington
would enllghten her
The Manchuria business had been an
opening held out by the old Darby
Thornton for some time. 1t was a
chance to make good by going out there
and clearing up the old boys mercan-
tile interests before the war broke out.
He had stuck to it and made good, and
the reward had come most unexpected
ly when said old boy had taken a no.
ton to die comfortably and opportune-
ly and leave his accumulated posses
sions to the prodigal In the far land.
There had been no thought during the
year of work but of Gladys. He had
left on the first boat for home to claim
the promise of the tunnel kiss and had
found instead Estevan, warranted
imported antique, tall, suave and
slightly gray, with an eye out for
ready money.
The thought Of it all made him des-
perate tonight He put her from him
almost roughly. In three weeks she
would be the Countess Estevan, chate-
laine of some dinky little old castel-
lated ruin In Austria. He was sorry
that he had tried to see her. sorry he
had come back, sorry he had made
Culyerton change places with him.
you had better stop crying" he said
We'll be there In few minutes. Es-
tevan might not like It,
She smiled back at him. her eyes
bright with tears.
$50 you try to brighten the bad little
girl into good behavior? Well, she
doesn't scare worth a cent Darby.
Your bogy man is such fragile, prop
er, tissue paper bogy man that the
bad little girl has decided he isn't
worth being afraid of"
what do you mean?
Cant you guess? You expect others
to be so good at guessing. you know
You expect to kiss a girl and go away
to Manchuria-or was 1t the moon
anu tutll COiIt Ddth anu nn1 lOht Ill
her eyes. What was 1t? Like this?'
She was laughing at him. He felt
angry and obstinate
"Can you say that you never loved
me-"
mo, cannot" Her eyes met his with
calm, defensive candor. of course
loved you. Do you think l would
have kissed you that day IL had not?
And you are right about the other too.
shall always love you
He bent toward her with keen, half
shut eyes.
And yet in three weeks you will be
his wife"
NO, | won't. Do you think could
after tonight? l shall break the en-
gagement tonight. You have accom-
plished that at least. Now, take the
first boat back to Manchuria."
He smiled slowly and happily. She
had not heard yet of the accumulated
possessions.
We've turned out of the park" he
said. Il don't want to go to the house
and face u crowd. Gladys. look at me.
No, straight In the eyes, please! Try to
think quickly. I've come all the way
around the world TO see you. I've al
ways wanted you. You know that. l
was afraid before, and ran away like
coward and didn't even give you the
chance to refuse me. VIII you refuse
me now"
''As If 1t made any difference" Her
eyes were clear and true and some
what indignant. IF l have enough
money to satisfy even Aunt Victoria
and her little count, isn't there enough
for you? If you go back there
WHAT"
Il shall give away all the money and
come after you:"
Come, now"
Her lips were half parted, her eyes
wistful and troubled.
1T will be easy to come back and
break the engagement then. You will
only have to present your husband.
IF dared
He tapped on the glass slide and
gave an order TO the driver, and they
turned back down the avenue just as
the bells were Ginning midnight