Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1906-08-09

seriously: supposing you had offered
me marriage In that burst OF gratitude:
supposing | had committed the folly
of becoming a countess, what posi-
ton | should be in today"
Il do not understand. ."-perplexedly.
Notwithstanding She held forth a
gloved arm. Have you forgotten how
gallantly you used to button my
gloves?"
"a thousand pardons! My mind was
occupied with the mystery of your
long supposition." He took the arm
gracefully and proceeded to slip the
pearl buttons through their holes.
(Have you ever buttoned the gloves
of a handsome woman? | have. And
there is a subtitle thrill about the pro-
ceeding which | can not quite define.
Perhaps it is the nearness of physical
beauty; perhaps it is the delicate scent
of flowers; perhaps it is the touch
of the cool, firm flesh; perhaps 1t is
just romance.) The gaze which she
bent upon his dark head was emotion
al; yet there was not the slightest
tremor of arm or fingers 1t is possi-
BILE that she desired him to observe the
steadiness of her nerves. What did
you mean?" he asked
what did mean?"-vaguely. Her
thought had been elsewhere.
by that supposition."
ooh, | mean that my position, had
| married you, would have been rather
anomalous to-day" She extended the
other arm. you are in love"
'In love?" He looked up quickly
Decidedly; and had always
doubted your capacity for that senti-
ment."
And pray tell me, with whom l am
in love?"
Come, Count, you and know each
other too well to waste time in beating
about the bushes | do not blame you
for loving her; only, | say, it must
not be-"
Must not be?" The counts voice
rose a key.
Eyes, must not be. You must give
them up-the idea and the girl. What!
You, who contrive her fathers dishon-
or, would aspire to the daughters
hand? 1t is not equable. Love her
honorably, or not at all. The course
unworthy of you"
He dropped the arm abruptly and
strode across the room. stopping by
window. He did not wish to see her
face at that particular instant Some
men would have demanded indignant
ly to know how she had learned these
things; not so the count.
There is time to retrieve Go to
the colonel frankly, pay his debts out
of your own pockets, then tell the girl
that you love her. Before you tell her,
her father will have acquainted her
with his sin and your generosity. She
will marry you out of gratitude"
Karloff spun on his heels. His ex-
preston was wholly new His eyes
were burning; he stretched and crum-
pied his gloves.
eyes, you are right, you are right!
| have been trying to convince myself
that | was machine where the father
was concerned and wholly man in
regard to the girl. You have put 1t
| before me in a bold manner. Good
| God, yes, | find that | am wholly
| man. How smoothly all this would
| have gone to the end had she not
crossed my path! I am base, I, who
| have always considered myself an hon.
orable man. And now it is too late,
| too latei"
TOO late? What do you mean? Have
| you dared to ask her to be your wife,"
| Had karloff held her arm at this mo-
ment, he would have comprehended
many things.
mo, no! My word has gone forth
to my government; there is wall be-
hind me, and | can not go back. To
stop means worse than death. My
| property will be confiscated and my
name obliterated, my body rot slowly
| in the frozen north. Oh, | know my
country; one does not gain her graf
itude by failure. l must have those
plans, and nowhere could | obtain
such perfect ones"
Then you will give her up?" There
was broken note.
The count smiled. To her it was a
smile scarce less than a snarl
Give her up? Yes, as a mother gives
up her child, as a lioness her cub.
She has refused me, but nevertheless
she shall be my wife. Oh am we'll
versed in human nature. She loves
her father and | know what sacrifices
she would make to save his honor.
Tonight" But his lips suddenly
| closed.
"Well, tonight? Why do you not
go on?" Mrs. Chadwick was pale.
Her gloved hands were clenched A
spasm of some sort seemed to hold her
in its shaking grasp.
Nothing, nothing! In heavens
name, why have you stirred me so?"
he cried.