Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1906-07-31

"There was time not long ago."
she said, drawing his gaze as magnet
draws a needle, when the disparity
in years was of no matter"
The count laughed. THAT was three
years ago; and IL my memory serves
me, you smiled"
Perhaps l was first to smile; that
is ALL"
II observe a mental reservation
owlishly.
II will put it plainly, then. | pre-
ferred to smile over your protestations
rather than see you laugh over the
possibility and the folly of my loving
YOU"
Then 1t was possible ?"-with Inter
est
Everything is possible and
often absurd"
"How do you know that I was not
truly in love with you?"-narrowing
his eyes,"
ut is not explanatory; it can be
| given only one name-instinct, which
in women and animals is more fully
developed than in man. Besides, at
that time you had not learned all about
Colonel Annesley whose guests we are
to be this evening Whoever would
have imagined Karloff accepting the
Inequalities of an Annesley? Count
hath not thy rose a canker?"
Madam" Karloff was frowning.
| II r.,
you scowl; but scowling never induces
anything but wrinkles. That is why
we women frown so seldom We smile.
But let us return to your query. Sup
posing had accepted your declarations
seriously: supposing you had offered
me marriage in that burst of gratitude
supposing l had committed the folly
of becoming countess, what posi-
ton should be in to-day!"
II do not understand, "-perplexedly.
"No?"-shrugging 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.
(FIave you ever buttoned the gloves
Of handsome woman? l have. And
there is subtitle thrill about the pro-
ceedlng which l can not quite define.
Perhaps 1t 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 posi-
Bile that she desired him to observe the
steadiness of her nerves. What did
you mean?" he asked.
What did | ?"-vaguely. Her
thought had been elsewhere.
by that supposition."
ooh, l mean that my position, had
married you, would have been rather
anomalous to-day" She extended the
other arm you are in love"
lin love-" He looked up quickly.
Decidedly; and l had always
doubted your capacity for that senti-
ment.'
"And pray tell me, with whom am
in love?"
Come, Count. you and know each
other too we'll to waste time in beating
about the bushes. l do not blame you
for loving her; only, say, 1t must
not be-
Must not be?" The counts voice
rose 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
you are following is base and wholly
unworthy of YOU"
He dropped the arm abruptly and
strobe across the room. stopping by a
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, tnen 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! I
have been trying to convince myself
that | was machine where the father
was concerned and wholly a man in
regard to the girl. You have put 1t
before me in bold manner Good
God, yes! | find that I am wholly a
man. How smoothly all this would
have gone to the end had she not
crossed my path! l am base, l, who
have always considered myself an hon
| Orah1a man And now If 10 too 1sfo