The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1906-08-25
Captains Double
By L1LL1As CAMPBELL DAVIDSON

, it even to you. It is only my longing
that he should be helped in it-make
a success in it. I would never have
brcathed word of it to anyone but
you"
''But if there is anything in it, it is
a pity that he should not let some
one know"
mo, no. He is so jealous and so
secretive about it. He breads to let
any one hear about it, lest he should
be robbed of the invention. I thought
you might have helped me, by telling
me if he had been forestalled; might
save him years of toll and suspense,
only to erd in disappointment-that
is all.''
Il would be glad to do anything for
him, if the matter lay in my own
hands; but, of course, it does not. You
to any secrets, my hands and my lips
are tied. I could not say a word of
anything that has been by chance con-
fided in me by others. and more than
if I had taken my oath over it in
court
Il thought you might have been
moved by pity-by compassion. He is
such a boy-so ardent, so full of hope.
He isn't strong; he has put his whole
life into this effort. If it fails 1t may
kill him. I hoped you might have
been moved to help him. 1t would
only have been to say whether he has
no chance of success in his invention,
because it has been already taken
from under his feet"
Il pity him, if he must suffer disap-
pointment, certainly. But there is
something stronger than even pity,
Countess Ilka"
She let her head drop suddenly and
her look fall before his. eyes; love is
stronger" she said, in a low, thrilling
voice. - ,.r.... ..:e
''Love p, Instantly stared, slight:
ly taken aback. He had meant duty
and honor, of course, and he had
thought she must understand without
more words. Her sudden misappre-
hension certainly confounded him.
What had love to do with the matter
at all?
"Love!" he repeated, vaguely, CROP
ingly-trying to follow her idea.
"Yes, love!" She turned to him
with a, swift movement; she leant
from her low chair toward the one
where he sat, till her head almost
touched his shoulder in its droop. She
put out sudden hand, and caught his
with a burning clasp of agitation.
"You would tell the woman you cared
fort" she whispered-a whisper that
sprang to his startled ear like shock
"Ah! you would not refuse her-you
would tell her all-all; even if it cost
your life. Will you not spare gift as
precious for the woman who loves
you? Will you kill her by refusing
what she asks?" For an instant the
room swan round .Winstanley, with
it's shaded dim light and it's flowers,
and the ecstacy of the faint, dreamy
throb of distant band. He was over
whelmed, dismayed, Mortified, bewil-
dered-all in one stupendous whole of
CONSERVATION.
To a man of simple mind and devoid
of vanity there could be nothing but
ment as this. He was too petrified
with the knowledge of her meaning
and his own amazement to do more
than stare aghast at her. She dropped
her head lower, till it swept his cheek
with it's soft perfumed hair. For a
second it actually rested against his
coat, and he hadn't the presence Of
mind to push his chair back. What
man, overcome with dismay at such
words, such behavior, would have had
the self-possession to know what to
do?
And it was just at that moment, of
all hapless moments, that Ursula,
coming along the corridor with her
partner, paused at the door of that
very room: They were in search of
soup, without which Mrs. Shuttle
! waite always earnestly enjoined Ur-
| sula never to leave a ball; and it
| seemed as If they might find 1t there.
The door. stood aiar; there was a
screen between it and the fireplace.
Usurla1 pushed it a little farther open
and looked in. She was the one: to see
round the screen first, and as she saw
she drew back solsharply that she al.
most brushed against the man behind
her.. ''No, not here!" she said, sharp.
ly and leo him on: n f.. .~>..::s..~: -
It is one Of the tricks and sports OF
malicious fortune that these things al,
ways befall.; We are seen at, the mo.
ment most open to misconstruction by
the one person who will most miscon:
strue,. and the mischief done: by that
one moment 1t: may take years to undo
Poor Ursula! 81 She had struggled all
might with that new faint feelinggll:toeil
bitterness, of chilling doubt, ot uneaa:
! fnass,. md 4 E, ,n1z ff1 find Win laY In