The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1906-08-11
Captains Double
By L1LL1As CAMPBELL DAVIDSON

pretty, quaint, foreign fashion that
compelled him to do as she did. When
the last drops ran from the side of the
tumbler and she set it down with 4
languid hand she 1eant forward across
the little table, where the grapes she
had taken shone dark upon her plate
under the shaded electric light above
them, and, dropping her voice almost
to a whisper, she began to speak,.
''Do.yQu remember that I promised
to say something to- you this evening,
or is mans memory as short as they
say?" The beautiful face looked up
into his with a shade of trouble, of re-
luctance, he had never seen before on
it. He felt sudden pity for her, as
he would have done for a child, for
she seemed in agitation and distress.
''My memory is particularly long
one. But nobody could forget that you
had honored them SO recently"
II am almost afraid to say it-afraid
lest I should vex you. have had a
cruel knowledge of men who were not
always so kind as you.''' So
He supposed the husband must have
been a brute; it is the vague impress
sion most men have about the depart
ed when a widow is lovely and hints
at an unsat1sfed life. He looked his
sympathy, and hoped she would go on.
1t was evident that she meant to make
her confidence here, of whatever sort
it was-and she might be lengthy. He
was anxious to get back to the ball
room and ask Ursula why she had
thrown him over so unwarrantably.
ooh, I am sure you must not speak
as if were exceptional All the world
must be kind to you" Countess 1lka
shook her beautiful dark head mourn
fully, and cast a look at him from un-
der. her long lashes, look that had
made many a man powerless. -
mot all-not even the most part.
But you are not like any one I ever
met" The best of men have no OBJ
lection to be told they are an inch
above their fellows. Winstanley
laughed, little embarrassed, but he
was not displeased.
II dare to say this thing to you, and
you will not be angry, know. Tell
me, are you true friend enough to help
a helpless woman who has few friends,
though she has enough false ones and
to spare?"
Il should be glad to do anything for
you that was in my power. I hope
you do not need to be assured of that"
Poor little Woman-no doubt she was
alone in the world, and lonely, and had
no one to advise her. Would she be
quick and tell him, and get it done?
We'll, then, I hardly know how to
begin it. You will not be vexed, you
promise ne that?" Her look of dis
tress, of anxiety, might have moved a
heart of granite. .Winstanley's was a
soft heart. ;t;s5S;sr t;sy
- Il can promise with security. to be
angry at nothing you could say"
THANK you-ah, thank you!" For
; a moment her small gloved hand
touched his with a grateful pressure,
as it lay on, the table between them.
Then hers was hastily withdrawn.
II could make it long, long story
Even in his sympathy he hoped she
would not do that But this is not
the time nor place for it. Let ME just
tell you the briefest facts of the case.
I can tell you all at another time, if
you will do what ask now. I am very
lonely in the world-you must have
seen that; I am an exile from my old
home, my country; have no relatives
hardly one true friend but your self
But the thing that is dearest to me in
all the world is a young brother, my
husbands" brother-a mere boy-the
last of a noble family. He is very poor
the estates have passed from him.. he
must work for his very bread: He is
clever--oh, so clever; he might make
a name in science if he had but the
money and the chance to carry out his
experiments. :::.' ~
"He is devoted to chemistry, and for
one so young he has done some won
ders in it. already, helped by books
written by a grandfather Of his, who
was great scientist and experiment
talist, too. In one of these old books
he has j.: discovered the secret Of a
strange explosive" = Countess 1lka's
furtive look was fixed unswervingly
on Winstan1ey% under. her, black eye
lashes. ''He Is convinced that tits to1
81, r