The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1908-01-06
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!, J by
Fred hWkeo
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r. LZ7gS-rZ~ d 500

ready the t1tZ1Ohn square muir
der had ceased to occupy public
attention now that the tragedy had
been solved, and there was no
chance of the culprit being brought
before an earthly tribunal. AS to
Cooney, he got off quite as lightly
as he deserved.
81 think, on the whole, ybu had
better remain here for the pesent,"
Ravenspur suggested. "Yonl have
the house on your hands 1br two
months, and, really, it Isl IA very
pleasant place. Everybody sis out
of town for the present, and very
few of my friends will be back in
London again before the autumn.
This will give US time to invent
some plausible story to account for
| your temperance. | don't Ike that
kind of thing as a rule, bit it is
quite essential in this casep
What are you going to do your
self" the countess asked.
| Il am going to have a couple of
quiet months on the contipent. |
shall miss Vera, of course, but |
| think it is far better for her to stay
here with you. But has it ever oc-
| Cured to you, countess, that before
long Vera will have another and a
closer guardian than either of our
two selves?'
81 suppose that is inevitable"
the countess said as she looked
lthoughtfully across the flower beds.
"Still the fault is my own"
81 am afraid the mischief is
DONE" Ravenspur smiled. well,
Walter Is fine fellow. He will be
rich some Of these days. He will
succeed to the title at my death. II
I were you, countess, l would not
Interfere with that arrangement. I"
AS Lord Ravenspur moved away
Vera took her place by her moth
er's side.
what have you two been plot
ting?" she asked gayly.
1--WE have been discussing your
future" the countess replied. Lord
Ravenspur has been telling me
something which, apparently,
fought to have guessed before. | was
looking forward to year or two In
your company, but I am told that
is more than l can expect. There is
a certain young man
"You are speaking of Walter,
Vera murmured A little color
crept into her cheeks. Her eyes
were bright and smiling. "Posi
lively there has been no time tC
tell you about Walter. Do you
know, mother, that Walter and my
self have been lovers ever since
was ZAP"
The dusk was beginning to fall
The garden was fragrant witt
the scent of flowers. Vera rose
from her chair and stood by the
window, drinking in the subtle de
lights of the evening. Walter cross
ed over to her side and placed his
arm under hers.
"Come outside" he said. 1T Is &
shame to stay indoors a night like
this. Besides l have something i'm
portant to say to you
Vera turned and smiled into hel
lovers face. They walked in 81
| louCe together uOWH Tic pau, "t'h
the roses rioting on either side,
"How long is it, Walter finally
asked, "since you wanted to run
away and leave us? But we viii
pass over that" he said suddenly
"All the dangers and troubles have
gone. And now, little Vera, wher
are we to be married."
Vera turned slowly and thought
fully. She laid her hands upor
Walters shoulders and look stead
lily and lovingly into his smiling
eyes. Her words were low and
sweet.
Dear old boy" she said. 'Ill
marry you, dear; I'll marry you
gladly and willingly, and be the
happiest girl in all the world. But
not yet; not till our time is uI
here; not till have spent the next
two months with my mother. And
you won't love me any the less
because l have thought of her as
well as your
Walter kissed the sweet, serious
lips
ut shall be as you say, sweet
heart. And now let us go back and