The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1908-01-09

am going out tor few turns on deck.
Shall 1t be single or double breastedT
she asked nalvely
Don't you want to change your
wraps?' suggested Hollis as he glanc-
ed at the beautiful drapery that was
about her.
"Oh. no. 1t doesn't matter" careless
ly remarked the countess
They circlSd tile deQA only once. be-
cause the crowd was inconyeniently
large, and soon they were seated side
by side in their chairs The air was
chilly. and Hollis offered to go for
extra wraps. but just then the maid
came up and asked IL she would be
needed again that night The countess
asked for coat The pale faced serv-
ant soon returned and heedlessly threw
the sable lined wrap over the feet OF
her mistress. Hollis was dumfounded
with this display of extravaganza. yet
stared In blind alteration at his com
panion
II suppose all men are FOOLS" be
ventured to remrak.
"Oh, are they?' answered the count
ess with a ring of disappointment in
her voice You see | am very young
and | don't know, but now you are a
man OF the world. man of expert
ence and | suppose you know. |
thought some day | might meet a man
who was not fool, and then l should
fall in love with him"
Lucky man." murmured Hollis. but
his throat seemed to go dry and his
pipe went out. do you think | am d
foolY
We'll really. don't know you so
very well, but think you're dreadful
ly stupid You seem to have so little
to say"
Hollis was just going to say some
thing. but he looked at the sable coat
and the beautifully gowned figure of
the woman within it and he closed his
lips firmly.
Thereafter they met at rare inter
vals-not oftener than Hollis could
help. and the day the boat locked in
81 wish could call-just once" he
pleaded as she heStated.
This is my card. Mr. Hollis. and If
you will cOme-you may she added
as she handed him neat little en-
velope with a card inclosed.
Hollis slipped in into his pocket
and once more said goodby to his lady
with the sivery voice. How queer
that sounded. IF you will come-you
may" What had she meant?
The next night Hollis hailed a han
som at the corner of his hotel and gave
the driver the address When they
drew up in front of little apartment
house he wondered, but went in. Ev-
erythlng connected with the girl seem
ed a mystery, so he did not hesitate.
The card had read, ASK for Miss
Tousley." He did so, and the maid
said she would be In directly. He
glanced about the room. Nothing ele-
CANT yet of exquisite refinement. He
looked at the pictures. There she was
as child. here as n young girl and
there again she was standing in flesh
and blood in the door with two hands
outstretched
Somehow she seemed more real, more
alive than ever before as she held out
her hands. and he took them. She was
dressed in some simple gown, and they
sat ON the couch together while he told
her OF his hopeless love, his longing
for her and of his salary OF a few
thousand year.
MY darling. want you, and by
heavens. I'll have you, even II you are
a countess. Won't you let me try to
win you? Oh, If you only knew-If
you only knew"
81 know too we'll" the sweet voice
said. But I'm not a countess at all,
I'm poor girl, and my name is Tous-
ley. just Sarah Tousley. There's moth
ing royal about that, Is there? | am
not a countess. and all those fine
clothes were not mine. You see. we
lost all our money, and had to do
something Well, I could speak French
and knew good clothes. so big firm
sent me over to buy model gowns. |
wore them to avoid duty. or course
soiled them some, but the model was
just as good to copy. and-oh. please.
please don't hold me so tight dear.
she almost sung into his ear.
But he did not seem to hear her He
was saying to himself over and over
again:
mot the Countess of Brienne, but
Mrs Eaton Hollis"