Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1908-02-08

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api going out for few turns on deck.
Shall II he single or double breasted?"
she asked nalvely.
Don't you want to change your
wrapsT suggested Hollis as he glanc-
I'd NJ the beautiful drapery that was
about her.
ooh. no. It doesn't matter" careless
~ remarked the countess
They circlcd the deck only once. be-
rause the crowd was inconveniently
large. and soon they Were seated side
10y 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 II 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 ut his com
pnnion.
II suppose all men are fools" he
vcnturcd 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. n man of expert
encc. aud | suppose you know. |
thought some day might meet n man
who was not fool, and then should
fall In love with him.
Lucky man." murmured Hollis. but
his throat seemed 10 20 dry and his
pipe went out do you think | am a
fool;"
well 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 II 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
New York he went over to say goodby
II wish | could call-Just once" he
pleaded as she hesitated
This is my card. Mr.. Hollis. and II
you will come-you may" she added
as she handed him neat little en-
velope with card Enclosed.
Hollis slipped In into his pocket
onI 4 trAAAhts 60, lat lo1t-
with the silvery voice. How queer
that sounded. III you will come-you
may" What had she meant?
The next night Hollis hailed han
som at the corner of his hotel and gave
the driver the address. When they
drew W in front OF little apartment
house he wondered, but went In. Ev-
erythIng connected with the girl seem
ed 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 Gle
giant, yet of exquisite refinement. He
looked ut the pictures. There she was
as child, here as a 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 few
thousand year.
MY darling, I want you, and by
heavens. III have you, even II you are
a countess Won't you let me try to
win youi oh. II You only knew-if
you only knew"
81 know too WELL" the sweet voice
said But I'm not 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 countess. and all those fine
clothes were not mine You see. we
lost all our money, and | had TO do
something Well. could speak French
and knew good clothes. so big firm
sent me over TO buy model gowns. |
wore them TO avoid duty. OF course
soilcd 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. lie
was saying TO himself over and over
again:
Not the Countess of Brienne, but
Mrs Eaton Hollis"