Los Angeles herald., 1909-01-03

atous as the Situation was, felt that anything would
be better than to be saddled with undesirable female
Tar more difficult to get rid of than Dick AS for him.
he was wonderfully goodnaured and volunteered with
we-e1gned cheerfunesS to see me through till some
thing good came along" AT last | heard from ladv
of such unimpeachable character and connections that
1t seemed like flying in the face of Providence not to
take her. Mrs. Mabbett had travelled to the Riviera
with an invalid who had died. leaving her late compan
ION stranded at cheap pension in Nice | was horri-
bly, depressed by her, and Dick (who was making
projected trip to America for leaving his wife
TO the tender mercies of chaperon) also appeared
overPoWered lie said that the way Mrs. Mabbett had
OF pointing at things with her little finger got on his
nerves, and advised look farther though clearly
it useless hope for anything better There were
other elderly ladies in the world, he repeated and the
right one must be somewhere both had plenty of
time and really seemed to interfere with each other
s1ngularly little.
This was the tenor of his opinion one day. but the
next the wind had veered Just as had become quite
cheerful in the thought of letting that paragon Mrs
MabDett slip through my fingers Dick only advised
me to have her, but to have her at once He was
oDlged to go away Immediately he announced and
might not again for a long time He would
therefore, be easier in his mind if he could leave me in
charge of responsible person
On, very well, if you're anxious to get rid of
me! was on the point of saying, when | remem-
bered IN time that there could be no question Of anv
thing else Of course he was anxious to get rid Of
me e. vi course was anxious to get rid of him
But there certainly something unusual in his
man er that day. He absent-mnded, and more
than once caught his eyes fixed upon me with an
odd expression which might have been reproachfu or
When had come lip to my room after an evening
at the Caslno Dick tapped at my door, and opening it
at the word OF permission, he inquired:
Did you write to Mrs Mabbett?"
I nodded.
That's all right then" He paused but still he lin
gered in the doorway.
Is there anything else you want to say to me?"
Moo. Except goodnight and-er-good-by for
day or two perhaps-or-it NAV be more I'm mali
ing very early start and-T can't be or1;te SIRE ~ @
plans until after tomorrow. Yes-there is one more
thing Id like to thank you, Gym. You don't mind
my calling you by uncles old pet Just for once
do you? It's DEAR quaint little name | think What
| want to thank you for is-a happy fortnight It's
been-very remarkable in some ways
1t has been-queer," | admitted
"Good-by"
wont you-shake hands y
l held out mine looking Up at him He shook Il
gravey; then suddenly pressed so hard that he hurt
me- An odd little spasm Of feeling passed over his
face; dropping my hand, he turned abruptly awav
went back to his and shut the door
On the floor between the closed door and me lay a
sheet OF crumpled paper did not know whether it
was something of mine of Dicks 1 picked it I'D
and Smoothed out the wrinkles
Arranged for seven o'clock tomorrow
morning, Italian time" Ct read), at the place
suggested this afternoon. l think even with
the motor, ought to give ourselves plenty
OF margin in starting, for the rendezvous IS
half an hours walk up into the mountain after
we leave the car, and we don't want the others
to get ahead of Go to bed early, for you'll
want a steady hand F is said to be
crack shot. Rowan
Instantly the realization of what this might mean
flashed over e" was Prince Fortuna Dick
must have met him again One of the two had nsulted
the other and they going to fight duel to-mor-
row morning, somewhere the Italian frontier
his was the explanation of Dicks sudden change of
mind about Mrs. Mabbett, the wstfu look in his ewes
his quickly formed intention to 20 AWAY his "good-
by and his thanks to me for the happy fortnight
which had to an end
l to the door and turned the handle r. was
not locked and opened so unexpectedly that was
almost thrown into the next room He was sitting
at desk writing letter.
1'Oh, Dick" I stan1u7ered t,pory
why you're going away, and all. You mustn't-you
sha,n't fight duel with Prince Fortuna"
He saw the crumpled paper in my hand fumbled in
the pocket of his dnnercoat and understood. mon
senset he exclaimed "Men don't fight duels now
adays."
They do the Continent, you know very we'll
and you're going to- But you shan't-even if I have
to rush between you and be killed"
ne looked at at me steadily For whom would you
hope not for the prince He isn't worth it."
he looked SO handsome and 50 brave that could
not keep back my tears knew that nothing mattered
IN the whole world if only he were safe; For you
Dick-for you" 1 sobbed. I'll do anything for YOU
if only you'll stay. I don't you go away from
me. | don't want you to be killed"
He caught me in his arms "Cynthia-you mean it ?"
They were almost the words with which he
had asked if I would be willing to part from him
at the church door; but how different was the tonel
You mean it, Cynthia? 1t isn't possible you-care?"
"Do your"
Horribly"
$50 do l. Awful1y"
We kissed each other as if the end of the world
had come with the end of our fortnight together
"You won't fght?"
Dear, I must. You see it was the day motored
to San Reno. He said something, and I thrashed
him. Then he challenged You wouldn't have me
act like a coward? Buff 1 should come out all
right would you-keep to look after you instead
of taking Mrs. MabbeH?"
Hang Mrs. Mabbet!" Yes, it was I who said it
Though l am aware the expression unfit for the
lips Of lady, somehow it seemed the only 10
express the fitness of my feeling
You'll let me go on hooking your frocks?"
Yes, and Ill lending studs if
"When I come back. Angel never lived until a
fortnight ago.
And I shall never live again if"
Till meet tomorrow"
How did live until got the telegram from Vent-
migia don't know. The Prince was CLIP and it was
all Off. But when Dick came back to me showed
him gray hair which had not had yes
erday, and he kissed it.
We sent Mrs. Mabbett ten pounds; and the most
heavenly thing in the world is to have your husband
for your chaperon.