Charlevoix county herald., 1909-12-11
A Question of Money
By FRANK III. SWEET
Copyright. by w. G. Chapman.)

May laughed and gave him her
hand. Thank you, count" she said.
Il am glad to see you. also. You are
sure to like 1t here-even with the
angel. And you, too, Mr.. Bethune,"
offering her hand to the sculptor.
Can you not make a pretty speech
like the count?"
II am afraid not" smiling down at
her. "Only that am very, very
glad to find you here, Miss Allyn. Your
presence will add much TOTO our
pleasure at Palm Beach"
why, really, that does very nicely"
She twirled the brush with a pretty,
unconscious movement that caused the
tips Of its feathers to flicker across
one of the palm fronds near. The mo-
ton caught the counts attention, and
with wondering CONSERVATION his eyes
went from it to her white apron and
to the badge of servitude upon her
head, and his sloping shoulders stiff
ened suddenly into protesting reserve.
"Pardonnez," he rebuked, "but eet
Is so hurry l am now. / will see
Mons. Bethune will tell you we have
not register yet. will do eet now"
May watched him hurry away with
an odd look of inquiry in her eyes.
whats the matter with the count?"
she asked innocently. HAS he for
gotten something's"
Bethune laughed joyously. A mo-
ment before there had been both re-
| serve and repression in his eyes: now
they were suddenly eager, glowing,
determined.
"The counts an odd sort of stick"
he answered, land his visit here is
| confessedly in search Of rich Amer
| lean wife"
He raised his hand significantly to-
ward his head; but for a moment she
| looked puzzled, then a quick, compre-
hending flush rose to her face.
"Oh, that" she said thoughtfully.
"And your"
Bethune laughed again. He could
not help it.
Cant you see, Miss Allyn" he de-
manded. II fancied it was sticking
| out all over me. Over yonder I was a
poor devil of an artist and you a rich
heiress; and now-Oh, May"
There was the soft rustic of silk
moving across the carpet. May raised
her finger.
Mamma is coming" she warned.
II don't care" impetuously. I've
got to speak now. l can't wait an
other day. Where can l see you
alone?"
She hesitated, then appeared to con-
slider.
"The maids and nurses usually walk
on the beach at about three o'clock"
she said demurely. 81 expect l shall
be there"
At four o'clock two wheel-chairs
swept leisurely down the bicycle ave-
nue. and on past the Breakers toward
the beach. 1t was the hour for Mrs.
Allyn's daily outing, and she preferred
to take it in a wheel chair, and leisure
ly. The occupant of the other chair
was Count pOrtegan, and from the sat
isfaction in his face he had evidently
discovered the mistake. AS they
turned toward the beach path they
saw two figures approaching them only
a few yards away.
There's May now" exclaimed Mrs
Allyn. Suppose we wait few min.
utes. She will be glad to see you
count"
The counts face grew eager, and
words of an elaborate apology began
to form in his mind; but as the fig
ures drew near and he saw the express
sion on their faces as they looked al
each other the apology died away and
a Partisan oath, muttered under his
breath, took it's place. He merely
bowed politely, and then waited fol-
Mrs. Allyn to give the signal to go on