Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-07-12

wouldn't do. didn't your
The shoulders Of the Countess Vecc hi
lifted trif1e at this.
~ tried to be entirely frank with
Mr.. Walloway, as | am now trying to
be frank with you. Mr.. Devine. | wish
to ask you If my acceptance of this
check is purely business transac-
ton"
"Why. sure!'
"You would have paid as much to
any one else?"
"Been glad to-"
"And about your offer of Hewington
Acres?"
"Straight business"
"Then accept both proposals." She
paused. then spoke softly. Good aft.
ernoon. Mr.. Devtne."
AS he had found her. so she stood
when he turned to leave the library,
About her erect figure there was al.
most the suggestion OF highly strung
bow. which he took to mean that she
was immensely displeased with him.
What meas he had made " every.
thing. to be sure!
Absorbed in these uncomfortable
reflections. the Cherub narrowly es-
capped collision with the solemnly
alert Eppings. who had stalked for
ward to open the door.
The Cherub hesitated. Was It his
characteristic reluctance TO acknowl-
edge defeat or a sense Of not ha wing
lived up to his own code2 He might
at least have told her he was sorry.
wait minute. Eppings. Guess I've
forgotten something"
A few resoIute strides took him
back into the room where be had left
her Perhaps she had not gone. No;
there she was. but Why. what was
up now? 1t was quite obvious that
the Countess Vecchi had buried her
face in the window draperies and was
leaning against the wall Of the room.
Moreover. from the convulsive rise
and fall of her shoulders it looked as
If she were sobbing.
"Ohr' As she wheeled quickly to-
ward him. saw who it was. realized
that be was standing there looking at
her. she dabbed furtively at her brim-
ming eyes with wholly inadequate
handkerchief IL thought" she
went on. that you had-had"-
Yes. but | came back. You're not
crying. are your"
Crying! Certainly noty'
MOP"
We'll. If was. I'm not now. l
shall not again-ever."
That's right You see. countess.
I'm going to feel bad enough about
this tiuke Of mine to do for both OF
US. That's what ! came back to say.
don't know Just how to put It, but ii
there's anything can do to make you
forget that there's such person as
Cherub Devine I'll do 1t. even If 1t
comes to jumping of the dock"
'"There-there isn't anything"
well. maybe it'll be some satisfac.
ton to you to know that feel like
we'll. like five-eighths off and nothing I
bid Honest, ! never meant to tell
Nick. | was just going to- The
Cherub faltered.
You were going to do what?" sug.
,ested the countess.
why. to spring 1t on you. on.
IAN guess what you would say to 1t.
out-but- See here. countess. could
not help it. You're the best | ever
Knew. Just seeing you these few days
made things seem worth while. Why.
didn't know what | was living for
before And then before knew how
ar I'd gone was seeing nothing but
you wish l could tell you all about
hat countess"
mo. no: you mustn't!' Again she
urned to the draperies. hiding her
lushed face in her hands.
Maybe II you hadn't read so many
" those newspaper yarns about me-
1T isn't that; truly it Is not" came
n muttied tones from the countess.
"Ot course | can see where don't
MEASURE up with the kind Of men
'ou've known. and I tried to keep that
D mind all the time. but well. l
ouldn't do it, that's all. You see,
aven't had much use for women.
bought they were all alike. But you
you're different. countess. wish |
7as different too. 1 wish | was more
Ike Nick II was perhaps | could
,ake you see how much | need you
ow- Oh. say. countess. couldn't you
lst let ME say
mo. no: don't say it. please!' This
anne family. for her face was still
idden
IAN right. won't" The Cherub
aemed to be swallowing the words
ESN n