Putnam patriot., 1910-04-15


 Hg father has e9nfes e1 The whole vrefebed stery. fie told me at first That yaa wfre merely bere on some l5R business. bHt when heard tbai ysu were entertaining your friends ilere. lasf 8s you would in your own house I demanded fo be toid the truth, And now l kuow 0h. know fl all. This Is your house You own |. Somehow or other you have fricked ny poor father ouf Of II. and now our beautisfui he-0-ame K yours. Dare you deny n7 Come. lsn't II sor'
 The CherHb bowed his head h meek submission
 "Then. exclaimed fhe countess you are n9f aalY wIeke8 man hui yog sre deeeiifut cruel despiae you foa ysB sEes
 dast Mtaf eisr be saa The astenishH td Chefnb was never tp knew. for al Iaat ueim the br9upriallea aas iu= fef4U5ea The threatening aoad sub. merged fl1e brown eyes. aad tbe eaniii= ezs. sinking d0Wn pa Tue beliem sfalg Aeaued aaaihsf fbe carved uewel Beat and eafAe5 telHEea'HagaiF into The aMl8s sleeve U fae siIk coal
 a0h sae easfe he protested sSee Heee NsH1 xnus dl1afi mvan it Hbe f Me hWk. ba6est. do Come. re8s iofe faih II osee 0h. stop ll' ps slap IF
 T8 the ehefubs urgent eHireaiies she paid Hoi The slightest heed.
 She gfasped tire suit eHSe and marched ltasi him with as much dix uity as Il WIS possible to assume with heavy weight dragging down one arm Al the duor sine made deter mined attack an the bolts stupldly Inc chernb watched her as sbe tugged aRay sainiy
 You had better wait until morn Ing. hadn'i your he suggested
 To this sue made no reply but showed and pulled at the stubborn bolts until she was forced to give ap Then. just as he had thought her beaten. she went promptly to one of the French windows in q fToDt room. turned the catch and stepped out on the yeranda. Mr. Deyine followed.
 "l do not wish for your company. Ir Bevlne"
 T suppose you don't. but I'm going Just the same I'll get my coat and hat"
 As he can back into the hall he heard the countess leave the vernuda snatehing up an enera hal aud rain cunt. h. hnfeied dat through the wsn dow aftef her. She was easily eser taken for the suit ease acted as brake
 You'd better let me carry your bag he said IS he overlook her, but the offer WIS Ignored. and the repnsed cheab fell haek pace Thus the, started down The narrow Ernveled path which wound leisurely course in and out among the shruhhery 10 ward the malu road
 ''Sne hare. he said sterniy as he stepped forward beside her. you must iet me take that bag.
 T shah not, l don't need your she began braveiy enough but the eheruh had already lifted il from her numbed iiugars
 q know you don't.'' he said. but I've got the bag"
 A low grumble of distant thunder caused the countess to siaeken her pace.
 s'fheren' he exclaimed reproaehfuliy ''it's going 10 rain. you see. Did yen hear thatf'
 "Yes. | heard
 Hut where are you goinrr'
 The countess stopped abruptly and turned te say T thiuk told you Mf neelne that dld uot care te discuss my plans with yeu st all Miil NoN elec me my haKr
 No. said the Shernb, T shall his lt myself and | shal follow you uuti1
 see you sAfe somew here
 With gesture of imnatlenee the countess resumed her WAY
 \ brisk brevze spfaug un someM here The treetors began Ia roek aud sway like drunken men. Several sharr crashes of thunder came tn quick sue ceSsian. and the bare highway emerg e.l fer an instant from Indissinct gloom as The lightning revealed every detail Then there came hush hlg drops of rain fell with menaviag impact on the crown of the cheraes opera hat
 ..There | told you 1t was going ta rain" he announced Held on. now I'm going to put this coat on you.
 The countess hesltatcd. He had dropped the bag aud was holding up the eua. ay the collar Another aud more vivid Hash thaa any which had preceded II revealed him with photo graphic distiaetHess. She could aoi heip noting that he looked very well in evening dress He did not seem so much inclined to stoutness as in a business suit.
 No. you aesd the coat yourself Yeu'it be wet through tn a moment, The hlg drops struck through her thin silk sleeves evlaly on her arms.
 Then she allowed hssa 10 heip be- infa ihe raineeAi.
 eCome ua~ he said picking ap the ha. and starting ahead The rain was naw dramminx Il roaring tattoo en The crown of his hat
 .lau must take my arm or you'll fall" ordered the cheruh. Meekis she obeyei and they went pluhginx and sliding through the storm .oh. yeu're being drenched" saa tue countess. Apparently he dld not hear. .Aou are weg through. aren't souf~ she shouted ln bis ear, Not quite" he answered calmly Come en."
 There ensuea | period during whlch they stumbled ard slid along la ss ience. Al last they discovered several houses near The road.