Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1910-04-01

mp before him a wholly UNEMPLOYED
field. In all his career he had never
before been confronted with such d
query.
Here was something new. Did he
consider himself a gentleman?
"Now that you mention it," he said,
II don't remember that l have ever
been accused of being a perfect gen.
tleman. But what is a gentleman?
What's your idea of one?"
"Why-why"- The Countess Vecchi
hesitated. why, a gentleman is a
man of honor, one who has regard for
the rights and feelings and sensibilities
of Others"
"What about his bank account?
Doesn't that cut any ice?'
NO" said the countess slowly, a
hint of regret in her tone. "a gentle
man may be poor. For instance, my
father is no longer wealthy, he does
not attend church, he shuns social life
but he is honorable, he is thoughtful
of others, so he is a gentleman"
"And I'm not, eh?"
ooh, no, no! l did not near to say
that. 1 couldn't say it. II do not
know you well enough. l merely ask
ed you to decide for yourself"
The countess bit her lip from vexa-
ton. She was cornered and knew 1t.
But was she beaten? Did you ever
see a woman defeated by mere logic?
That's unfair" she replied reproach-
e.Jlxx SgUo,, IaAx, 1,aoonJk CofI onu
thing of the kind. All l did say was
that l ought to go back, and l must"
'Then l suppose I'll just have to
keep right on going to the dogs" OBJ
served the Cherub dolefully. 81 didn't
know 1 was quite such a hopeless case,
though"
"Oh, 1t isn't that; it isn't that!' pro-
tested the countess.
"Must 6e," declared the Cherub. "If
it wasn't you wouldn't run away like
this. Why, I'm so bad that you won't
talk to me. l don't suppose that you'd
even shake hands with any one so
wicked"
1t may have been merely impulse.
perhaps 1t was the pathetic spectacle
of the Cherub's injured f~eelings-tears
showed suddenly in the brown eyes of
the countess.
"Oh, you mustn't feel that way-you
1lusrn-C. she TIaIuuu. "Uf course ]
will. There!' Impulsively she ex-
tended both hands to him. Rather
awkwardly Mr.. Devine took them in
his. Then he did not know what to
do next. whether to let go or to hold
n
He had not fully decided when a
tall, gray haired man of stern face
and digniied bearing appeared behind
them. He seemed very much aston
ished at the scene.
adele. who is this?' he demanded.
'This, father. is Mr.. Devine." 1t
was finely done--no hesitaney. DO
trembling of voice. no wavering of the
eyes.
mot the--the"-
Eyes, the Cherub. Isn't it, Mr.. De-
vine?"
Mr.. Devine nodded a good natured
assent.
But, Adele. this is entirely unex-
pected. l had no idea that you were
acquainted with this-er-Mr. Devine.''
II have only been telling him that
should not see him again during his
Stay."
"Ah! Quite proper. 1 am sure that
Mr.. Devine does not expect it. Good
day, sir. Come, Adele"
Dutifully the countess followed her
father out of the garden.
The ash on Mr.. Devine's cigar. how
ever. was not an eighth of an inch
longer hefore he was surprised to see
Mr.. Hewington reappear before him.
The Hewingtons. it seemed, were ad-
dicted to postscripts.
wonder if he's come back with a
stick" reflected the Cherub.
But Mr.. Hewington's manner was
not openly hostile.
at has just occurred to me, Mr.. De
vine," he began, that you might fancy
our attitude somewhat discourteous. If
so, you are in error. We are merely
maintaining under rather awkward
conditions our customary reserve. Do
you follow me, sir?"
81 get a glimmer now and then"
complacently rejoined the Cherub.
You mean hat you're not mixers"
Mr.. Hewington smiled coldly at the
metaphor. Society is apt to make
distinctions" he continued. Perhaps
you do not know that our family has
been prominent since colonial times.
My great-aunt married a son of the
Marquis de Lafayette"
"Never met the gentleman COM
mented the Cherub.
Probably not. He came to America
in 1915"
$50? Then he got here before l did"
Mr.. Hewington ignored this remark
''This estate, Mr.. Devine, was part of
the original grant. In my fathers
time 1t extended for fifteen miles along
the sound. The old mansion, which