Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1910-04-28
Clerub
Devine
Continued from fourth page)

i
vouldn't for the world disturb the
s,ct lady. I'm just trying to be So
s,sbe. want you to stay until you're
ready to leave"
"You see, Mr.. Devine, my plans for
tho immediate future are very uncer-
tain"
ayes. that seems to be the word.
what does the countess say about it?'
az never discuss matters Of business
With nv daughter. Women do not
understand such matters. OF course it
"a necessary to have her sign papers
now and then. The lawyers insist on
r. some of the property having been
loft to her, but l never try to explain
things which l do not fully compre-
bend myself. The sale Of this place,
for instance, still perplexes me. l did
NOT desire it at all. l suppose, how
ever. that it was necessary as mat
ter Of form, Probably you have
clearer notion of it than l, Mr.. De-
vine."
"Your idea is bit hazy." admitted
the Cherub.
perhaps so, but l presume that
your-er-possession here is only a
temporary arrangement. Matters will
soon be adjusted. suppose, when my
attorneys finally get around to it. My
daughter was more or less worried un-
til | assured her that would attend
to the affair personally"
"Then she cheered up, did sheY Mr.
Devine appeared to find the converse
ton entertaining.
"She was relieved, Of course But
have been SO engrOssed in preparing
pamphlet Orwell, j. on a scientific
subject which would not be Of inter-
est to you-that l have neglected to
take the proper steps. However, now
that you thoroughly understand the
situation. l trust that you will not
act hastily"
"Oh, shan't put you out or any
thing like that, Mr.. Hewington. Make
your mind easy on that score"
1T is very considerable Of you, sir
OF course until the affair is settled we
shall not encroach on your technical
right Of possession more than is abso-
lutely necessary. If the present ar
rangement is satisfactory / would sug-
gest that it be continued"
The Cherub favored Mr.. Hewington
with whimsical smile. well, we'll
let the thing drift for awhile anyway
Only you don't have to act as though
you were prisoners. Why don't you
and the countess come down to your
meals just as though wasn't here?"
"My dear sir Here Mr.. Hewing
ton began an exhaustive review Of the
situation. When he was through Mr.
Devine chuckled gleefully. 1t was ar
amazingly simple proposition. The
Hewingtons were the Hewingtons, anG
newell. he was Cherub Devine. Thai
told the story.
1t was all done very courteously anC
delicately in Mr.. Hewington's fine, arts
tocratic manner, yet nothing but the
speculative buoyancy Of Mr.. Devine's
audacious soul saved him from being
utterly crushed.
Il wish l could have dreams lik,
that" soliloquized the Cherub whel
he had been left alone.
The possibilities incident upon &C
curing quiet country house wer'
surprising to Mr.. Cherub Devine.
Lets see." he reflected; "I'm not ex
acty what you'd call an unwelcom
guest, am l? l guess l must be al
unwelcome host, then. and hanged /
that isn't new one on me. But there
nd ~ L. q
man. for one item. Then, If I'm to be
heve all l hear about myself. I'm
deep dyed villain and an unregenerat
sinner who has butted into his ow
house. Take it all around, things ar
pretty badly mixed. Wonder wha
program ought to follow"
More or less thought did Mr.: Devin
oestow upon the Countess Vecchi dul
Ing the next half hour. He had
well defined idea, had the Cherul
that his knowledge Of women was vas
and deep. Oh. he had seen lots {
them! They had been Of all kinds to-
1t was part Of his philosophy that tn
wise man kept out Of their way. ths
generally they meant mischief an
That when they didn't they were moi
dangerous.
mo, thank you" This was tt
Cnerub's attitude toward the sex. Or
experience was quite enough for hir
Ior there had been considerable to b
anair with Kittie O'Neill, whom
mad mentioned to the countess. E
was hardly out of his teens then,
oe sure, and Kittie, having achieve
one and twenty and a position In Il
second row Of the chorus, had We've
MS awkward advances with silel
scorn until one eventful day whit
she had fully revealed her attitude
sudden burst Of derisive laughte
Cnerub Devine's faith in womankil
mad been destroyed.
but in the presence Of the Counte