Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1910-04-21

his ears.
us that-that dreadful man In
thereY' asked a voice.
Eppings reappeared to announce Inn
pressively. The Countess vecchi, sir"
"Oh, the devilw Mr.. Devine grab
bed his napkin end from between the
second and third buttons Of his waist
coat and dropped it across his left
knee. He had vague notion that all
countesses were large, stout women,
who wore crowns Of some sort ermine
trimmed robes and a multitude of
rings.
Through the doorway stepped the
big eyed, slender young person whom
he had seen before breakfast in the
garden. She wore neither crown nor
ermine robes. The braid Of dark hair
had been transformed into a simple
but effective setting FOR the long oval
of her face.
Hello! You?" he exclaimed. Say,
honest, you aren't the countess, are
your
She bowed an admission Of the fact,
evidently much disconnected by this
greeting.
well. I'll be hangedw continued
Mr.. Devine. Say, have a seat, won't
your
She walked resolutely to the oppo-
site end of the table from Mr.. Devine
and nervously clasped and unclasped
her fingers as she spoke.
my father wishes me to say that
| the serious condition of my aunt makes
it impossible for us to leave the house
at present. Just as soon as she i'm
proves we will go away"
"Oh, that's all right! Stay as long
as you like"
"But we don't want to stay at all
My father wishes yon to understand
that. lit is very painful for him
to accept favor, even federation, from
you. He charged me not to apologize,
however. as the circumstances are be-
yond our control. / am not apologiz-
ing, you see. only explaining"
'Oh you're doing fine!'' said Mr..
Deyine assuringly. Anything else the
old gentleman wants me to under
stand?"
"No; think that is all. except that
during your stay continued the count.
ess. I'VE shall keep to our rooms"
"Oh. you needn't do tnatv protest.
ed Mr.. Devine.
But it is my fathers DESIRE" add
ed the countess And we shall take
all our meals there"
I I,,,t
with your father commented Mr.. De.
vine. is there anything specially"
"He thinks that you are rather-thaa
is, that you--you''- A sudden rush o1
color came into the olive shaded cheeks
of the countess, and her brown eyes
began to study the rug pattern. Mr.
Devine suddenly decided that some
times countesses We're nice to look at.
Yes" he said encouragingly. ''ratbel
what?"
"Well, rather wild and wicked anG
reckless, you know He was afraiC
that you might become-er-intoxic
ed"
A cherubic expression spread Owe
the pink and white face of Mr.. Devine
4
a cowboy and a pirate. eh? Seems t.
know all about me toow
HE has read about you in the news
papers," yentured the countess, witt
shy, half curious glance which TO
an instant met the calm. level gaze O
Mr. Devine's blue eyes.
"Oh" The Chenlb spoke as on
he hoe Erht h IN
about how l spent half a million Il
Paris one week. or was it milion?"
Half million. the paper said Blu
you won it all back at Monte Carl
the next week. didn't you? We rea'
about the big poker game. tooth
one that started In Liverpool and end
ed off Sandy Hook"
THAT was cOrkert'
"And the champagne supper yo
: gave to forty chorus girls"
Eyes. | believe there were fort,
You have certainly kept well posted.
: IL suppose that should explain,
she began. Papa. you see, is intel
ested in sociology. the study of socis
conditions and all that He read
! books about it and gathers statistic
He is writing a pamphlet on the sui
ject."
! Mr. Devine nodded uncomprehent
) ingly.
) HE has been particularly intereste
J in-in your career. In fact, he ha
made quite a study OF it. He gel
t everything that is printed about 20
from a newspaper clipping burea,
and he has the pieces pasted in bi
! scrapbook."
Must make lively reading"
! "Oh. it does. Papa says that yo
/: are a typical product OF the preseI
| commercial age"