Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-03-31

now and then. The lawyers insist on
It, some Of the property having been
left TO her. but never try to explain
things which do not fully compre-
bend myself The sale of this place,
for instance, still perplexes me. did
not desire It at all. suppose, how
ever, that it was necessary as a mat
ter Of form. Probably you have a
clearer notion Of it than I, Mr.. De
vine"
"Your idea Is a bit hazy," admitted
the Cherub.
perhaps so, but I presume that
your-er--possession here is only a
temporary arrangement. Matters will
soon be adjusted, suppose. when my
attorneys finally get around to 1t. My
daughter was more or less worried tin
til I assured her that would attend
to the affair personally"
Then sho cheered up, did she!' Mr..
Devine appeared to find the converse.
ton entertaining.
"She was relieved, Of course But
have been 80 engrossed in preparing
pamphlet Orwell, on scientific
subject which would not be Of inter.
est to you--that I have neglected to
take the proper steps. However. now
that you thoroughly understand the
situation, I trust that you will not
act hastily"
"Oh. I shan't put you out or any.
thing Ike that, Mr.. Hewington. Make
your mind easy on that score"
ut is very cOnsiderate 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 l would sug-
gest that 1t be continued"
The Chelu5 favored Mr.. Hewington
with a whimsical smile. well. We'll
lot the thing drift for awhile anyway.
| Only you don't have TO act as though
you were prisoners. Why don't you
end the countess come down to your
meals just MS 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 glceluly. 1t was an
amazingly simple proposition. The
Hewingtons were the Hewngtons. and
newell. he was Cherub Devine. That
told the story.
1t was ali done very courteOusly and
Eelica:ely in Mr.. Hewingtop's Inc arts
tocratic manner, yet nothing but rhe
superlatiye buoyancy of Mr.. Devinc 5
audaclous soul saved him from bein'.
utterly crushed.
II wish / could have dreams like
that" soluoQuizel the Cberub when
he had been left alone.
The possibilities incident upon ac-
| quiring a quiet country house were
surprising to Mr.. Cherub Devine.
Lets see" he reflected; I'm not ex
actly what you'd call an unwelcomt
guest. am /? guess | must be M
unwelcomc host. then. and hanged il
that isn't new one on me. But there's
worse and more of it. I'm no gentle
man, for Que item. Then. if I'm to be
lieve all hear aboua EnAielf. I'm Il
deep dyed villain and an klregenerate
sinner who has butted into his owl
house. Take it all around. things ARK
pretty badly mixed. Wonder what
program ! ought to follow"
More or less thought did Mr.. Devin'
bestow upon the Countess Vecchi dur
ing the next half hour. lie had {
well defined idea. had the Chcrub
that his knowleGge Of women was vas
and deep Oh. q had seen lots 0
them! They hGd ,evn 81 all kinds toe
1t was part of !i.' inl'r2ophy that tht
wise man KEEP, out Of IAair way, thu
general. they meant mischief az
that when they d:du't they were mOg
dangerous.
NO, thank YOU" This was tn
Chcrub's attitude toward tie sex. On
experience was quite enough for him
for there had been cons iderable to hi
affair with Kittie ONciil. WHOM hi
had mentioned to the countess. IL
was hardly out of his teens then. T.
be sure, and Kittic. having achieve,
one and twenty ana a position in tn
second row Of the chorus, had We've,
! MS AWKWARD advances VIII slltl
scorn until one cventful day wbcl
she had fully revealed her attitude b.
sudden burst of derisiye laughter
Chcrub Devinc's faith in womankin'
, had been destroyed
But in the presence OF the Counties
vecchi he forgot all his suspicious. II
was quite sure that no one just lik
her had ever existed before. There
fore it was amazingly unjust that sh
should look upon him as an outoast .
as II burning brand OF sin. He couidn'
tell her what a good fellow he was
and rhc had no chance Of finding
ont for herself so long as the CID gen
tieman regarded him rs socially unfit
II scc-' exclaimed the Chnrrb a
last. 1--WE got to qualify in bis class
Well, here goes!'
CHAPTER ".
Y HAVING decided upon his cours
TT Of action. Mr.. DeviHe prompt