The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-13
The EVENING STORY
The Little Count.
(By Virginia Blair. }

Lei came girl IN summer Wnte, Win
broad hat. rose wreathed. In her
hands she carried bunch of valley
lilies. =
you" breathed the little count.
and stopped.
oh" she cried. when did you
II have been here three days." he
told her.. 81 have talked and talked
ana there was nothing worth while
until now
She caught her breath. So many
men had said such things to her. But
In her experience there had never
been anything like this little foppish
foreigner. with his pale face lighted
by some inner radiance.
T am SO glad you are here" she
said, and they walked together to a
window that overlooked the ocean
tel?'' she asked.
Yes. Grandmother likes it better
she has lot of old cronies there"
He was not listening. "Ah, Miss
Rene he said, you are more beau
tifu1 than ever"
Il have always been called Irene"
she told him, blushing, sbut / like
the way you say my name
I have said 1t otter to my hear"
he murmured
The guests in the wide hall looked
al them curiously. A party of young
=
ter like butterflies, the men making a
background of well groomed compla-
cency.
They are looking for me-. Irene
sYou shall stay with me-" His tone
seemed to command obedience.
But she struggled against it. THAT
man over there gave me my lilies
and have promised to go with him
to listen to the band
ct can give you lilies! I can give
love-"
DON'T she pleaded. don't say
such things to me- 4
them. 'tCome on, irene" he said.
For moment she hesitated. then
she said to the little count, Forgive
melt is an engagement"
He bowed-a stiff little bow of ac-
quiescence.
AS she joined the party there was
a ripple of laughter from the girls.
-. Later the little count found her on
stood looking down at her silently,
then he said. why did you let them
make fun of me?'
'Who?" che stammered.
Your friends-this morning-at
the hotel. They laughed and you let
<hem,''
81 am sorry" she protested. that
you heard
X.
He drew himself up with a gesture
of contempt. -"They are nothing to
me. But it is you-you. You shall |
not not think think 7 am to be laughed At
hand grippsd the arm of the chair.
She had an mapresion of hidden pow
er that thrilled her. you shall not"
he repeated.
ST do not" she said gently. you
I was your friend. Surely you must |
believe that my friendship may be as
sincere this winter as at Palm Beach"
place has nothing to do with it,
he said slowly. Then he broke of.
tsBut what is there about me tozMaket
them laugn?"
''Well, you are different" she tried |
to explain. 1.-THE other men are all |
big men, and hey play golf and ten
mis- and-and to them You seem eff
Terminate
"Ah, see Suddenly his head went
up and his eyes flashed. what do |
care for golf?" he cried. Its an /
boys. When 1 am at home 1 ride and !
hunt-sucll things are sport for men. !
1 ride through the forest in the wind |
and storm and the rains beat upon me |
and shout and sing, and my horse is
like a wild thing under me-
She gasped at the change in him. |
small as he was and seemingly insig-
nificant. she felt that the hand with !!
the pointed finger nails could hold a |
horse with a grip of steel. She felt |
only the hand would then be gloved /
in velvet.
But even as the thought flashed |
through her, he turned to her.
"And if there is difference" he Il
said. ''between these men and me, it |
is the difference of my greater love.
What do they know of romance? |
They would take you to a house in
- - Ii
and teas and receptions. And in sum
mer you would do the same thing in |
. cottage that should be called a pal |
ace But I would take you to my
ride with me, or sit by the fire in |
the great rooms, while the wind blew
outside, AMI you and / alone, within. |
dreamed together
"oh.'. she breathed. '1ife would be
wonderful-lived that way
But even as she spoke the crowd |
of the morning was upon Them and /
the tall, dark young man claimed |
her. There's the motor boat ride on |
the lake. he said.
So she went away, and when the tall.
dark young man had her on the lake |
he said, For heavens sake, Irene, |
what do you see in that little |
man ?"
She flsred UP at him. Hes a |
man, Harold Manning she said |
"His ..1e FOR me is something deep
err than the rest of you give me. YOU
condescend, but he reverences. He |
would hold me to the highest that is |
in me-
Harold laughed. "You are good |
enough he said, "as it is, and you
couldn't respect such a man.
Couldn't I?', she asked, curious |
ly. sometimes I think he is bigger |
man than you, Harold.
HE is a fortune hunter Harold I
remarked.
His words struck her like a blow.
Perhaps she had been foolish Per-
haps the love that was beginning to |
grow in her heart had been called |
forth by a man who was only act /
ing a part-perhaps-hut she put the