Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1910-07-08

from Mr. Devine: wait
~ Coming up. tonight. Impor
tant."
AS result Hewington Acres hum.
med with anticipation What could II
mean? What had happened? What
was going to happen?
Eppings was certain that Mr.. Dev!ne
was bringing home some titled guest.
possibly duke or a lord. and he pre-
pared dinner accordingly. The count
ess was puzzled. Even Mr.. Hewing-
ton emerged from his study and want
ed to know why every one seemed so
disturbed.
ITS because Of Mr.. Devine. SIR"
said Eppings. Hes coming up on a
special train. sir. and must see about
the table at once. sir"
Surely the particular frame Of mind
which Mr.. Devine had coniured up for
himself was quite worthy Of better
audience than he gave it, although he
was neither serene nor filed with con-
fident joy. But he was very much
alive He dubbed, spanked. scintil-
lated. His mental faculties, never dull
were at their keenest. His spirits
seemed to be lashed by veritable
storm Of animation. one moment soar
ing to giddy heights. the next sinking
f, to dark depths.
Young Mr.. Walloway. who was his
sole companion, was somewh hat dis
gusted with this illogical behavior.
Much against his will be had been
dragged from his Office to accompany
the Cherub just when there was much
work to be done.
ooh. the railroad be bowed, Nick!
Lots Of time to attend to that. Forget
! it."
Yet now that they were we'll started
toward Hewington Acres the Cherub
evinced desire to talk. although the
precise topic at which he was aiming
was not clear. 1t was unrelated to
railroads. for the opening was of an
intimate and personal nature.
Mick. you rascal" he suddenly ex-
claimed, why aren't you married."
why aren't you. Cherub?' he re-
torted
Me-" Mr.. Devine affected to be
profoundly surprised at such gues-
ton. Now. come, Nick, what sort Of
a fine woman would have Cherub De-
vine?"
You're too modest. Cherub. You
underrate yourself. suppose you
never tried?'
Never had chance. my boy. Why.
see here, Nick, there's never been
time in all my life that I've had even
speaking acquaintance with real
good woman. such as you know by the
dozen-that is, leaving out the last
few days. Of course. Now, with you
it's been different. You've had
chance to pick and choose"
"Ah. have ~"
Cherub Eevine caught the sunduei
note Of pain in the quick rejoinder.
"You don't mean. Nick. that you got
a turndown?"
Brusque as were the words. they
carried message Of sympathetic feel
ing which rang true. and that was the
quality which made so many friends
for Cherub Devine. Young Mr.. Walio-
way was certainly not the one to MAKE
offhand condolences. but he nodded his
head in assent.
Unexpectedly finding himself an in
truder on private grounds. Mr.. Devine
curbed his buoyancy and gaZed with
embarrassed emotion at the proprietor
thereof.
''Oh. well.' he observed, maybe
you're just as we'll off. Guess 1t was
some time ago, when you were young
and vealy. eh?"
II was young ass, IL that's what |
you mean." cynically responded Mich
olas. II was too sure Of her and
played the fool You see. we were
youngsters together. playmates 1t
was one Of those affairs that every
body understood was settled from the !
time we were dozen years old.
took it as matter of course that I |
was the only person she could ever |
care for. In time she resented it. and
before knew it | had lost her.
Went off with some one else. did |
she?"
Again young Mr.. Walloway inclined
his head. de got up. took seat on
the other side Of the car and unfolded
a newspaper.
1t was less than an hours ride at
best. but before it was half over
Cherub Devine was consulting watch
and time table and had again shifted
his seat to the forward chair. where he
could watch for the name boards on
the stations.
Perceiving this unusual agitation of
a mind normally free from such dis
turbances. you might suspect that Mr..
Devine was about to make some great
venture. 1t was a fact. His plans.