The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-04-08
Cherub
Devine
BY SEWELL FORD
Copyright. 1909. by Mitchell kennerisy
CHAPTER VII.
BY SEWELL FORD
Copyright. 1909. by Mitchell Kennerlsy


Mr.. Devine these questions with as
much sincerity as IL there could be no
possible reason why he should object
to her leaving Hewington Acres.
"Why-why, because you ought TO-
because l want you to stay. Don't
you see? want you to stay"
For the better part Of the day the
Cherub had been waiting for just this
opportunity. Now that 1t had come
he stood staring at her with a blank.
baffled look in his blue eyes.
The countess glanced curiously at
him with a light laugh.
He had found her in her favorite
retreat, rustic summer house perched
on little point of rocks which jutted
out into the sound and marked the
eastern boundary of the estate.
IT'S very kind of you, Mr.. Devine,"
she said, I'm sure. but l don't feel
that l can accept such favor from
well, from a stranger, you know"
We'll get acquainted then"
But the countess firmly held to the
point. Hewington Acres was no long
It at once.
Perhaps it is mine, but l don't
want the place." urged the Cherub.
81 just bought it for a joke. I'll tell
you what I'm going to do-I'm going
to sell it back to your father. I'll let
it go cheap for the sake of getting rid
of it."
hav of
proposal Father could not buy it
back" she said.
"Or ] may rent it to him"
"No; we must go away somewhere
and get another home-a home of our
own"
81 believe it's just because l am
here that you're in such a hurry to
come back untir"-
''No, nor protested the countess. 81
shouldn't feel like staying a minute
after you had gone-not a minute.
While you are here ] am, in a way,
your guest. but if you were not here
i should not have even that standing"
"Then I'll stay" declared the Cherub
time"
'Oh, no, you wouldn'tp' quickly re-
piled the countess. 81 have seen stock
spectators before. They are just as
much slaves Of the market as the
wretched men who haunt the gam
bling halls of Monte Carlo are slaves
of the roulette wheel. No; you will be
back in Wall street tomorrow morn
ing, eager for the game. 1t is all you
live for-speculation, speculation
The Cherub was dumb before this
outburst. 1t had been so unexpected.
'Of course | have no right to say
such things to you" she continued
more soberly. 81 did not intend to say
them either. You have been very kind
TO us, and IL admire you in many
ways. But you should not have tried
to make me believe too much. | am
not a silly schoolgirl, you know. IL
have had one experience with a man
who was"-she hesitated at the con-
fessiOn-"who was a gambler"
She had turned to hide the sudden
flush that crept into her cheeks. Sup
pressed emotion was gently shaking
her shoulders.
AS in a flash Cherub Devine knew
exactly what he wanted TO do now.
and it was only by clasping his hands
resolutely behind his back that he
kept from taking her in his arms and
otherwise making a spectacle of him,
self. He saw it all. Even If she did
despise him he was in love with the
Countess Vecchi.
The revelation came with stunning
abruptness, like the glimpses of food
ed roadway when the lightning had H.
Illuminated their way last night. Yes.
he loved her.
If she should know! He was fairly
appalled, at his own audacity. Sup
pose she should be at this moment
making the discovery which he had
just made! Would she shrink away
from him in terror or would she laugh
scornfully at him? She was sticking
a long silver hatpin through the top
Of her hat and listlessly watching the
dingy sails Of a coasting schooner that
was crawling up the sound. He breath
ed more freely. She did not know. then
There, you'll forgive me, will you
notT she said, turning so quickly to-
ward him that lie started guiltly. ~
didn't mean TO lecture you-really l
didn't And now must say goodby."
"You-must-say-goOdbyg He re-
peated the words DULY.
why, yes, / have decided 10 go to
town tonight. shall ask you to let
Timmins drive me to the station this
time. You will not go until morning,
/ suppose"
''But / can't let you go away in this
fashion. l don't want you to go at
all. There's no need for it."
''You said that before. We've set
tied all that, you know"
eve hadn't settled 1T, though" ca
gerly protested the Cherub. "You said
you wouldn't think of staying after |
went back because there wouldn't be
any host And then said I'd stay.
Well, meant it. You can wait a