Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-03-24


Lord. sir. you won't see any of
them! No sooner did they hear you
were coming than they moved Into the
top floor Of the east wing, and there
they've shut themselves up like the
house was Guaranteed. Besides, sir.
there isn't another express you could
get to the city until the 1888 tonight"
"Oh. well. there's plenty Of time
then! Perhaps you'll be able 70 dig up
some more reports before night"
Mr. Devine was thinking Of the
young person he had seen In the gar.
den. 1t didn't matter who she was. of
course. but 1t might be interesting to
know.
The day passed, however, without
further discoveries, although at any
moment the Cherub was prepared to
fed himself confronted either by Mr..
Hewington or the countess or the
young woman of the roses or some
wholly unknown person.
LIE had seated himself for another
solitary and stately meal when bell
rang somewhere. and Epplngs excused
In the reception hall a whispered con-
versation. part Of which Mr. Devine
could hardly avoid hearing, although
he was certain it was not intended for
his ears.
rs that--that dreadful man in
there?' asked voice.
EppiDgs reappeared to announce i'm.
pressively. The Countess vecchi. SIR"
"Oh. the dcvil.' Mr.. Devine grab
bed his napkin end from between the
second and third buttons of his waist.
coat and dropped 1t 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
erninc robes. The braid Of dark hair
had been transformed into a simple
but effective setting for the long oval
Of her face.
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
you!"
She walked resolutely to the oppo.
site end of the tnble from Mr.. Devlne
and nervously clasped and unclaspt
her fingers as she spoke.
my father wishes me to say that
the serious condition Of my aunt makes
1t impossible for Us to leave the house
at present. Just a. soon as she i'm.
proves we will 60 away"
"Oh. that's all right! Stay a. long
as you like
But we don't want to stay at all.
My father wishes you 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-
!
'Oh. you're doing fine! said Mr..
Devine assUingly. Anything else the
old gentleman wants me to under
stand:"
mo: think that IS all. except thu
during your stay" continued the count
ess. we shall keep to our rooms"
"Oh you needn't do thatr protest
= Mr. Devine.
But 1t is my fathers DESIRE" add.
all our meals there"
Looks as il didn't stand very we'll
with your father" commented Mr.. De-
vine. "ls there anything special%
"He thinks that you are rnther-that
is. that you-you''- A sudden rush OF
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 were nice to look at.
Yes" he said encouragingly. rather
what?"
We'll, rathey wild and wicked and
reckless. you know. He was afraid
that you might Observation-Disclosures
ed
A cherubiC expression spread over
the pink and white face of Mr.. Devine.
Thinks I'm sort of IL cross between
cowboy and pirate. eli: Seems to
know all about me too"
+ He has read about you In the news
! papers, ventured the countess, with
shy, half curious glance which for
an instant met the calm. level gaze OF
/ Mr. Devine's blue eyes.
ON" The Cherub spoke as one
who has seen light Something
about how ! spent half million in
Paris one week. or was 1t II million!"
Half a million. the paper said. But
you won 1t all back at Monte Carlo
the next week. didn't you: We read
about the big poker game. too-the
one that started In Liverpool and end
ed Off Sandy Hook"
That was cOrkerw
And the champagne supper you
gave to forty ch0rus girls"
Yes. believe there were forty.
You have certainly kept we'll posted"
II suppose that should explain"
she began. Papa. yon see. is inter-
ested in sociology. the study Of social
conditions and all that. He rends
books about 1t and gathers statistics.
lie Is writing pamphlet on the SUBJ
ject,"
MIR. Devine nodded uncomprehend.