Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-05-20

,u-~ih,c reason Wh! hr Should object
Go lrr !..g5.- .lc..iu-tou Aclcs.
"Tly-uty. hc.aU.- You ought to.
lcoau-r t..i.t yen 10 stay. Don't
son s..: uaAr you to stay"
For t.r better part of the day the
Clcr.n ha.I hcen waiting for just this
crFur,Ul-,y Now that it had come
Ie stood staring 1t her with blank
J3Glcd look in bis blue eyes.
The countess glanced cuyiously ut
him with light laugh.
lie had found her in her favorite
retreat, n rustic summer house perched
on LITTLE point of rocks which juttcd
cut into the sound and marked the
eastern boundary of the estate.
Us very Kind of you. Mr.. Devlne,"
she said. I'm sure. but l don't feel
that I can accept such a favor from
wcll, from stranger, you know"
We'll get acquainted them
Eut the countess hrInIy held 10 the
point. IIewington Acres was no long
er her home; therefore she must leave
it at once.
Perhaps it Is mine. but I don't
want the place" urged the Cherub.
II just bought it for joke. I'll tell
you what I'm going to do-l'm going
TO sell it back to your father. I'll let
1t go cheap for the sake of getting rid
of it."
The countess shook her head at this
proposal. Father could not buy 1t
back" she said.
''Or may rent 1t to him."
NO: we must go away somewhere
and get another home-a home Of our
own"
Il believe it's just because l am
here that you're in such hurry to
go. II should clear out now and not
come back until
mo. no. protested the countess. II
shouldn't feel like staying a minute
after you had gone-not n minute.
While you are here am. In way,
your guest. but if you were not here
should not have even that standing"
"Then I'll stay" declared the Cherub.
"I'll stay here a week. a month, any
time"
y
piled the countess. Il have seen stock
spectators before. They are just rs
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
1;y-a LOT 10
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
mere soberIy. Il did not intend to say
them either You have been very kind
to us, and IL admire you in many
ways. Bat you should not have tried
tc make me believe too much. | an
not silly schoolgirl. you know. IL
have had one experience with mar
who was"-she hesitated at the con
fession-"whO was Il gambler"
She had turned 10 hide the sudder
flush that crept into her cheeks. Sup
pressed emotion was gently shaking
her shoulders.
exactly what he wanted to do now
and it was only by clasping his hands
resolutely behind his back that b.
kept from taking her in his arms ani
otherwise making a spectacle Of him
self. He saw it all Even If she die
despise him he was in love with the
Countess Vecchi.
OF n
abruptness. like the glimpses of food
ed roadway when the lightning had II
Illuminated their way last night. Yes
he loved her.
IL she should know! He was fairly
appalled, ut his own audacity. Sup
pose she should be at this moment
making the discovery which he hai
just made! Would she shrink away
from him in terror or would she laugh
scornfully at him? She was sticking
long silver hatpin through the TOT
of her hat and listIessly watching The
dingy sails of a coasting schooner thai
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 he started guilty. 81
didn't mean to lecture you-really
didn't. And now must say goodby."
"You-must-say-goodby" He re
peated the words duly.
"Why, yes. / have decided to 60 Il
town tonight. l shall ask you to lei
Timmins drive me to the station this
time. You will not go until morning
I suppose"
"But can't let you so away in this
fashion. l don't want you to go al
all. There's no need for it,"
You said that before. We've set
tied all that. you know"
I'VE hadn't settled it. 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 l said Id stay
Well, meant it. You can wait O
day or two until we make some ar
rangement. You haven't any particu
lar place to go to. have you"
There are lots of hotels in New
York. suggested the countess.
NN-'' ~ sNo SuHPOSC We lC ~
ing to let you run of to New York
alone?"
"We"
Yes; your father and I. We have
had little talk about YOU"
you and my father."'
YES"
why. you-you surprise me. MIR
Devine. | had no idea that my father
ever consulted you"
The Cherub smiled complacentIy.
He has, though. You're thinking of
what he said last night when we came
back from the village But he didn't
know how things stood then. We had
an understanding Ibis morning. and
we agreed that we would try Ia make
you see how foolish it WAS 10 run
away. Hasn't he said anything about
IT."