The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-04-01

my plans with you at ALL Will you
give me my bagY
| NO" said the Cherub. II shall lug
1t myself. and ! shall follow you until
| see you safe somewhere
| With gesture Of impatience the
countess resumed her way.
A brisk breeze sprang up somewhere
The treetops began to rock and sway
like drunken men. Several sharp
crashes of thunder came in quick sue
cession. and the bare highway emery
ed for an instant from indistinct gloom
as the lightning revealed every detail.
| Then there came a hush. Big drops
of rain fell with menacing impact on
the crown of the Cherub's opera hat.
There! l told you it was going to
! rain" he announced Hold on. now:
I'm going to put this coat on you
The countess hesitated. He. had
dropped the bag and was holding Up
| the coat by the collar. Another and
more vivid flash than any which had
| preceded it revealed him with photo
graphic distinctness. She could not
help noting that he looked very well
in evening dress. He did not seem so
| much inclined to stoutness as in
business suit.
mo; you need the coat yourself.
You'll be wet through in moment"
The big drops struck through her thin
silk sleeves coldly on her arms.
Then she allowed him to help her
into the raincoat
Come on" he said, picking up the
bag and starting ahead. The rain was
now drumming a roaring tattoo OH the
crown of his hat
you must take my arm or you'll
fall" ordered the Cherub Meekly she
obeyed, and they went plunging and
sliding through the storm.
"Oh, you're being drenched!" said
the countess. Apparently he did not
hear. you are wet through, aren't
you?" she shouted in his ear.
Not quite he answered calmly
Come on"
There ensued period during which
they stumbled and slid along in 81
lence. At last they discovered severa
houses near the road.
We're getting into the village" an
nounced the Cherub. Isn't that where
we want to go?'' .l
YES" said the countess. 81 suppose
So"
But where? Whereabouts in the
village"
The railroad station
1.-The railroad station" The Cherub
echoed this as if he had never heard
the words before. What do you want
to go there for:"
Because | am going away" said
the countess YEARLY. I'm going
away" "a on
Eve minutes iateI, when they reach
I'd the station. he saw with joy that
it was Ole of those low, wide rooted
affairs. undel whose caves they could
at least find shelter from the pelting
rain.
The srarfOr was dark, and all the
doors were locked, of course, but there
was baggage truck. He dropped the
suit case with a sigh Of relief and
gently helped the countess to a seat
on the BAGGAGE truck
well. this Is something like, isn't
it? Great, eh?" he demanded At
every step his shoes made a slushing
sound
Your feet must be terribly wet"
suggested the countess. ts,
Wet! Oh. they're not so very wet
l felt fine after that walk, don't your
Tin rather tired"
Yes, probably you are. But now
you can rest. You can rest while we
are waiting for the train, you know.
What time do we get train anyway"
There's one at half past in the
morning"
Yes; that's the first one
The Cherub took out his watch and
tried to see the face Of it, but there
was not light enough.
Look here" he said. leaning -ainst
tho truck a'd peering at the countess
earnestlr. You don't mean 10 stay
here uutil half past Z. do you?"
IL don't know" said the countess |
weakly. Il did when | started. but