Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1910-04-28

this check and an opportunity to bu3
back Hewington Acres for the price
you paid. Is that correct"
That's O. H.. countess"
also you conidci to Mr.. Walloway
that you were-,hat you entertained
certain sentiments OF regard for me.
You called It love, believe"
"Eh?' calculated toe astonished
Cherub SAY, Sick didn't give me
away like that, did heI Honest. he
wasn't chump enough TO let on that
said
ITO be made the topic OF such an in
innate disclosure and by person
| whom have known for such short
time under such peculiar conditions,
you can fancy perhaps that I'd rather
not dwell on t."
Great Scott. yes" sroancd the
Cherub. beginning to wipe his fore
head. "But give me n show here,
countess. I'm trying to think how
! came to do the sieve act. Oh, must
! have done 1t, all right. but how
| I'm afraid can't share your inter-
est in that problem. Let us not 60 into
it any deeper. If you please. You told
Mr.. Wallowny. and them
"Ah. remember. He wished me
luck Wasn't that nice Of him when
when WHAT spurrcd on the
countess.
why. when--when he vas in the
same boat"
80 Mr.. Walloway exchanged conf
dences. did he: Delightful"
NO, no. Nick didn't say a word. |
found it out by accident. Saw your
picture in his locket. YOU know, and
I'd heard about how he and you used
to-
Really. I'm clad that there was
some reserve in that discussion. Was
it held on street corner or in hote!
lobby Or
Train Sroancd the Cherub.
All" said the countess The other
passengers must have been entertain
Ell. Did any Of them offer advice"
The Cherub sank into chair.
That's right" lie observed. Keep
it up. deserve it"
; "Kcmorse." commented the countess.
"is always touching. hut 1t arrives so
late in the day. am curious on only
. one point. Having made your confess
sion to Mr.. Walloway and having
learned Of his-wcil, his attitude to-
ward me what prompted you TO send
him hcre:"
5 why. thought Nlcl; ought to have
! his chance
"You-.you thought. The Countess
. Necchi appeared to grasp his meaning
but slowly. Her brown eyes 10 longer
rcsembled any kind of fireworks. They
, regarded him with wide wonder,
! "Nni see" continued the Cherub
= earnestly. he's so much nearer YOU
kind Of a chaplin your class and al
that--and didn't know how you two
a stood. you know. Why. it didn't look
just right for me to butt in before
e well, before YOU and Nick had show
g to make it up if you wanted to. Tha, :
all 1t was only right
t, The silence which had followed his
/. explanation lasted for several mo-
y ments. and when the Countess Necch
again spoke the clear cut sharpness OF
<. her tone was somewhat softened.
- Il understand believe | have beer
y told by some ono that you had code
. of honor that was all your own. Well
II have you heard what use Mr.. Walo
way made Of his opportunity:"
II bad him call me ur last night
Is couldn't ask him right out you know
d hut
'e More delicacv," murmurcd the
COUNTIES.
IS oh that's nothing for INC But
IL made him say enough SO | could guess
1t how he came out. You told him h'
6 wouldn't do didn't YOU"
The shoulders OF the Countess Vecch
lifted trinc at this
=, II tried to be entirely frank wit
! Mr. Walloway as AM now trying t
| be frank with you. Mr.. Devine. | wis
! to asi you il my acceptance Of thi
! check is purely business transac
l. ton
! Why sure -
"you would have paid az much t
| any one else"
| "Rcen glad to-
| Anu HDVui .tHi 'i'tl W new NV, ~
| Acres"
| Straight business"
| "Then | accept both proposals" 81
| paused. then spoke softly. Good af
| ernoon. Mr.. Devine."
! AS he had found her so she 600
! when he turned to lenve the librar
About her erect figure there was a
most the suggestion of highly strur
| bow, which he took to mean that st
| was immensely dispensed with hir
| What n mess be bad made Of ever
| thing. to he sure!
! Absorbed IN these uncomfortab
| reflections. the Chcrub narrowly g
Il capped collision with the solemn
alert Eppings. who had stalked TO
ward to open the door
The Cherub hcsitatcd. Was It h
characteristics reluctance to acknov
edge defeat or a sense Of not havil
lived lip 20 his own code? He migl
at least have told her he was sorry.
IN. wait Il minute. Eppings. Guess l.
IN forgotten something"
4 few resoute strides took hi
ing back into the room where he had lc
the hcr, Perhaps she had not gone. y
nv there she was. but Why, what "