Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1910-04-15
going TO happen7

Eppings was certain that Mr.. Devine
was bringing home some titled guest.
possibly a duke or a lord. and be pre-
pared dinner accordingly. The count
ess was puzzled. Even Mr.. Hewing
ton emerged from his study and want
ed to know why every one seemed so
disturbed.
Its because of Mr.. Devine, SIR
said Eppings. He's coming up on a
special train. sir, and | must see about
the table at once, SIR"
Surely the particular frame of mind
which Mr.. Devine had conjured up for
himself was quite worthy of a better
audience than he gave it. although he
was neither serene nor filed with con
fident joy. But he was very much
alive. He dubbed, sparkled, scintil-
lated. His mental faculties. never dull.
were at their keenest. His spirits
seemed to be dashed by a veritable
storm Of animation. one moment soar
ing to giddy heights, the next sinking
to dark depths.
Young Mr.. Walioway. who was his
sole companion. was somewhat dis
gusted with this illogical behavior.
auch against his will be had been
dragged from his Office to accompany
the Cherub just when there was much
work to be done.
"Oh, the railroad be bowed. Nick,
Lots of time to attend to that. Forgei
It"
Yet now that they were well started
toward Hewington Acres the Cherub
evinced "a desire TO talk. although the
precise topic III which he was aiming
was not clear. 1t was unrelated to
railroads. for the opening was of IN
intimate and personal nature.
mick, you rascal" he suddenly *
claimed, why aren't you married."
"Why aren't you, Cherub?' be re-
torted.
"Mei" MI. Devine affected to be
profoundly surprised at such a ques-
ton. "Now. come. Nick, what sort of
a fine woman would have Cherub De-
vine?"
you're too modest. Cherub. You
underrate yourself. | suppose you
never tried? p
"Never had a chance. my boy. Why.
see here, Nick. there's never been a
time in all my life that I've had even
a speaking acquaintance with a real
good oma such as you know by the
~dozen-that is. leaving out the last
few days. of course. Now. with you
it's been different. You've had a
chance to pick and choose"
"Ah. have II"
Cherub Devine caught the subdued
note of pain in he quick rejoinder.
"You don't mean. Nick. that you got
a turndown?"
Brusque as were the words, they
carried a message of sympathetic feel
ing which rang true, and that was the
quality which made so many friends
for Cherub Devine. Young Mr.. Wallo-
way was certainly not the one to make
offhand condolences. but he nodded his
head In assent.
Unexpectedly finding himself az In
tTuder on private grounds. Mr.. Devine
curbed his 61oyancy and gazed with
embarrassed emotion at the proprietor
thereof.
..Oh, we'll" he observed, maybe
you're just as well off. Guess it was
some time ago, when you were young
and vealy. eh?"
II was a young ass. If that's what
you mean." cynically responded Mich
olas. 81 was too sure of her and
played the fool. You see. we were
youngsters together, playmates. 1t
was one of those affairs that every
body understood was settled from the
time we were a dozen years old. !
took It as a matter of course that |
was the only person she could ever
care for. In time she resented 1t. and
before | knew it | had lost her."
Went off with some one else. did
she?'
Again young Mr.. Walloway inclined
his head. He got up. took a seat on
the other side of the car and unfolded
a newspaper.
It was less than an hours ride at
best, but before it was half over
Cherub Devine was consulting watch
and time table and had again shifted
his seat to the forward chair. where he
could watch for the name boards on
the stations.
Perceiving this unusual agitation of
a mind normally free from such dis
turbances. you might suspect that Mr..
Devine was about to make ome great
venture. 1t was a fact. His plans.
however. were somewhat vague. About
the only definite part of his program
was his decision to turn himself out
of house and home Immediately upon
reaching Hewington Acres. This de-
tail was already prepared. The Count
ess Vecchi should buy back the place
at her own terms. She now had the
means, and he was well assured of her
desire to do so. q
Small wonder. then. that Cherub
Devine in a brief period of time for
Uot all ahoI1t tha revived WretchpdnpS