Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1910-05-05
CHAPTER vi.


4 the Cherub continued to sit in
the library. smoking and meditating.
He had trick when watching an un-
steady market of tearing pieces Of pa
per into small bits and throwing them
away. He was doing this now, and
the eastern rug under his feet looked
as If it had been visited by a stage
snowstorm. He was aroused by an
odd noise. 1t sounded as If some one
was dragging heavy object down the
stairs.
Looking out through the door hang
ings, he could see the lower half of the
staircase. For moment he waited.
and then there appeared the Countess
Vecchi, Juggling at dress suit case
which was evidently well filed. She
was dressed as If for the street, with
light silk dust coat over her black
gown and a jaunty straw hat on her
head. When she saw the Cherub she
seemed startled and shrank back
guiitiy.
Oh she exclaimed. IL did not
expect to find you here. am going
away"
Are you? Do you generally start
alone and in the middle Of the night?'
The Cherub had walked out into the
hall.
IL don't care to talk to you about
1t. Mr.. Devine. l am going away, /
tell you" Her brown eyes looked as
If they might fill with tears at any
moment
"All right. all right" he said sooth-
ingly. You needn't talk about it."
The Countess vecchi allowed the
suit case to slide to the floor. and then
she faced him resolutely.
''Mr Devine, I have found out all
about you"
"Mew
Eyes. know why you are here"
Good! You know a blamed sight
more than do then"
ut is useless for you to try to keep
up the deceit any longer. Mr.. Devine.
My father has confessed the whole
wre.ched story He told me at first
that you were merely here on some
law business, but when l heard that
you were entertaining your friends
here. just rs you would in your own
hou ;e, demanded to be told the truth.
And now know. Oh. l know 1t all.
This is your house. You own 1t.
Somehow or other you have tricked
my poor father out Of 1t. and now our
beautiful ho-o-ome is yours. Dare
you deny It? Come! Isn't 1t so?"
The Cherub bowed his head in meek
submission.
"Then." exclaimed the countess. you
are not only wicked man. but you
are deceitful. cruel! despise you'll
You-you are
Just what else he was the astonish-
ed Cherub was never to know, for at
that point the denunciation was In
terrnpted The threatening food sub
merged the brown eyes. and the count
ess. sinking down on the bottom stair,
leaned against the carved newell post
and sobbed tempestuously into the
ample sleeve Of the silk coat.
"Oh. say. now" he protested. "See
here. won't you? l didn't mean It. I
take 1t all back, honest. l do. Come.
now; let's talk 1t over. Oh. stop It!
Do stop it!'
To the Cherub's urgent entreaties
she paid not the slightest heed.
She grasped the suit case and
marched past him with as much dig
nifty as 1t was possible to assume with
heavy weight dragging down one
arm. At the door she made a deter
mined attack on the bolts Stupidity
the Cherub watched her as she tugged
away vainly.
"You had better wait until morn.
ing. hadn't your he suggested.
10 this she made no reply. but
showed and pulled at the stubborn
bolts until she was forced to give up
Then. just as he had thought her
beaten. she went promptly to one of
the French windows in front room.
turned the catch and stepped out on
the veranda. Mr. Devine followed.
Il do not wish for your company.
Mr.. Devine."
Il suppose you don't. but I'm going
just the same. I'll get my coat and
hat"
AS he ran back into the hall he
heard the countess leave the veranda
Snatching up an opera hat and rain
coat. he hurried out through the win
dow after her. She was easily over.
taken. for the suit case acted as a
brake
You'd better let me carry your
Bag he said as he overlook her. but
the offer was ignored. and the repulsed |
Cheub fell back a pace. Thus they |
started down the narrow graveled |
path which wound a leisurely course
in and out among the shrubbery to-
ward the main road.
See here" he said sternly as he
stepped forward beside her; you must
let me take that bag"
Il shall not! don't need your"-