The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1910-04-15

tant."
AS result Hewington Acres hum
med with anticipation. What could 1t
mean? What had happened? What
was going to happen?
Eppings was certain that Mr.. Devine
was bringing home some titled guest.
possibly duke or a lord, and he 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. Hes 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 bubbled, sparkled, scintil-
lated. His mental faculties, never dull,
were at their keenest. His spirits
seemed to be lashed by a vertable
storm Of animation, one moment soar
ing to giddy heights, the next sinking
to dark depths.
Young Mr.. Walloway, who was his
sole companion, was somewhat dis
gusted with this illogical behavior.
Much against his will be had been
the Cherub just when there was much
work to be done.
"Oh, the railroad be blowed, Nick!
Lots of time to attend to that Forget
it."
Yet now that they were wen started
toward Hewington Acres the Cherub
evinced desire TO talk. although the
precise topic at which he was aiming
was not clear. 1t was unrelated to
railroads. for the opening was of an
intimate and personal nature.
Mick. you rascal" he suddenly eI-
claimed, why aren't you marriedT
"Why aren't you, CherubT' he re.
torted.
"Mew Mr.. Devine affected to be
profoundly surprised at such a ques-
tion. 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?"
"Never had chance, my boy. Why
see here, Nick, there's never been q
time in all my life that I've had even
a speaking acquaintance with a real
good woman, 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 q
chance to pick and choose"
"Ah, have II"
Cherub Devine caught the subdued
note of pain in the quick rejoinder.
You don't mean, Nick. that you got
a turndownT
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 Deyine. Young Mr.. Wallo
way was certainly not the one to make
offhand condolences, but he nodded his
head In assent
Unexpectedly finding himself an in
truder on private grounds. Mr.. Devine
curbed his buOyancy and gazed with
embarrassed emotion at the proprietor
thereof.
"Oh. WE'LL" he observed. maybe
you're just as we'll off. Guess ii was
some time ago, when you were young
and vealy. ehT'
81 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. II
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 of with some one else. did
sheT
Again young Mr.. Walloway inclined
his head. He got up, took a seat on
the other side Of the car and unfolded
a newspaper
II was lcSS Nudn uu lOurS ride AL
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
PerceiviDg this unusual agitation OF
a mind normally free from such dis
turbances. you might suspect that MT
Devine was about TO make some 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.