Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-05-13

ana then tnere appeared the countess
Vccchi, Juggling at q dress suit case
which was evidently well filled. She
was dressed as II for the street, with
a light silk dust coat over her black
gown and jaunty straw hat on her
head When she saw the Cherub she
seemed startled and shrank back
guiltily.
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 nightT'
The Cherub had walked out into the
hall
IL don't care to talk to you about
1t. Mr.. Devine. / am going away,
tell you" Her brown eyes looked as
II they might fill with tears ut 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, have found out al
about you"
"Mew
Eyes. l know why you are here"
Good! You know a blamed sigh
more than I do then"
1T Is useless for you to try to keeI
up the deceit any longer. Mr.. Devine
My father has confessed the whole
wretched story. He told me at first
that you were merely here on some
law business, but when l heard thai
you were entertaining your friends
here, just as you would In your owl
house, I demanded to be told the truth
And now I know. Oh. I know 1t all
This is your house. You own 1t
Somehow or other you have tricket
my poor father out Of It, and now oul
beautiful ho-o-ome is yours. Dart
you deny 1t: Come! Isn't 1t soT'
The Cherub bowed his head in meel
submission.
Then" exclaimed the countess. ''yol
are not only wicked man. but vnI
are deceitful. cruel! I despise you
You-you are
Just what else he was the astonish
ed Cherub WAS never to know. for q
that point the denunciatiOn was in
terrupted. The threatening food sub
merged the brown eyes. and the count
ess. sinking down on the bottom stair
leaned against the carved newell pos
and sobbed tempestuously into tn
ample sleeve Of the silk coat.
"Oh. SAG. now: he protested. "Se
here. won't you: didn't mean 1t.
take 1t all back. honest. I do. Come
now; let's talk II over Oh. stop 1t
Do stop IT."
To the Cherub's urgent entreatie
she paid not the slightest heed.
She grasped the suit case ant
marched past him with as much dig
nifty rs 1t was possible to assume witt
q heavy weight dragging down on
arm. At the door she made a deter
mined attack on the bolts. Etupidl
the Cherub watched her as she tugge
away vainly.
"You had better wait until morn
ing. hadn't your he suggested.
To this she made no reply, bu
showed and pulled at the stubborn
bolts until she was forced to give uT
Then. just as he had thought he
beaten. she went promptly to one o
the French windows In a front room
turned the catch and stepped out o.
} the veranda. Mr.. Devine followed.
II do not wish for your company
Mr.. Devine."
Il suppose you don't. but I'm goin
just the same: Ill get my coat ont
hat"
AS be ran back into the hall b
heard the countess leave the verands
Snatching up IN opera hat and q rain
coat. he hurried out through the win
dow after her. She was easily ovel
tnken. for the suit case acted Al
brake
You'd bcrter let me carry you
bag." he sud as he overlook her. bu
the offer was ignored. and the repulse,
Cheub fell back a pace. Thus the,
started down the narrow gravele'
) path which wound q leisurely cours
In and out among the shrubbery to
ward the main road.
''See here" he said sternly ~ b
stepped forward beside her: "you mus
: let me take that bag"
II shall not! ! don't need your
she began bravely enough. but til
Cherub had already lifted It from be
!. numbed fingers.
II know you DON'T" be said. "bu
I've got the bag"
A low grumble Of distant thunde
caused the countess to slacken he
pace.
''Therer' he exclaimed reproachfully
Its going to rain. you see. Did 20
bear thatr'
"Yes, ! heard"
"But where are you going7'-
The countess stopped abruptly an
turned to say: II think told you, Nj
Devine. that did not care to discus
my plans with you at all. Will yo'
give me my bagr'
NO." said the Cherub. II shall lu
It myself. and I shall follow you unit
I see you safe somewhere"
With q gesture Of impotence tn
countess resumed her way.
A brisk breeze sprang up somewhere
The treetops began to rock and swa,
like drunken men. Several shar,
crashes Of thunder came in quick sue
cession. and the bare highway emere
ed for an instant from indistinct gloon
rs the lightning revealed every detail
Then there came q hush. Big drop
Of rain fell with menacing impact o.
the crown Of the Cherub's opera hat.
There! l told You 1t was going (,
rain" he announced Hold on, now
I'm going to put this coat on you"
The countess hesitated. He hal
dropped the bag and was holding 81
the coat by the collar. Another an,
more vivid fash than any which ha<