Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1910-05-27

II any deeper. II you please You told
Mr.. WallOway. and then
| "Ah. | remember He wished me
luck. Wasn't that nice OF him when
when whatT spurred on the
countess.
"Why. when-when he was in the
same boat"
so Mr.. WaIloway exchanged conf
dences. did he? Delightfulr'
| mo, no! Nick didn't say q word.
found 1t out by accident Saw your
picture In his locket. you know. and
I'd heard about how be and you used
to-
Really! I'm glad that there was
some reserve IN that discussion. Was
| 1t held on n street corner or In hotel
lobby or
Train" groaned the Cherub.
ABR said the countess. THE other
passengers must have been entertain.
ed. Did any Of them offer adviceT
The Cherub sank into u chair.
That's right" he observed. Keep
1t up. deserve it,"
/, "Kemorse." commented the countess,
us always touching. but It arrives so
late In the day. ! am curious on only
one point. Having made your confes-
sion to Mr.. Walloway and having
learned of his-well. his attitude to
ward me-what prompted you to send
him here?"
"Why. l thought Nick ought to have
his chance
"You-you thought The Countess
vecchl appeared to grasp bis meaning
but slowly. Her brown eyes no longer
resembled any kind Of fireworks. They
regarded him with wide wonder.
You see." continued the Cherub
earnestly. "he's SO much nearer your
kind Of chaplin your class and all
/ that-and didn't know how you two
stood, you know. Why. 1t didn't look
, just right for me to butt in before
! well. before you and Nick had a show
to make 1t up II you wanted to. That's
! all. 1t was only right"
| The silence which had followed his
explanation lasted for several mo-
ments. and when the Countess Vecchi
again spoke the clear cut sharpness Of
her tone was somewhat softened.
Il understand. believe have been
told by some one that you had a code
Of honor that was oil your own. Well
have you heard what use Mr.. Wallo.
way made Of his opportunity
II had him call me up last night !
couldn't ask him right out you know.
but
More delicacyr' murmured the
countess.
"Oh. that's nothing for mel But
made him say enough 20 I could guess
how he came out You told him he
wouldn't do. didn't your
The shoulders Of the Countess vecchi
lifted a trifie Mt this.
II tried to be entirely frank with
Mr.. Walloway. rs am now trying to
be frank with you. Mr.. Devine. I wish
to ask you II my acceptance Of this
check Is a purely business transac-
ton"
"Why. surer
"You would have paid rs much to
any one elseY'
"Reen glad to-"
sand about your offer Of Hewington
Acrcs?"
Straight business"
Then accept both proposals." She
paused. then spoke softly. Good aft.
srnoon, Mr.. Devine."
As be had found her. 20 she stood
when he turned to leave the library.
About her erect figure there was al.
most the suggestion Of a highly strung
bow. which he took to mean that she
was immensely displeased with him.
" Int u mess be had made Of every.
thing. to be surei
Absorbed In these uncomfortable
reflections. the Cherub narrowly es-
capped u collision with the solemnly
alert EppinEs. who had stalkcd for.
ward to open the door.
The Cherub hesitated. Was Il his
characteristic reluctance to acknowl-
edge defeat or sense Of not having
lived up to bis own code3 He might
at least have told her he was sorry.
swat minute. Epplngs. Guess I've
forgotten something"
A few resolute strides took him
back into the room where he had left
her. Perhaps she had not gone. No:
there she was, but Why. what was
up nowf It was quite obvious that
the Countess vecchi had buried her
face In the window draperies aud was
leaning against the wall Of the room.
Moreover. from the convulsive rise
and fall Of her shoulders It looked as
II she were sobbing.
"Ohr' Al she wheeled quickly to-
ward him, saw who 1t was, realized
that he was standing there looking at
her. she dabbed furtively at her brim-
ming eyes with . wholly inadequate
handkerchief Ill thought" she
went on. shat you had-had"-
"Yes. but came back. You're not
| crying. are your
''Cryingi Certainly notr
| "Nor
"well. II was, I'm not now. l
shall not again-evsr."
That's right You see, countess,
I'm going to feel bad enough about
this fuke Of mine to do for both OF
~. That's what I came back to say.
I don't know Just how to put 1t, but II
there's anything can do to make you
forget that there's such a person as
Cherub Devine III do Il. even u It
| comes to jumping OF the dock"
'There-there isn't anything"
well. maybe It'll be some satisfac-
tion to you to know that I feel like
well. like 6ve-eighths OF and nothing
bid Honest. never meant to tell
Nick. was Just going to- The
Cherub faltered.
you were going to do whatT' sug-
gested the countess.
"Why. to spring 1t on you. Oh, l
can guess what you would say to 1t.
but-but- See here. countess, I could