The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-04-09

est I'm that problem Let Us not 60 into
1t any deeper. IL you please. You told
Mr.. Walloway, and then
"Ah, I 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"
$50 Mr.. Wauoway exchanged conf
dences. did he? Delightfulr'
mo. no! Nick didn't say a word l
found 1t out by accident Saw your
picture in his locket, you know, and
I'd heard about how he and you used
to-
Really! I'm glad that there was
some reserve In that discussion. Was
It held on a street corner or in q hotel
lobby orr
'Trainr' groaned the Cherub.
"Ah"" said the countess. The other
passengers must have been entertain
ed. Did any Of them offer adviceT'
The Cherub sank into a chair.
That's right" he observed. Keep
it up. 1 deserve it."
"Remorse." commented the countess.
'.is always touching. but It arrives SO
late in the day. l 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 hereT
why. thought Nick ought to have
his chance"
"You-you thought The Countess
Vecchi appeared to grasp his 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, it didn't look
just right for me to butt in before
! well, before you and Nick had show
to make it up if 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 all 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 delicacy-' murmured the
| countess.
"Oh, that's nothing for me! But
made him say enough SO could guess
how he came out. You told him he
wouldn't do, didn't you?"
The shoulders Of the Countess vecchi
lifted trifle at this.
81 tried to be entirely frank with
Mr.. Walloway, as l am now trying to
| be frank with you, Mr.. Devine. 1 wish
to ask you If my acceptance Of this
check is a purely business transac-
ton"
"You would have paid as much to
any one else?
! Been glad to-
"And about your offer Of Hewington
Acres?"
! straight business"
''Then accept both proposals" She
paused, then spoke softly, Good aft
ernoon, Mr.. Devine."
As he had found her, so 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.
What a mess he had made Of every
thing, to be sure!
Absorbed I'm these uncomfortable
reflections, the Cherub narrowly es-
capped a collision with the solemnly
alert Eppings, who had stalked for
ward to open the door.
The Cherub hesitated. Was it his
characteristic reluctance to acknowL
edge defeat or a sense Of not having
lived up to his own code? He might
at least have told her he was sorry.
wait minute, Eppings. Guess I've
forgotten something"
A few resolute strides took him
back into the room where be had left
her. Perhaps she had not gone. No;
there she was, but Why. what was
up now? 1t was quite obvious that
the Countess Vecchi had buried her
face in the window draperies and 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-
'Oh" AS she wheeled quickly to-
ward him, saw who it was, realized
that he standing there looking at
! her, she dabbed furtively at her brim-
ming eyes with wholly inadequate
handkerchief. II thought" she
went on, that you had-had'-
eyes, but / came back. You're not
crying, are you"
"Cryingl Certainly not"
/ "NoT
! well, IL I was, I'm not now. /
shall not again-eyer."
That's right You see, countess,
I'm going to feel bad enough about
! this fiuke Of mine to do for both of
US. That's what / came back to say.
I don't know just how 10 put IT, but if
there's anything / can do to make you
forget that there's such a person as
Cherub Devine I'll do it, even If ii
comes to jumping of the dock"
.'There-there isn't anything"
well, maybe it'll be some satisfac-
f@, f-r \