Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1910-05-04

you were entertaining your friends
here, just as you would in your own
house, demanded to be told the truth.
And now know. Oh, / know 1t all!
This is your house. You own it.
Somehow or other you have tricked
my poor father out Of it, and now our
beautiful ho-o-ome is yours. Dare
you deny 1t? Come, Isn't it SOP
The Cherub bowed his head in meek
submission.
''Then," exclaimed the countess, you
are not only q wicked man, but you
are deceitful, cruel! I despise you!
You-you are
Just what else he was the astonish-
ed Cherub was never to know, for at
that point the denunciation was in
terrupted The threatening flood SUBJ
merged the brown eyes, and the count
ess, sinking down on the bottom stair,
leaned against the carved newell post
and sobbed tempestuousIy into the
ample sleeve of the silk coat.
ooh, say. nowr' he protested. "See
here, won't you? didn't mean it, 1
take it all back, honest. do. Come,
now: let's talk it 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 it was possible to assume with
a 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.
To 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 a front room,
turned the catch and stepped out on
the veranda. Mr.. Devine followed
81 do not wish for your company,
Mr.. Devine"
''I 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 a 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 leisurely course
in and out among the shrubbery to-
ward the main road.
'See here" he said sternly as he
forward beside her; you must
let me take that bag
ST shall mott I don't need your
she began bravely enough. but the |
Cherub had already lifted it from her !
fingers.
'T know you DON'T" he said, ''but !
I've got the bag"
A low grumble of distant thunder /
caused the countess to slacken her
pace.
''Therer' he exclaimed reproachfully |
Its going to rain, you see. Did you
hear that?'
Eyes, heard"
But where are you goingT
The countess stopped abruptly and |
turned to say: ''I think told you, Mr..
Devine, that I did not care to discuss
my plans with you at all. VIII you
give me my bag?"
NO" said the Cherub. at shall lug
1t myself, and shall follow you until
1 see you safe somewhere"
With a gesture of Impotence the
countess resumed her way.
A brisk breeze sprang up somewhere.
The treetops began to rock and sway
ike drunken men. Several sharp
crashes of thunder came in quick sue
cession, and the bare highway emery
ed for an instant from indistinct gloom
as the lightning revealed every detail.
Then there came hush. Big drops
Of rain fell with menacing impact on
the crown of the Cherub's opera hat.
There! 1 told you 1t was going to
-ain," he announced. Hold on, now;
I'm going to put this coat on you"
The countess hesitated. He had