The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1910-03-25

/ but he is honorable, he is thoughtful
Of others. so he is gentleman"
'And I'm not, eh?''
''Oh, no. no! l did not mean to say
that. l couldn't say it. IL do no
know you well enough. 1 merely ask
ed you to decide for yourself"
The countess bit her lip from yexa
ton. She was cOrnered and knew 1t
But was she beaten? Did you eval
see a woman defeated by mere logic?
That's unfair" she replied reproach
fully. You know / haven't said any
thing of the kind. All / did say wal
that ought to go back, and | must"
Then l suppose I'll just have Il
keep right on going to the dogs" OBJ
served the Cherub dolefully. Il didn',
know | was quite such hopeless case
though
"Oh, it isn't that 1t isn't THAR pro
tested the countess
"Must be-" declared the Cherub. I'll
it wasn't you wouldn't run away like
this. Why, I'm so bad that you won't
talk to me. don't suppose that you'd
even shake hands with any one sc
wicked"
1t may have been merely impulse
perhaps it was the pathetic spectacle
Of the Cherub's injured feelings-tears
showed suddenly in the brown eyes OF
the countess.
''Oh, YOU mustn't feel that way--yOu
mustn't" she pleaded. "Of course
will. There" Impulsively she ex
tended both hands to him. Rather
awkwardly Mr.. Devine took them In
his. Then he did not know what to
do next, whether to let go or to hold
on.
He had not fully decided when q
tall. gray haired man of stern face
and dignified bearing appeared behind
them. He seemed very much aston.
iShed at the scene.
adele, who is this?" he demanded.
This, father, is Mr. Devine." 1t
was finely done-nO hesitancy, Do
trembling of voice, no wayering of the
eyes.
Not the-the"-
Eyes. the Cherub. Isn't it. Mr.. De-
vine?"
Mr.. Devine nodded q good natured
assent. as
But, Adele. this Is entirely unex-
pected. l had no idea that you were
acquainted with this-er-Mr. Devine.'
Il have only been telling him that
should not see him again during his
stay
"Ah! Quite proper. l am sure that
Mr.. Devine does not expect 1t. Good
day, sir. Come, Adele
Dutifully the countess followed her
father out of the garden.
The ash on Mr.. Devine's cigar. how
ever. was not an eighth Of an inch
longer before ie was surprised to see
Mr.. Hewington reappear before him.
The HewingtOns. it seemed, were ad.
dicted to postscripts.
"WCDier if he's come back with q
stick" reflected the Cherub.
But Mr.. Ecwington's manner was
not Openl' hostile.
1T has just occurred to me, Mr.. De-
virc," he began, that you might fancy
cur attitude somewhat diScourteOuS. IL
so, you are in error We are merely
maintaining under rather awkward
conditions our customary reserve. Do
you follow me- sir?'
II get glimmer now and them"
cOmpacently rejOined the Cherub.
You mean that you're not mixers"
Mr.. .Hewington smiled cOldly at the
metaphor. Society is apt to make
distinctions" he continued. Perhaps
you do not know that our family has
been prominent since colonial time.
My great-aunt married son OF the
Marquis de Lafayette"
Never met the gentleman" com
mented the Cherub.
probably not He came to America
in 1915"
$50? Then he got here before / did
Mr.. Hewington ignored this remark.
This estate, Mr.. Devine, was part Of
the original grant In my fathers
time it extended for fifteen miles along
the sound The old mansion, which
stood for nearly century, was hon
ored by the presence of such men as
Daniel Webster, President Tyler and
others. Charles Dickens was guest
here during his tour of this country.
In the present house the late Mrs.
Hewington and myself have welcomed
many distinguished personages. Then,
as you know, my daughter Is the Count
ess Vecchi, allied by marriage to one
of the nobleSt families of Lombardy."
Seems to be | heard something
about that"
POSSIBLY, possibly" Mr.. Hewington
waved his eyeglasses impatiently Il
am telling you these things, Mr.. De-
vine, that you may have a better I'M
Outstanding of our attitude. Since the
death of the count she has lived in
seclusion. She has almost entirely
withdrawn from society"
Mr.. Devine looked keenly at the old
gentleman. 81 see," he observed.
kind Of fiocks by herself. Well, I've
no objection. / didn't come up here
especially to get acquainted with you
folks, you know. In fact, you and the
countess were rather sprung on me as
a surprise"
Mr.. Hewington might have been
seen to shudder "My dear Mr.. De-
vine," he protested, 81 fear that you