The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1911-12-02

caught her on the nose, right on her 'risto-
cratic, nice little nosel" Sue gasped.
IL don't think care whether they make
up or not He nevey has been slapped"
"Shucks, honey 'Milla isn't an ogress
Seems to me I'd like it il you would pretend
to be glad to go with me-just as you did
before there was any baby TO crowd me out
of the reckoning"
"Pen-" He gave himself the luxury of
feeding on that look Of hers for a half second,
then allowed her to see that he was con-
vinced; and presently allowed himself to be
happy again.
"Td given button to've had you see her
expression" he said again 81 told Cliff to
go down and offer to take charge of the
Boy"
Maybe she'll let him" Sue frightened
Maybe nothing! She wouion't forego
the pleasure OF snubbing Cliff just one time
more. in that pluperfect way of hers; but
that will give him an excuse to sit by and
observe"
1t came to pass even as he had foretold
For some seconds Remsen Bond let his head
lie against the lacy breast whereto his father
had consigned him. Yesterday had been a
day of adventure Of glorious departure from
his routine of carefully arranged experience,
but that had been after his nap. To-day
was being different, but he wasn't ready for
it. He stared solemnly at the tall man who
approached and said something to her upon
whose lap he sat- but when she answered in
a tone that made one feel as when one has
swallowed too large spoonful of ice-cream,
he grew vaguely uneasy and looked about
for his mother She was not to be seen.
He twisted and looked up at the strange
face above him.
"Ma!" he ordered briefly, emotion abbre-
waiting the dear name.
No living person had ever seen the Ouch
ess Ct Storrington as er barrassed as she was
at that instant. What she might have said
or done waSmade impossible by the scrutiny
OF the perfidious male whose offer of assist
ance had just been loftily rejected.
ii "M-mal" 1t was an uncertain, heart
appealing utterance this time, and the
cherry lips formed it unsteadily. The
duchess looked about in the vain hope of
seeing someone to whom to transfer her
charge; and he took that instant in which
to yrithe himself from her lap with amazing
celerity, -tripped over her shoe and fell
fat.
"Oh-oh-don'tl" She clutched at the
white bundle in terror, but it rolled from
under her hand, struggled to its stomach,
lifted its head and whimpered ominously.
The duke got up, stopped, and gathered the
hapless one capably.
"Ahl" sighed the duchess, relieved. But
with an expressioness face the rescuer put
the protesting little body back in her arms.
There was no reason for the bright pink that
surged to her cheeks, except that the strong
hands that touched hers and the stubborn
chin had brushed her hair as he bent, con
tact probably distasteful to her. He
Strengthened at once.
He wants his mother" he enlightened
her kindly. perhaps if you could talk to
o. him-show him things or sing to him"
Perhaps" she interrupted hurriedly,
you'd do better with him, after ALL" 1t
was the white flag, that speech; for she had
not directly addressed him since his unwel-
come arrival. He shook his head with an
air 81 self-denial.
Impossible. I'll just stay by to help
out" Their eyes met and hers were no
longer cool-a spark was livening in them.
She was growing angry even as that wizard
of a Penny Bond had predicted.
The luckless bait in her arms curved,
suddenly and conveXly after fashion that
all but repeated his first coming to grief,
flung his wooly lamb aside and struck out
with arms and legs. And he screamed.
"Danc Do Dane-Dane!" he shrieked,
crimsoning to an alarming tint.
Jane is his nurse" said the duke, con-
tsOwoIi,r a., H.. ,h.fr
spark glinted in promising fashion.
"If you'd 60 away-please, she sug-
gested, 81 think could manage" He rose
instantly, his expression politely dubious.
"Do you think so2 Shan't try to find
healthy looking maid to come for him2
They're all clean-perhaps Sue wouldn't
mind, for once, in spite OF her germ scares.
Ii you think you can manage him till | can
GET"
The crust of her composure cracked.
Long pent anger and resentment seethed
in her visibly, swept away her artificial
sweetness, rose to her lips; but even as the
weakening, humanizing tide broke in an
inarticulate ejaculation, the innocent cause
Oft checked the outbreak he had been sacri-
feed to bring to pass In all his short life he
had known but the tenderness of women.
Even when, for inscrutable reasons, things
of his desire had been withheld, they had
denied with tenderness and shared his sor-
row, and sometimes-to their shame!-
given way. So with the trustful abandon
and inborn guile OF that consciousness he
yielded to the arms he desired to quit, APP
pealed where he had ragged, blandished