Evening star., 1912-11-19
49, : ,i.~l-.k s},sEerlfsfa
The BISHOPS PURSE .
By .
Cleveland Moffett and :.
Oliver Heriord. :
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CHAPTER XXVII.-Continued.
fCopyright by Cleveland Monett and
Oliver Herford-i9l2.)

CHAPTER XXVII.-Continued.
Kate" he cried. For Gods sake don t
talk like that. How can you say those
thingso You know better. You know l
don't mean that you-that you" he
stopped for want of words and went on,
disjointedly, There's not another woman
on earth to compare with you-physicaliy
or morally or any other way. II thought
I was such a beastly ass as not to think
so I'd kick myself into that lake there
and lie down. The beastly lake isn't deep
enough to drown standing up in. There
isn't another woman like you anywhere
don't care who she is. You're the best
nal q chan ever had, and I'd back your
say so on a polo pony against any one
know" He had reached another thouSnt
pinnacle. and again he paused Tor preatn.
Kate got up and came TO nin: II >
all right Lionel, I know you didn mean
to hurt me, but i want to tell you some
thing 1t has made a difference 10 me
every way. Just as 1t has to you. Lionel
and | stand for every word COUSIN hiram
said-I didn't at the time, ! admit she
smiled at the recollection. "A week ago
Yesterday / went up to my room and
packed my boxes all by myself, 100,
Just threw things in anyhow, n1gglety
pigglety- You never saw Such Jop as
made of il.
..Bv Jove"" exclaimed Lionel. 4 did
the same identical thing"
II made UP my mind continued kate
II would go right out OF that mouse anu
never come back.
$50 did T. said Lionel, upon my word
/ did / say. Kate he went on, 'what
made you change your mind:
The best reason in the world dlon
know where to GO,
..No more did l. admitted Lionel.
They both laughed. and the countess
went on in serious tone
I've learned a lot of things this last
week. Lionel she said. land / didn't, get
them all out of Mrs. Beeton's Family
Cookery Book. One is that the best iml-
tation of happiness consists in
.'Oh. come, ! say interrupted Lionel
I'm self-forgetfulness,' continued Kate
"And the best receipt for self-forget1ul-
ness is good. hard work
Lionel gave her stare Of CLASSY be-
wilderment. Il may be silly ass. We
been told SO often enough by chaps VINO
ought to know but I'm dashed if | see
what YOU want with imitation happiness
There's no imitation about you, Kate
He looked down. There was something
he had To say and every meeting OF their
ewes made ii harder. Either you ii be
happy or YOU won't be happy. he went
on. Whichever it is, it won't be an lmi-
tation. 1t will be the real thing, and l
hoae-I hope He took a long breath,
as if to pull himself together. and hurried
on. still without looking at her. 1t may
sound a bit thick from chap feeling the
way ! do. bat | mean it. upon my word
I do, | hope you'll be happy. Kate. hope
to God he'll make you happy
The countess was leaning back against
the rustic doorway. and her two bare
arms made glowing, worshipful W as
they flowed downward. with the gentle
unduation of her body. to the slender
link of her dropping hands.
On the third finger of her left hand
Lionel now saw for the first time what
at first he took for plain gold ring. but
a second look discovered widening at
one side that betrayed setting of some
sort turned onward for concealment. AS
he looked up Fitz-Brown knew by the
quick tightening of her mouth that Kate
had been smiling, yet in her eyes there
was something very far from laughter.
Why didn't you tell me, Kate?
She put her hands behind her.
Tell you what?"
That it was all settled-your engage
ment, / mean.
gaged-that is / mean / haven't accepted
him.
"You haven't accepted him?"
There was a tremendous knocking of
hope at the door of Lionels heart.
Not yet" she answered. 1T is ten
days since he asked me and / have given
him no answer"
Lionel stared at her in blank amaze
ment Ten days ago! That was the day
when he had met Kate on the golf course
she had tainted
That day? Kate. you don't mean it?
You can't mean Do you know what
day that was@'
Suddenly she caught both OF his hands
in hers Yes of course l know, Lionel.
1t was there on the golf links-under the
chestnut tree-in the dark-that he asked
me to marry him-the man l love and
and I'm waiting to answer him here
now-this very minute, Now do you un-
derstand?"
For a moment Lionel was quite daZed.
1t was as if he had bumped his head
against a rainbow.
Il say. Kate" he faltered. this isn't
d joke. is il? Do you know what you're
saying? Are you going TO be my wife,
Kate pulled the ring off her third ffp-
ger. the one and only ring she had on,
and placed it on Lioners little finger. 1t
was signet ring with a small engraved
seal of chrysophrase.
1T belonged TO my grandmother. dear!
Look" she said. pointing to the pale
green stone. And there, cut in minute
script were the words, .Qui me neglige,
me perde.
Two minutes later, by Cupid s hourg1ass,
that is to say exactly three-quarters of an
hour by Lioners repeater, Kate jumped
up from the rustic chair on which they
were seated. over and over again the
lovers had whispered the old. dear words.
with sighs and kisses. until even Lionel
was convinced that his joy had come to
stay.
Yes. dear boy. love you. / belong to
you," Kate confessed, outcome, it's j
o'clock, / must be getting back to my
kitchen