Baraboo weekly news. [volume] (Baraboo, Wis.) 1912-197?, 1912-12-05
Cea0T4ghe 1911 by Bobbs- Merrill Company
CHAPTER XIX.
Fortune Decides.

George and Fortune were seated at
breakfast. 1t was early morning. At
ten they were to depart for Jaffa, to
take the tubby French packet there to
Alexandria. They could just about
make it, and any delay meant a week
or ten days longer upon this ragged
and inhospitable coast.
"Ryanne has probably oversight.
After breakfast I'll go and rout him
out. The one thing that really ttckles
me-" George continued, as he pared
the tough rind from the skinny bacon,
"is, We shan't have any luggage.
Think Of the blessing Of travelling
without a trunk or valise or
steamer-roll!"
without even a comb or a hair
brush!"
Its great fun" George broke his
toast.
And Fortune wondered how she
could tell him. She was without any
toilet articles. She hadn't even a
toothbrush; and it was quite out OF
the question for her to bother him
about trifes, much as she needed
them. She would have to live in the
ships stewardess might help her out
in the absolute necessities.
Here the head-waiter brought
George a letter. The address was
enough for George. No one but Ry-
anne could have written it. Without
excusing himself, he ripped Off the
envelope and read the contents. For
tune could not resist watching him,
for she grasped quickly that only
Ryanne could have written letter
here in Damascus. At first the tan
upon Georges cheeks darkened-the
sudden effusion of blood; then it be-
came lighter, and the mouth and eyes
and nose became stern.
"Is it bad news?"
cit all depends upon how you look
at it, For my part, good radiance to
bad rubbish. Here, read it yourself"
She read:
"My Dear Percival: After all, find
that l can not reconcile myself to the
dullness of your olive-grOves. | shall
send the five hundred to you when |
reach New York. With me it is as
it was with the devil. When he was
sick, he vowed he would be saint;
but when he got we'll, devil a saint
was he. There used to be rhyme
about it, but I have forgotten that.
Anyhow, there you are. I feel that
I am conceding point in regard to
the money. 1t is contrary to the laws
and bylaws of the United Romance
and Adventure Company to refund.
STILL I intend to hold myself to it.
With hale affection,
"RYANNE."
''What do you think of that?" de-
manded George holly. st never did
a good action in my life that wasn't
served i'll. I'm a soft duffer, if there
ever was one"
"I shall never be ungrateful for
your kindness to me-"
ooh, hang it! You're different;
you're not like any other woman in
the world" he blurted; and immedi-
ately was seized with a mild species
of fright.
Fortune stirred her coffee and deli
cately scooped up the swirling circles
of foam.
"Old maids call that money" he
said urderstandingly, eager to cover
up his boldness. ''My mother used
to tell me that there were lots Of
wonders in a tea-cup."
'"Teu me about your mother"
To him it was a theme never lack
ing in new expressions. When he
spoke of his mother, it altered the
clear and boyish note in his voice;
it became subdued, reverent. He
would never be aught than guileless;
it was not in his nature to divine any
thing save his own impulses. While
he thought he was pleasing her each
tender recollection. each praise. was
in fact nail added to her crucifixion,
self-imposed. However, she never
lowered her eyes, but kept them
bravely directed into his. In the midst
of one Of his panegyrics he caught
sight of his watch which he had
placed at the side of his plate.
"By Jovei quarter to nine. I've
got an errand or two to do, and
there's no need of your running your
feet off on my account. I'll be back
quarter after" He dug into his
pocket and counted out fifty pounds
in paper and gold. ''You keep this
till l get back"
She pushed it aside. half rising