The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1913-08-15

COulQnL spOli youA -,
Grace II you decide to want MIN
His Grace would be terribly
shocked"
~ don't want him." she interrupted.
"J love Winthrop and I'm going 10
marry hlm-if he ever asks me-
But I am nobody" l insisted. i
haven't a penny. Misunderstanding
is impossible!"
She looked at me in amazemcht.
is that your only reason? sne
asked.
Surely"
is that all? Oh, my poor, deluded
little Louie. What difference does
few paltry dollars make? I'm so
glad that's the reason. dear; SO very
very glad" She came close to me
and slipped her arm around my waist
Dear, If you had told me something
terrible. some awful thing that was
keeping you from saying yes to Hap.
I would have loved you just the same.
Remember that.
It was a shameless statement. l
wonder | did not see its significance
at the time, but / only realized that
her affection was one Of the most
wonderful things that had ever hap
pened to me.
You're queer person. told her.
Now, won't you let me say to HAP
that he may come up after luncheon?'
She tried to keep me from shaking
nv head I'm afraid he will come,
even If you don't say SO. I've had
q terrible time keeping him out while
you slept. He went to town for the
roses"-she pointed to them-"and
was back In an hour I don't know
how he escaped being arrested for
speeding. BY the way, the detective
il here. He wants to ask you some
questions when you are we'll enough
to see him. We've had an exciting
morning being questioned. He's rather
a nice-looking chap. l think Natalie
found her interview with him much
more agreeable than she expected
His eyes are blue" she finished irrele
vanity.
Has he talked to Mr.. Abbott?"
Eyes. He and John-by the way
his name is Adams-went over Il
Winthrop's this morning. Winthrop
came back with them; he came tt
play golf He was unusually cheerful
too. He has finished his novel.
don't think he cares how many EN-
erald bracelets he Is accused of steal
ing. since that Is over. And I'm for
getting to tell you that Mrs. Dykemar
has dug up a German count. dom
know how he ranks. He's a connois
seur on art, or some kind OF a high
brow. She's giving German musi
Gale next week. Ich diem! Oh! W.
had a message from the Schuylers
The general Is entirely out OF dan
ger"
Law on the couch for q long tim
thinking after Laura had gone, AN
Celie had arranged my hair and ten
derby gotten me into a negligee.
tried-tried desperately-to see'
way out Of all the robberies for Win
throp and could not do it. Excep
for the ruby, when Laura had prove
that he was at home, and the woman
in the corridor, every circumstanc
pointed to him. What did he actuall
know of 1t all? Was he shielding
some one? A woman? But tina
thought was ugly. l had rather b.
lieve him a thief!
The door Of my sitting-room, Leaf
, ing into the corridor, was standin
open, for the day was intensely no
: and caught the sound Of Hap
voice. He was talking to his mothe
p I listened, not deliberately to wins
he said, but just to hear his voice
| and because there was no one to SCI
I arose and buried my face in til
| roses-his roses. It was wrong
| listen; knew it. I could not ia
to hear what he said.
| At first the full meaning OF h
words did not strike me, nor eve
| the tone OF the argument. l W,
| thinking of other things. Then
| spoke my name. He was angry;
i listened, amazed.
| ~ don't care If she Is a thief"
4 said, II want her, and I'm going
| have her. I'd marry her II she
proved thief thousand times. Al
| wouldn't believe her a thief II 50
her stealing"
His mothers answer I didn't wa
to hear; an instant later stood
the doorway across the corridor.
Don't believe him." said to
mother. HE isn't going to mar
me-"
Hap, with an exclamation Of CO
Germ, threw some pillows into chs
) and indicated an intention to car
i. me to it.
I'm not an invalid" I insisted, A,
I walked to the chair. i've Just
al silly broken arm, otherwise I q
ut quite flt Now, tell me why am I
ut thief again." was quite calm abe
%! 1t, but l had to sit down. for I
knees were shaky and I was realizi
tn why Laura had said such Que