Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-04-20

8VS& five or six by nv nerves, | paced the
H@W lonely, sequestered halls in the lower
AWNJMS gions of the castle. before had the cour
SN%AgN age to approach her door. But finally,
3SGH&X pluCllng up and putting all silly
sNNSM questions behind me, | raped resound-
sSSS ingy on it.
The excellent Hawkes. opened it. He
stood aside mpressively "Mr. Smart he announced
l caught sight of the Countess. She was arranging
some flowers on the table. Batchord was placing the
knives and forks Helen Marie Antoinette Louise stood
beside her mistress holding box OF flowers in her hands
Good morning." she cried gaily. She was radiant.
$50 glad to see You again Hawkes. has told me how
busy you've BEEN. She dried her hands on the alb
breviated apron of Helen Marie Antoinete Louise, and
then composedy extended one for me to shake:
l bowed low it. lawfully, awfuly busy" |
murmured Was it relief at finding her so happy and
unconcerned that swept through me' | am morally
but shameessly certain it wasn't!
"Don't you think the roses are lovely in that old
silver bow?'
Exquisite
@Blatchford found it in the plate vault" she said,
standing off to admire the effect. do you mind if
go arranging them?" she asked, and without waiting
for an answer resumed her employment
at seems ages since saw you last said the Countess
in matter-of-fact tone, juggling rose INTO position
and then standing off to study the effect her head
cooked prettily at an angle of inquiry
1t suddenly occurred to that she had got very
well without me during the ages. The discovery rrl-
tated me. She not behaving at all as had ex-
peced This cool even casual reception certainly not
in keeping with my idea of what it ought to have BEEN
"But Mr.. Poopendyke has been awfully kind He knew
how lonely should be. and telephoned twice day.
a little surprised at the gruffness in my voice.
"The violets appeased me, she said, with smile
For the first time noticed that she was wearing large
bunch of them "You will be bankrupt, Mr. Smart, if
you keep on buying roses and volets and orcds 1or
me-"
So the roses were mine also! shot swift glance at
the mantelpece. There were two bowls of orchids
there.
"But they are lovely she cried noting the expression
in my face and misconstruing it. you are angel
That the last straw. 81 am nothing OF the sort
I reclaimed, hot and uncomfortable.
You are was her retort. "There! Isn't it lovely
centerpiece? Now you must come and see Rosemary.
She adores the elephant you sent to her.
Gle began blinking my eyes. "Oh-oh, yes,
yes Ha-ha The elephant!' Good Heavens! had that
idotic Poopendvke started menagerie in my castle?
was vastly relieved to find that the elephant
made of felt and not too large keep Rosemary from
welding skilfuy assault upon the hapes inko.
She had it firmly grpped by the proboscis and was
shrieking with delight. The Countess succeeded in
quellng the disturbance, and Rosemary up to kiss
me. Inko who disliked me because looked like the
Count, also ran up; but his object was to bite me.
~ as others that had preceded it. The Countess
vanly tried make it sprghty its predecessors;
but gave in despair in the face OF taciturnlty
Her spirits dropped She became strangely uneasy and
/ thought preoCcuped.
"What is on your mind, Countess asked rather
gr1f1y after a painful silence of some duration.
She regarded me fixedly for moment. She seemed
to be searching my thoughts. "You,' she said very
succinctly. "Why are you so quiet, so funereal?"
| apologized for my manners, and assured her that
nv work was responsible But her moodiness increased.
At last apparently at the end of her she
nounced that she tired after had had cigarette
she would ask be excused, she wanted to lie down.
Would come to see her the next day?
"But don't think of coming, Mr. Smart she declared,
"f you feel you cannot the time away from your
work"
| began to feel heartily ashamed of my boorshness.
After all, why should expend my unpleasant humor
on herr 3Nly dear Countess | exclaimed, displaying
livelier interest than any time before II shall be
to add