Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1913-09-10

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His Grace would be terribly
shocked"
Il don't want him" she interrupted.
i love Winthrop and I'm going TO
marry him-lf he ever asks me"
"Bnt | am nobody" / insisted. Il
haven't a penny. Marrlage-marrlage
Is impossiblel"
She looked at me in amazement.
rs that your only reason?" she
asked
Surely"
Us 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, II you had told me something
terrible, some awful thing that was
keeping you from saying yes to Hap,
would have loved you just the same.
Remember that"
II was shameless statement.
wonder | did not see its significance
at the time, but l only realized that
her affection was one of the most
wonderful things that had ever hap
pened to me.
You're a 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
my head. I'm afraid he will come,
even II you don't say so. I've had
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. / don't know
how he escaped being arrested for
speeding. BY the way, the detective
is 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
nice.looking chap. think Natalie
found her interview with him much
moro agreeable than she expected
His eyes are blue" she finished irrele-
vanity.
| mas ne ldlhbu 10 MI AuuoAhl
Eyes. He and John-by the way.
his name is Adams-went over to
Winthrop's this morning, Winthrop
came back with them; he came to
play golf. He was unusually cheerful,
too. He has finished his novel. l
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. Dykeman
has dug up German count. l don't
know how he ranks. He's connois-
seur on art, or some kind Of high
brow. She's giving a German musi-
Gale next week. Ich dien! oh! We
had message from the Schuylers.
The general is entirely out of dan
ger"
lay on the couch for a long time
thinking after Laura had gone, and
Celie had arranged my hair and ten
derby gotten me into negligee. l
tried-tried desperately-to see a
way out of all the robberies for Win
throp and l could not do 1t. Except
for the ruby, when Laura had proved
that he was at home, and the woman
In the corridor, every circumstance
pointed to him. What did he actually
know OF 1t all? Was he shielding
some oneY A woman? But that
thought was ugly. had rather be-
lieve him a thief!
The door of my sltting-room, lead
ing into the corridor, was standing
open, for the day was intensely hot,
and caught the sound of Hap's
voice. He was talking to his mother.
! l listened, not deliberately to what
he said, but just to hear his voice;
and because there was no one to see,
arose and buried my face in the
roses-his roses. It was wrong to
listen; l knew 1t. could not fail
to hear what he said.
At first the full meaning of his
words did not strike me, nor even
the tone of the argument. l was
thinking Of other things. Then he
spoke my name. He was angry; l
listened, amazed.
II don't care If she Is a thief" he
said, II want her, and I'm going to
have her. I'd marry her If she Is
proved thief a thousand times. And
l wouldn't believe her thief If saw
her stealing!"
His mothers answer l didn't want
to hear; an instant later l stood in
the doorway across the corridor.
Don't believe him." l said to his
mother. He isn't going to marry
me-"
Hap, with an exclamation of con-
Germ, threw some pillows into a chair
and indicated an intention to carry
me to it.
I'm not an invalid" insisted. And
l walked to the chair. I've just a
silly broken arm, otherwise l am
quite fit. Now, tell me why am / a
thief again." was quite calm about
it, but l had to sit down, for my
knees were shaky and was realizing
why Laura had said such queer
things to me.
Hap made some choky noises like
men do when they want to swear /;
Mrs. Hazard pressed her handkerchief
to her lips.
"Just because found some jewels
In the card room, and can't tell you
who put them there, or why they
we're there?" The whole thing sud.
denly struck me as absurd and anus
ing. l laughed. MY story isn't plaus-
ible?"
Mrs. Hazard began to cry-what a