Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1913-04-09

he thought he was pleasing her each
tender recollection, each praise, was
in fact a 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 Jove! 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 | get back"
She pushed it aside, half rising
from her chair.
Fortune, listen. Hereafter I am
George, your brother George; and
do not want you ever to question any
action of mine. 1 am leaving this
money in case some accident befell
me. You never can tell" He took
her hand and firmly pressed it down
upon the money. 'In half an hour,
sister, I'll be back. You did not think
that was going to run away?"
mo"
do you understand now?"
Eyes"
While he was gone she remained
seated at the table. She made little
pyramids Of the gold, divided the even
dates from the odd, arranged Maltese
crosses and circles and stars.
Pity, pity! Well, why should she re-
bel against it? Was it not more than
she had had hitherto? What should
she do? She closed her eyes. She
would trouble her tired brain no more
about the future till they reached
Naples. She would let this one week
drift her how it would.
George came in under the time-limit
of his adventure. He had been upon
the most difficult errand imaginable,
at least from a bachelors point Of
view. He carried two handbags. One
of these he deposited in Fortunes lap.
"Shall l open it?"
eff you wish"
She noted his embarrassment, and
her immediate curiosity was not to be
denied. She slipped the catch and
looked inside. There were combs and
brushes, soap and tooth-powder and
tale, a manicure-set, pair of soft
wooden slippers, and She
glanced up quickly. The faintest rose
stole under her cheeks. 1t was droll;
Tuo
have given worlds to have seen him
making the purchases.
"You are not offended?" he STAN
mered.
''Why should be? I am human; 1
have slept and lived for days in
dress, and worn my hair down my
back for lack of hairpins and combs.
| am sure that it is a very nice night
gown"
Laughter overcame her. He
laughed, too; not because the situa-
ton appealed to him as laughable,
but because there was something, an
indefnable something, in that laugh
ter of hers that made him wonderfully
happy.
''Mr. Jones "
George" he interrupted deter
minedly.
Brother George, it was very kind
and thoughtful Of you Not one man
in thousand would have thought of
of hair-pins!" More laugh
ter.
81 didn't think Of them; it was the
clerk"
"He
"She."
well, then, she will achieve great
things" lightly, though her heart was
full.
Tactfully he reached over and swept
UP the money.
"Shall ever be able to repay your"
she said.
eyes, by letting me be your broth
er; by not deciding the future till we
land in Naples; by letting me keep in
touch with you, whatever your ulti-
mate decision may be. That isn't
much Will you promise that?"
eyes"
They spoke no more of Ryanne. It
was as though he had dropped out
Of their lives completely. To a GER
tain extent he had. They were to meet
him again, however, in the last act Of
this whimsical drama, which had
drawn them both out Of the common
place and dropped them for a full spin
upon the whirligig of life.
In due time they arrived at Alexan-
dria. There they found the great
transatlantic liner, homeward bound.
Ryanne would beat them into New
York by ten days. He had picked up
a boat of the P. & o. line at Port Said,
sailing without stop to MarseilIes.
From there to Cherbourg was a tri-
fling journey.
(TO BE CONTINUED.)