Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-04
SUNDAY MAGAZINE FOR MAY 4. 1913


poTteTS.
The Countess did not lift her veil. | de-
hberately drew her aside. My hot hand
clasped hers, and found it as cold as ice and
trembling.
"For Gods sake whispered hoarsely in
my humbleness, "say that you forgive mel
She did not speak for many seconds.
Then her voice was very low and tremulous.
| felt that her somber eyes were accusing me
even as they tried to meet my own with a
steadiness that was meant to be reassuring.
4Of course | forgive you,' she said. "You
have been SO good to me-
Good" | cried bitterly. "I've been
harsh, unreasoning, supercritical, from the
day | met"
aHush!' she said, laying her free hand
upon my arm. Il shall never forget all that
you have done for me. II can say no
more
l gulped Il pray to Heaven that you
may be happy, Aline happier than anyone
else in the world!'
She lowered her head suddenly, and | was
made more miserable than before by hearing
a quick, half-suppressed sob. Then she
withdrew her cold little hand and turned
away to follow Colingraft.
/ saw them board the train. In my heart
there was the memory of a dozen kisses l
had bestowed in repentant horror upon the
half-asleep Rosemary; who, God bless her
little soul, cried bitterly on being torn away
from my embrace.
"Well," said Billy Smith, taking me by
the arm a few minutes later, "lets have a
bite to eat and cold bottle before we go to
bed, old chap
He led me off to cafe where he seemed to
be more or less at home, and where it was
bright and gay for him but gloomier than
the grave to me.
w fugitives. Late in the afternoon of
the second day Britton returned from town
with telegram for me. 1t said:
Cargo safely aboard Pendennis. Captain
Pardee. commanding. Clear at two today.
Everything satisfactory. c. G. RAFT.
No sooner was this reassuring news re-
ceived than Mrs. Titus complacently set
about having her trunks packed. The en-
tire household was in stew of activity; for
she had suddenly decided to catch the eight
o'clock train for Paris. | telephoned to re-
serve accommodations on the Orient Ex-
press from Vienna, and also to have it
stopped at the town across the river, con-
cession secured at no uncomfortable cost.
She was to travel once more as my mother.
"You will not fail to look us up when you
come to New York, will you, Mr.. Smart?
Mr.. Titus will not be happy until he has ex-
pressed to you in person his endless graft
tude. You have been splendid. We shall
never forget your kindness, your thought
fulness, your-your forbearance. IL"
Upon my word, there were real tears in
the dear lady's eyes! forgot and forgave
much in recognition of this instant of genu-
inc feeling on her part.
| saw them aboard the train. Mrs. Titus
lifted her veil SO that could bestow fare
well filial kiss upon her cheek. Jasper's
eyes popped very wide open at this, and as
he shook my hand warmly at parting he said:
"You are wonder, John, sure enough
wonder! Why, hang it ALL she doesn't even
let Dad do that
At last we were by ourselves, my extensive
: household and l. Late that night l sat
in my study considering the best means Of
reducing my staff Of servants and in comput-
ing, with dismay, the cost of being princely
host to people who had not the least notion
what it meant to do sums in economic SUBJ
traction. 1t was soon apparent to me that
retrenchment, stern and relentless, would
have to follow upon my wild though brief
season CT profigacy.
| was indescribably lonely. Poopendyke
was worried about my pallor, my lassitude.
At the end of week he took it upon himself
to drop line to the Hazards, urging them