The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-12-17

~ |tN h~f 49,
put - He drew a long, deep breath.
hut, upon my word OF honor. she was the
limit last night OF course one couldn't
expect her to be exactly gracious, with her
hair plastered over her face and her hat
spoiled and her clothes soaked. but there
was really no excuse for some of the things
she said to me. shall overlook them for
your sake and for the Countesss." He was
painfully red in the face.
Tho conditions. Fred" l said, were
scarcely conducive to uolite persiflage."
But. hang It all. I was as wet as<e
was" he exploded. 30 violently that ! New
his soul must have been tried to the utmost.
"WeNmust try to make the best Of IT,"
said. 1T VIII not be for long" The
thought OF 1t somehow sent my heart back
TO Its lowest level.
He was glum and silent for a few min
utes. Then he said. as II the thought had
been on his mind for some hours: "she isn't
q day over forty-five. II doesn't seem pos
bble. with a ~six-foot son twenty-six years
old"
Gnmly I explained. They marry quite
young when It's for money. Fred"
II suppose that's It," he sighed. 81 fancy
she's handsome. too. when she hasn't been
rained unon."
We were half way up the slope when he
announced nervously that all Of my dr.
clothing was In the closet off my bedroom
and could not be got at under any circum-
stance.
But" he said. II have laid out my best
frock coat and trousers for you, and q COM
piete change OF linen. You are quite well
come to anything ! possess. Mr. Smart. !
think II you take a couple Of rolls at the
bottom Of the trousers, they'll lie present.
able. The coat may be . little long for you.
but -"
Ny loud laughter cut him short.
ITS the best 7 could do" he said in an
aegrieved voice.
! had a secret hope that the Countess
would be In the courtyard to welcome me,
but I was disappointed. Old Gretel met
me and wept over me. as II l was not al
ready sufficiently moist. The chef came
running out to say that breakfast would be
ready for me when / desired It: Blatchford
felt Of my coat sleeve and told me that l
was quite wet: Hawkes. had two large.
steaming toddies waiting for us in the vesti-
bule. apparently fearing that we could get
no farther without the aid Of a stimulant'
But there was no sign Of a single Titus.
Later ventured forth In Poopendyke's
best suit Of clothes-the one he uses when
he passes the plate on Sundays in far-away
Yonkers. 1t smelled of moth balls, but II
was gloriousiy dry. so why carp! We
sneaked down the corridor past my own
bedroom door ana btOle lntu tnt Stuuy.
Just inside the door. l stopped In amaze
ment. The Countess was sound asleep In
my big armchair, q forlorn but lovely thing
IN a pink peignoir. Her rumpled brown ar
hands dropped l~istlessly at her sides; dark
lashes lay upon the soft white cheeks; her
lips were parted ever so slightly, and ner
bosom rose and fell In the long swell Oh
perfect repose.
Poopendyke clutched me by the arm and
drew me oward the door. or i might nave
stood there transfixed for heaven knows
She's asleep he whispered.
II was the second time in twelve hours
that some one had intimated that | was
blind.
CHAPTER XVI
Indulge In Plain Language.
The door creaked villainously. The gaunt,
ecclesiastical tails Of my borrowed trocK
coat we're on the verge Of being safely out
side with me when she cried out. Where-
upon / swiftly transposed myself. and stuck
my head through the half-open door.
"Oh IT'S you!' she cried, in q quavery
voice, She was leaning forward in the chan,
her eyes wide open and eager. :.
advanced into the room. A look or
doubt sprang into her face, She stared for
Yes, it is t. said !. spreading my arms
In such = way that 1atr my ss9ss s1 emssseo u Iron
nv word. / had no idea that he was SO
much longer than ~ ut is still l, Count
ess. despite the shrinbsge," -.
sliding out Of the chair. As she unhent her
cramped leg. she made a little grimace OF
pain. but smiled as she limped toward me
her hand extended. -. ,
Eyes I always shrink when ] get wet
explained. resortine to facetiousness;
Then l hent over her hand and kissed T.
Az neglected to release II at once, the
cuff Of Poopendyke's best coat slid down
over our two hands. completely envelopine
than. It was too much for me to stanos
squeezed her hand with painful fervour'
and then released it In trepidation. >,
"Poopendyke goes to church In IT, / said
vaguely, leaving her to guess what 1t was
that Poopendyke went to church In. or, per.
haps. knowing what ! meant. how hap
poned to he In It for the time being. You've
been cryingV
Her eyes we're red ana suspiciously moist
VA she met my concerned gaze. a waver'
Ing. whimsical smile crept into her face
at has been a d!sgustingly wet night,
/ am TO see YOU standing here once more
safe and sound. midland amiahle. ex'
pected YOU to glover and erowl and
"On a bright. giorious. sunShiny mornint
graciouslv refulsent. Our troubles are be
hind u.s.
How good YOU are" AFTER a moment
careful scrutiny u Of my ,,o face : ! Nc can sm sss IN.
.rhey were black until I came into thi
room" confessed. Now they are rose
she bent her slender body a little TOWARD
me and the red seemed to leap back int
her lips as If propelied by magic: Reso
Mtely / nut my awkward. ungainiy arm
was curiouslv impressed by the discover,
That was very, very tall and she yer.
much smaller than nv memory recorded
OF course / had 70 means OF knowing TIA