The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-11-12

THANK you,'' she said. 'oh, did i
prick youf"
Yes said 1 flatly. Then we both
gave the closest attention to the end Of my
thumb while l triumphantly squeezed . tiny
drop of blood out of it. 1 sucked it. Tn
incident was closed. She was no longer in
terested in the liberation.
"Mr. Poopendyke knew how lonely
would be. He ~telephoned twice = day"
I thought l detected . slight note Of
pique in her voice. But it was % slight
that it was hardly worth while to exult.
80 you thought / had deserted you,
1 said, and was a little surprised ct the
| gruffness in my voice.
"The violets appeased me- she said, with
a smile. For the first time / noticed that
she was wearing q large bunch Of them.
you will be bankrupt, Mr.. Smart, il you
keep on buying roses and violets and orchids
for me-"
So the roses were mine alsol l shot q
swift. glance at the mantelpiece, irresistibly
moved by some mysterious force. There were
two bowls OF orchids there. ] couldn't help
thinking of the meddling, over-zealous gent
that served the hero Of Anstey's Brass
Bottle tale. He was being outdone by my
efficacious secretary.
But they are lovely she cried, noting
the expression in my face and misconstruing
it. You are an angel
That was the last straw. II am nothing
of the Sort ! exclaimed, very hot and
uncomfortable
You are,' was her retort. There
Isn't it a lovely centre piecef Now, you
must come and see Rosemary. She adores
| the new elephant you sent to her."
Gle l began, blinking my eyes. 'Oh
oh, yes, yes. Ha, hs! the elephant"
Good Heavens, had that idiotic Poopendyke
started a menagerie in my ~castlel
l was vastly relieved to find that the
elephant was made of felt and not too large
to keep Rosemary from welding it skilfully
in an assault upon the hapless Jinko. She
had it firmly gripped by the proboscis, and
she was shrieking with delight. Jinko was
barking in vain glorious defence. The racket
was terrible.
The Countess succeeded in q~uelling the dis
turbance, and Rosemary ran up to kiss me,
Jinko, who disliked me because | looked like
the Count, also ran up, but his object was to
bite me. I made up my mind, there and
then that il I should ever, by any chance,
fall in love with his mistress 1 would In.
augurate the counting period by staying
Jinko.
Rosemary g~leefully permitted me to sip
honey from that warm little spot on her
neck, and ! forgot many odious things. As
I held her in-my arms I experienced q vivid
longing to have q child Of my own, just like
Rosemary.
conventional as others that had preceded IT.
The Countess vainly tried to make il as
sprightly as its predecessors, but gave over
in despair in the face of my taciturnity. Her
spirits dropped. She became strangely uneasy
and, I thought, preoccupied.
What is on your mind, Countesst" I
asked rather gruffly, after q painful silence
Of some duration.
She regarded me fxedly for a moment.
She seemed to be searching my thoughts.
you she said very succinctly. why src
you SO quiet, so funerali' 1 observed q
faint tinge of red in her cheeks and N
cminous steadiness in her case. Was there
anger alsoi
l spologized for my manners, md assured
her that my work was responsible But her
moodiness increased. At last, apparently 81
the end Of her resources, she announced that
she was tired-that sitter We had had .
cigarette she would ask to be excused, o.
she wanted TO lie down. Would I come to
see her the next dayf
"But don't think Of coming, Mr.. Smart"
she declared. iii you feel you cannot spare
the time away from your work.
I began to feel heartily ashamed ed my
boorishness. After all, why should 1 e1pend
my unpleasant humor on heri
my dear Countess exclaimed, dis
q l%ivelier interest than at any time
before, 1T shall be delighted 10 come. Per.
me to add that my work may 20 hang"
Her face frightened. ''But men must
she objected.
mot when women are willing to play
said.
"Splendidi' she cried. ''You are re.
I feel better. If you are going Is !
be nice, I'll let you stay"
Thanks. I'll do my best"
She seemed to be weighing something in
her mind. Her chin was in her hands, her
elbows resting on the edge Of the table. she
regarding me with speculative eyes.
III you don't mind what the servants
are saying about us, Mr.. Smart, l am quite
sure l do not"
I caught my breath.
"0h, I understand everything" she cried
mischievously, before l could stammer any.