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

Countess: don't forget that. And 1t so
happens that your mother is also my neigh
Dor at present. and your brothers too. have
you any cousins and aunts?"
Il can't understand how any one can be
so good -natured as you" she sighed.
The crown Of her head was on a level
with my shoulder. Her eyes were lowered,
a faint line of distress grew between them.
crest of her head. an almost ungovernable
impulse pounding AVA at my sense OF dis
erection. I do. take credit unto myself for
being strong enough to resist that oppor-
self. l knew. even then. that II a similar
attack ever came upon me again I should
not be able to Withstand 1t. 1t was too
much to expect Of mortal man. Angels
might survive the test. but not wingless
man.
All this time she was staring rather PEN
sivelv at the second button from the top
of Poopendyke's coat. and so prolonged and
earnest was her gaze that ! looked down in
some concern. at the same time permitting
myself to make a nervous. jerky and quite
said button. She looked up with a nervous
little laugh.
Il shall have to sew one on right there
for poor Mr.. Poopendyke." she said. poking
her finger into the empty buttonhole. you
dear bachelors!"
Then she turned swiftly away from me.
and elided over to the big armchair. from
the DEPTHS Of which she fished a small vel
vet bag. Looking over her shoulder. she
smiled at me-.
Please look the other way" she said.
Without waiting for me to do 30. she took
out a little gold box, a powder puff. and q
Florentine mirror that hung near my desk.
she proceeded. before my startled eyes. to
repair the slight-and to me noticeable
damage that had been done to her complex
ion before the sun came up.
Woman works In a mysterious way, my
friend. he~ wonders to perform" she para
phrased calmly.
mo matter how tr~anscendently beautiful
woman man may be: che :iwsys does that sort
she does" said the Countess with con-
viction. She surveyed herself critically.
There, And now ! am ready to accept an
hungry"
"Ana so am i" ! cried with enthusiasm.
breakfast, Just to ~penalise him for failing in
his duties as host during my Unavoidable
Quite impossible she said. He has al
ready eaten it."
He has?
half-past six. I believe. He announced
at that %ungodly. hour that II he couldn't
have his coffee the first thing in the morn
ing he would be In for . headache all day.
ne suggested that l take . little nap and
have breakfast with. you-if you succeeded
In surviving the night"
~ see" said I slowly. HE knew all
chair. eh % " "
You shall not scold him!"
i shall do even worse than that. I shall
pension him for life"
She appeared thoughtful. A little frowu
OF annoyance clouded her brow.
He promised faithfully to arouse me the
instant you were sighted on the opposite side
OF the %river.-I made him stand in the win
f qow with a held ,o glass; Ne on second
to the door and shouted. you wouldn't have
caught me, in this odious dressing gown.
., 1T is most tascin.ting.. ! cried; "Ador.
intimate. And Poopendyke knows 1t, bless
his ingenious old SOUL"
surprised a queer little CLEAN Of in
qulry in her eyes. 1t fickered for a second
and died out
ID you really consider him an ingenious
was something rather metallic in her voice.
had given me a chance. but for some rea-
son she chose to drop the subject. You
must be famished, and am dying to hear
about your experiences. You must not omit
There came a gentle, discreet knocking on
the half-open door. started. somewhat
guilty.
Come"
Blatchford poked his irreproachable visage
through the aperture and then gravely swung
the door wide open,
breakfast is served. sir-your ladyship.
] beg pardon"
/ have never seen him stand so faultless-
~ rigid. AS We passed him on the way
/. out a mean desire came over ne to tread on
his toes, just as an experiment. wondered
if he would change expression. But some
how I felt that he would say Thank you.
SIR" and there would be no satisfaction in
knowing that he had had all his pains for
nothing.
/ shall never forget that enchanted break
fast-never! Not that can recall even
vaguely what we had to eat. or who served
It, or how much Of the naked truth ! re-
lated to her in describing the events Of the
s SnsHs iI lsht h AFFAIR.
At haifpast 1 o'clock 1 was received by
Mrs. Titus in my own study. The Countess
sam he ao eerem arom nsr f esr,s ao0ds Il i n may Be-
SO styled-and ! was agreeably surprised to
find my new guest In q most amiable fran.
Of mind. True, she looked me over with
perfectly frank stare Of curiosity, but, on
sober reflection, I Old not hold It against
her. | was still draped in Poopendyke's gar
.ments. =.
= At first sight ! suppose she couldn't quite
help putting me down as one Of those liter
! airy freaks who typify intellect without In
As Tor her two sons. they made no effort
5 shocking notion that the vowel u might b.
Q substituted for the q in that word without
'0s Th ef e enies't ~ the two young men. Colin
S graft Titus, who, being In the business wifi
: his father in New York, was permitted. e
travel most Of the time so that he couldn'
4 interfere with II, was taller than ]. and al
o extremely handsome chap to boot. He wal
: 20, The younger, Jasper, Jr. was 10. shor
S and slight Of build, with the merriest eye!
!. Tre ever seen. I didn't In the least mind tn,
y grin he bestowed upon me-and preserved
y with staunch fidelity throughout the whole
!. interview-but resented the supercilious
/ lordiy scorn Of his elder brother.
. Jasper. / learned. was enduring a pro
r tracted leave Of absence from Yale; tn
hiatus between his freshman and sophOfn or