Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1914-10-23


him and kissed him.
Look out for that tin earl"
oh, you great big, loyal, true
| hearted man! Open that door and
let me get out to the terrace. / want
| to sing, sing!"
He said he was going to Milan in
the morning."
She danced to the door and was
gone.
Moral" he called, impatiently. He
listened in vain for the sound OF her
return. We'll, I'll take the count when
1t comes to guessing what a woman's
| going to do I'll go out and square
! up with the old girl. Wonder how this
news Will harness up with her social
bug?"
Courtlandt got into his compartment
at Varenna. He had tipped the guard
literally not to open the door for any.
one else, unless the train was crowded.
AS the shrill blast of the conductors
norm sounded the warning OF "all
aboard" the door opened and heavily
yelled woman got In hurriedly. The
| e-e'Aa pNboi W iHoNt 1l0
guard slammed the door and latched
1t. Courtlandt sighed; the futility of
trusting these Italians, OF trying to
buy their loyalty! The woman was
without any luggage whatever, not
even the usual magazine. She was
dressed In brown, her hat was brown,
her veil. her gloves, her shoes But
whether she was young or old was
beyond his deduction. He opened his
Corriere and held 1t before his eyes;
put he found reading impossible. The
newspaper finally slipped from his
hands to the floor, where II swayed
and rustled unnoticed. He was star.
ing at the promontory across Lecco,
the green and restful hill, the little
earthly paradise out OF which he had
been unjustly cast. He couldn't under.
stand. He had lived cleanly and de.
Gently; he had wronged no man or
woman, nor himself. And yet, through
some evil twist OF fate, he had lost
all there was in life worth having.
The train lurched around a shoulder
OF the mountain. lie leaned against
the window. In moment more the
villa was gone.
What was It? He felt irreslstlbly
drawn. Without intending to do SO,
he turned and stared at the woman
In brown; Her hand went to the veil
and swept It aside. Nora was as full
OF romance as child. She could
have stopped him before he made the
boat, but she wanted to be alone with
him. .....f -H---.,--. ---- -
Moral"
She flung herself on her knees In
front OF him. Il am a wretch" she
said.
lie could only repeat her name.
i am not worth my salt. All, why
did you run away? Why did you not
pursue me, importune me until
wearied? perhaps gladlyI
There were times when would have
opened my arms had you been the
worst scoundrel in the world instead
OF the dearest lover. the patientestl
All. can you forgive me?"
Forgive you. NoraT He was
numb.
Il am miserable wretch! I doubt.
ed you. I! When all had to do was
to recall the way people misrepresent.
ed things | had done! sent back
your letters and read and re-
read the old blue ones. Don't you
remember how you used to write them
on blue paper? Flora told me
everything. 1t was only because she
hated me. not that she cared anything
about you. She told me that night
at the ball She was at the bottom
OF the abduction. When you kissed
me didn't you know that
kissed you back. Edward, | am mlser.
able wretch. but | shall follow you
wherever you go. and | haven't even
a vanity box In my handbag!" There
were tears in her eyes. Say that I
am wretch!"
He drew her up beside him. His
arms closed around her so hungrily,
so strongly, that she gnsped a little.
He looked into her eyes; his glance
travelled here and there over her face,
searching for the familiar dimple at
one corner OF her mouth.
Moral" he whispered.
kiss mel"
And then the train came to q stand,
jerkily. They fell back against the
cushions.
"Lecco!" cried the guard through
the window.
They laughed like children.
Il bribed him." she said gaiiy. And
now :"
"Yes. and now" eagerly. II still be-
wildered.
Let's go backl"
THE END