The Spectator., 1914-11-06
Nora rose. flung her arms around him and kissed him.

LOOK out TOT that tn ear!
 "Oh, you great big, loyal, true. hearted man! Open that door and let me get out to the terrace. I want to sing, sing!"
 "He said he was going to Milan in the morning."
 She danced to the opor and was gone.
 Moral" he called, impatiently. He listened in vain for the sound of her return. Well, I'll take the count when it comes to guessing what 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 liberally not to open the door for any. one else, unless the train was crowded. horn sounded the warning of "all aboard the door opened and heavily yelled woman got in hurriedly. The train began to move instantly. The 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 it before his eyes; but he found reading impossible. The newspaper finally slipped from his hands to the floor, where 1t 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 the window. In a moment more the villa was gone.
 What was it? He felt irresistibly 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.
 Moral"
 She flung herself on her knees in front of him. T am a wretch!" she said.
 He could only repeat her name.
 q am not worth my salt. An. why did you run away? Why did you not pursue me, importune me until l wearied? perhaps gladly ? There were times when l would have opened my arms had you been the worst scoundrel in the world instead of the dearest lover, the patientest! An. can you forgive me?"
 Forgive you. Nora?" He was numb
 q am a miserable wretch! I doubt ed you. I! When all had to do was to recall the way people misrepresent- ed things I had done! l 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. It 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 l kissed you back. Edward, am miser- able wretch. but l shall follow you wherever you go, and l haven't even a vanity box in my handbag!" There were tears in her eyes. Say that I am a wretch!"
 He drew her up beside him. His arms closed around her so hungrily. so strongly. that she gasped 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 a stand. jerkily. They fell back against the cushions.
 "Lecco!" cried the guard through the window.
 They laughed like children.
 'I bribed him." she said gaily. And now
 Yes, and now?" eagerly. if still be- wildered.
 Let's go back!"
 THE END.
 Forehanded Beetles.
 Several farmers were sitting around In tha coIntr,. inn md fallin :.