The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-12-24

- iAts hhAH +-
down the nobility. Mrs. Titus. ! was merely
questioning the adyisability of elevating 1t
in the way we Americans sometimes do"
You did not put it so adroitly in DIS,
cussing the practice with Aline,' she said
quickly. Granted that her own marriage
was a mistake,-a dreadful mistake,-it
be unhappiIy married to a duke as to a
dry-goods merchant. Mr.. smart"
But not at the same price, Mrs. Titus
i remarked.
She smiled. "a husband is dear at any
price"
Il shouldn't put it just that way" l
protested. "A good American husband is
a necessity. not a luxury
We'll. to 20 back to what I started to say,
Aline is very bitter about matrimony as
viewed from my point of view. | am sorry
to saw l attribute her attitude TO your ex-
cellent counseling."
You flatter me. l was under the impress
sion she took her lessons Of Tarnowsy."
Granted. But Tarnowsy was unfit. Why
tar all of them with the same stick? There
are good noblemen. you'll admit"
But they don't need rehabilitation"
"Aline l fear. will never risk another ex-
pertinent. It's rather calsmitous. isn't il?
When one stops to consider her youth,
beauty and all the happiness there may
be"
II beg your pardon, Mrs, Titus, but l
think your fears are grolndless.'
What do you mesn?"
Inc countess Will marry again. L am
not betrayine a secret. because she has In
timated as much to my secretary as well as
to me. | take 1t that as soon as this
unhappy affair is settled. she viii be free
to reveal the true state OF her feelings to-
ward l stopped. someWha dismayed by
my garrulous turn.
Toward whom? ?" she fairly snapped.
Il don't know" l replied truthfully-and,
l fear. lugubriously.
Good heaven.' she cried. starting up
from the bench on which we were sitting
Ia 4hA narofa Uhpv a n nranr ngnfnC.
sion in her eyes. "H~asn't--hasn't she ever
limited at-hasn't she mentioned any one at
alp"
Mrs. Titus was agitated, / could see that
very plainly. A thoughtful frown appeared
on her smooth brow. and a CLEAN OF anxiety
sprang into her eyes.
Il am sure that she has had no oppor-
tunity to-" She did not complete the sem
tence. in which there was a primary note Of
perplexity and wonder.
1t grilled me to discover that she did not
even SO much as lake me into considera-
tion;.
she has been in seclusion all of the
time. She has seen no man,---that is to say,
no man for whom she could possibly. enter
tain a. But, of course. you are mistaken
in your impression. Mr., Smart. There is alb
%solutely. nothing in what you say"
"A former sweetheart. antedating her
marriage" l suggested hopelessly.
She has no sweetheart. OF that I am
positive" said she with conviction.
she must have had an army of admirers.
They were legion after her marriage, l may
be pardoned for reminding YOU"
She started. HAS she never mentioned
Lord Amberdale 10 you?' she asked.
"Amberdale?" repeated, with a queer
sinking of the heart. NO, Mrs, Titus. An
En~glishman?
She was mistress of herself once more.
In a very degage manner she informed mo
that his lordship, a most attractive and
honorable young Englishman, had been one
of Aline's warmest friends at the time of
the divorce proceedings. But, of course.
there was nothing In that. They had been
good friends for years, nothing more, and
he was a perfect dear.
But she couldn't fool me. l could see that
there was something working at the back
of her mind. but whether she was distressed
or %gratified l was not by way of knowing.
I've never heard her mention Lord Am
berdale," said l.
Her eyes narrowed slightly. Had l but
known. the mere fact that the Countess
had not spoken Of his lordship provided
her experienced mother with an excellent
reason for believing that there was some
thing between them. She abruptly brought
the conversation to q close and left me,
saying that she was off for her beauty nap.
Alone. l soon became a prey to certain
disouleting thoughts. Summed UP, they re-
solved themselves into a condition Of GER
tainty which admitted OF but one aspect:
the charminq Countess was in love with
Amberdale. And the shocking part of It all
was that she was in love with hin prior to
her separation from Tarnowsy! l felt a
cold perspiration start out all over my
body as this condition forced Itself upon
me. He was the man: he had been the
man from the beginning. My heart was
like lead for the rest of the day. and, very
curiously, for a leaden thing it was subject
to pain.
just before dinner, Britton, after inspect
ing me out of the corner Of his eye for some
time, advised me to try a little brandy.
you look seedy. sir" he said with con-
Germ In his voice. "A cold setting in per-
haps. sir"
tried the brandy, but not because
thought 7 was taking a cold. Somehow 1t
warmed me up. There is virtue in good
spirits.
The Countess was abroad very early the
next morning. ! discovered her IN the court
yard. giving directions to Max and Rudolph
who were doing some spading in the gar
den. She looked very bright and fresh and
enticing in the light of an early moon, and
was not only pleased hut astonished,
having been led to believe all my life that
a woman. no matter how pretty she may be,
appears at her worst when the day is
young.
l joined her at once. She gave me a gay,
accusing smile.
what have you been saying to mother?"
she demanded. as she shook hands with me.
Il thought you were 20 be trusted"
] flushed uncomfortably, I'm sorry.
Countess. Ii didn't know it was a Sc
cret."
for a moment. Then She laughed softly. ut
Is n secret"
y hope / haven't got you into bad odor
with your"
worried over what mother may think. l
shall do as l please, so there's the end Of
it,"
I swallowed something that seemed to be
sticking in my throat. Then II is true
that YOU are going to marryP"
quite" she said succinctly,