The Celina Democrat. (Celina, O. [Ohio]) 1895-1921, 1914-07-31


everything.
"Sing!" said Herr Rosen.
II am too tired. Some other time"
He did not press her Instead, he
whispered in his own tongue: You
are the most adorable woman in the
world"
And Nora turned upon him a pair
Of eyes blank with astonishment. 1t
was as though she had been asleep
and he had rudely awakened her
His infatuation blinded him to the
truth; he saw in the look feminine
desire to throw the others off the
track as to the sentiment expressed
in his whispered words
The hour passed tolerably we'll
Herr Rosen then observed the time,
rose and excused himself. He took
the steps leading abruptly down the
terrace to the carriage road. He had
come by the other way, the rambling
stone stairs which began at the por-
ter's lodge, back of the villa.
Padre" whispered Courtlandt, Il
am going. Do not follow. | shall ex-
plain to you when we meet again"
The padre signiiied that he under
stood Harrigan protested vigorously
but smiling and shaking his head,
tCourtlandt went away.
Nora ran to the window She could
see Herr Rosen striding along, down
the winding road, his head in the air
Presently, from behind a cluster of
mulberries, the figure OF another man
came into view He was going at a
dog-trot, his hat settled at an angle
that permitted the rain to beat square
ly into his face. The next turn in the
road shut them both from sight But
Nora did not stir.
Herr Rosen stopped and turned.
You called?"
Yes" Courtlandt had caught up
with him just as Herr Rosen was about
to open the gates Just a moment
Herr Rosen," with a hand upon the
bars. 4 shall not detain you long"
There was studied insolence in the
tones and the gestures which accom-
panied them.
BE brief, if you please"
"
doubtless you have heard"
In a large room it is difficult to
remember all the introductions"
Precisely That is why | take the
liberty of recalling it to you, so that
you will not forget it," urbanely.
A pause. Dark patches of water
were spreading across their shoulders.
7 ,.fr lap pdf g
arm, raised as It was against the bars.
Il do not see how it may concern
me-" replied Herr Rosen finally with
an insolence more marked than Court
landts.
In Paris we met one night, at the
stage entrance of the Opera | pushed
you aside, not knowing who you were
You had offered your services; the
door of Miss Harrigan's limousine"
1T was you?" scowling.
II apologize for that Tomorrow
morning you will leave Bellaggio for
Varenna. Somewhere between nine
and ten the first train leaves for
Milan"
'Varenna! Milan!"
Exactly. You speak English as
naturally and fluently as if you were
born to the tongue. Thus, you will
leave for Milan. What becomes of
YOU after that is of no consequence
to me- Am making myself clear?
''Verdampt! Do believe my ears?"
furiously. Are you telling me to leave
Bellaggio tomorrow morning?"
"As directly as | can"
Herr Rosen's face became as red
as his name He was a brave young
man, but there was danger of an act
i've kind in the blue eyes boring into
his own If it came to physical con-
test, he realized that he would get the
worst of it, He put his hand to his
throat; his very impotence was chok-
ing him
Your Highness ="
"Highness!" Herr Rosen stepped
back.
Yes. Your Highness will readily
see the wisdom of my concern for
your hasty departure when / add that
| know all about the little house in
Versailles, that my knowledge is
shared by the chief of the Partisan
police and the minister Of war. II
you annoy Miss Harrigan with your
equivocal attentions !"
"Gott! This is too much"
Wait! | am stronger than you
are Do not make me force you to
hear me to the end You have gone
about this intrigue like a blackguard,
and that know Your Highness not to
be. The matter is, you are young, you
have always had your way, you have
not learnt restraint. Your presence
here is an insult to Miss Harrigan.
and If she was pleasant to you this
afternoon it was for my benefit. If
you Go not go, shall expose you"
Courtlandt opened the gate.
And il | refuse?"
Why, in that case, being the Amer
1can that am, without any particular
reverence for royalty or nobility, as
1t Is known, promise to thrash you
soundly tomorrow morning at ten
O'Clock, in the dining room, in the
bureau, the drawing room, wherever
may happen to find you"
Courtlandt turned on his heel and
hurried back to the villa He did not
look over hss shoulder. II he had, he