The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1914-12-17
HOME AND FARM MAGAZINE SECTION SERIAL
A Fool and His Money-By George Barr McCutcheon
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Copyright, 1913, by George Barr McCutcheon.

and l think sincerely-for all that | had
done for Aline. apologized in a perfume.
tory sort Of way for having kept me out OF
my bed all night, and hoped that l wouldn't
catch cold or have an attack of rheumatism.
soon awoke 10 the fact that she was 10
the habit of centralizing attention, The usu,
repressed in her presence; the big son and
the little one were respectfully quiescent; /
confess to a certain embarrassment my
self.
She was a handsome woman with a young
figure, a good complexion, clear eyes, wayy
brown hair. and a rich. low voice perfectly
modulated. No doubt she was nearing so,
but IS would have been your guess. pro.
vided you were a bachelor. A bachelor
learns something about women every day OF
his life, but not SO much that he cannot b.
surprised the day after.
endeavored to set her mind at rest by
politely reminding her that l couldn't have
slept In the bed any way. having been out
t that " Il was ana relief lief to s" find = literary asiuayu man an
who wasn't forever saying flat. stupid things.
took them over the castle-that is, a
p eiimD ST stai tse s shs'le Confessed ass, to ri'S Ssnt MHH'd su!
drew the line at anything more exhausting.
| fear ] was too palpably relieved when she
declined to go higher than the second story;
wretched Rothhoefers. as a Cooks inter
prefer might do; YOU see, I know the castle
news from my daughter" :
"Of course!" agreed. Stupid Of me not
to remember that you are descended from"
"Mothsr isn't half as stuck up about it as
Jasper, Jr.. glibly. "She prefers to let PEG.
pie think her ancestors were Dutch instead
Of merely German Dutch Yteeh ancestors are the
"Jappie," said his mother severely, "'how
often must l caution you not to speak q
New-York as Jew York? Some day You Will
say It to a Jew. One can't be too careful.
IJoaunu alma knpWe whom one Ia In the uraH-
ence Of q Jew in these days"
"Oh, I'm moi Hebraic," said l quickly.
my ancestors were Dutch. They. came over
with the original skin grafters."
She looked puzzled for a moment. The
Countess laughed, Then Jasper saw the point.
Colingraft was the last to see II, and then
1t was too late for him to smile.
We had tea in the loggia and dined
at 8 that night. l think Mrs. Titus was
rather favorably impressed when she be,
held me In my " raiment., Britton had
smoothed out my evening clothes until they
almost shone. and l managed to carry my
self with unusual buoyancy.
Everything went very well that evening.
was an excellent one. perpetrated but one
unhappy blunder. / asked Mrs. Titus u she
knew the Riley Werkheimers and the Rocks
worths in New York.
USUALLY" she said succinetly and I made
haste to change the subject. The Countess
looked amused, and Colingraft said some
thing about II being more than likely that
we did not have any mutual acquaintance
in New York His sister came to my rescue
with a very amusing and exaggerated ac-
count Of my experience with the hlies.
Werkheimers and Roekworths. Jasper was
enthusiastic. Something told me that l
was going to like him.
MY real troubles began the next day-and
at the rather unseemly hour of s O'Clock in
in a bath -gown and slippers. banged on my
bedroom door, and wanted TO know why the
devil he couldn't have hot water for his
bath. He was too ull-hlooded. and all that
sort Of thing, he said, to take a cold plunge.
Moreover. he wasn't used 10 taking his tuo
in a tin-cup. Chat was his sarcastic way OF
referring to my portable, handy bath-tub-)
asked him why he didn't ring Tor Brltton.
and he said he did, but that Britton was
assisting Jasper in a wild chase for a pat
which had got into the lads room during
the night.
THANK your lucky stars it didn't get into
mothers room," he said surlily. l silently
thanked them.
He made such a row about his tub that |
had to give him the pail of hot water Brit
ton had placed in my bedroom. preparatory
to my own bath.
At breakfast Jasper complained about the
bats. He couldn't for the life of him see
why I didn't have screens in the windows. =.
Later on Mrs. Titus. who had coffee and
toast in her room, Joined US in the loggia
and announced that the coffee was stone
cold. Moreover, she did not like the guest
chamber into which she had been moved by
order OF the Countess. 1t was too huge, for
a bed chamber and the iron window shut
tiers creaked all night long.
But don't you love the view you have
of the Danube? 2" ] queried. rather mourn
fully.
II don't sit in the window all night, Mr..
Smart" she said tartly.
/ at once insisted on her resuming pos
session OF my bedroom. and promptly had
all Of my things moved into the one she
had occupied during the night. When the
nnnta hnnt ri nf this rpn n ~ ont aha N "A q
most INDIGNANT, She got me off in a corner
and cruelty informed me that / hadn't the
vestige of a backbone. She must have said
something to her mother, too, for when
evening came around l had TO move back
into my own room, Mrs. Titus sweetly as
surfing me that under no consideration would
she consent to impose upon my good nature
and hospitality TO such an extent, etc, etc,
During the day, at odd times, Colingraft
made lofty suggestions in regard to what
could be done with the place to make II
more or less inhabitable. and Jasper who,
should not like after all,-said he'd just like
to have a whack at the thing himself. First
thing Ned do would be to turn some Of
racquet courts. and he'd also put in a swim
ming-pool and a h%ot-water plant.
Late in the afternoon, I stole far up into
the eastern tower to visit my adorable frien nc
the nursery floor and l soon got over my
feeling of depression: But even In play
was made to realize that l was not the mas
|, ter Of the house. She ruled me with the
utmost despotism. but ! didn't mind. Sht
permitted me to sin honey from that Gun
/. ming place in her little neck and managed
, to call me Unko. My heart grew warm ant
, soft again under the spell of her.
/ The Countess watched US at play from hel
!, seat by the window. She was strangely still
! and p~ensive. | had the feeling that sht
/ was watching me all the time. and tina
! there was a shadow OF anxiety in her Lowell!
. eyes. She smiled at our FRANKS, and We
i there was something sad in the smile.