Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-05-08

reiease you, and want to be by your
side through it all. If it were possible,
would marry you tomorrow, just to
show the world my condence in YOU"
"You splendid little girl" he ex-
claimed II m ght have known you
would take it this way, but ! can't let
you do it, You must moi insist on be-
ing dragged through Al that is bound
to came in the next few weeks"
"You are going through it," she
said. "And you cannot prevent my
doing so. / will never consent to the
breaking Of our engagement, and l
know you will not do it against my
wishes. Why, Jack, I've everything
packed to go to Harcourt Manor to-
morrow, and I've been counting so
much upon the weekend there. Don't
you see now it would injure you if l
were to release you now? No, Jack,
we simply must go on as before and /
am sure that everything will turn out
as we wish it."
For long time he sat silently, then
with a smile he turned to her. "It
shall be as you wish them" he said.
"And if it were possible, this would
make me love you more than ever"
you're certainly not a very ardent
lover!" she teased. "Do you realize
that you haven't kissed me once since
you came in?"
81 know I'm not very romanticc,'
he admitted toying with his monocle.
81 often wonder how l ever managed
to win you. No, Dicky Darlington al
ways makes Tremendous hit with
women. He recites poetry to them and
tells them they have eyes like stars
and all that sort of nonsense. couldn't
recite poetry to save my life and I'm
sure I'd hate woman with eyes like
a star"
"But don't want YOU to recite
poetry to mel" she protested
81 thought every woman liked that
sort of thing" he said.
"There are things she likes better"
said Grace with smile. and she moved
closer to him among the cushions. He
took her hand in his and his arm slip
ped about her waist. Then, with a
quick, eager movement, he held her
close to him and kissed her tenderly.
For moment the sat silent, then,
with returning realization of his po-
sltlon, Harcourt drew away from her.
"Now, don't talk any more about
this horrible murder!" she pleaded T
wnat you to myself for little while
at least. You've never been like this.
Jack, and sometimes I've wondered if
you really loved me. whether YOU are
not marrying me simply because YOU
have asked me and because you believe
there ought to b Lady Harcourt."
Please don't talk that wav" he
protested in confusion. "Surely vou
know that ] want YOU but you msut
forgive me for I'd never have had the
courage to ask you if you hadn't helped
mew
you're perfectly horridl" she cried
indignantly, but little smile came in
to her eyes in spite of it, for she knew
quite well that he had spoken the
truth. Harcourt would never have
had the courage to propose to anv
woman unless the way had ben made
easv for him.
He misread her mood. however, and
took her words seriously. "Then whv
marry me?" he asked. "Reallv. I
think it is better that YOU shouldn't"
"Now. let's not go into that again. "
said Grace decidedly. envy mind is
made up. I am vour ancee. and shall
remain so. Jack, ] would not release
YOU now even if you had killed
Towneyw
Gwen if I had killed him ?" Har
court repeated slowly. "You're splen-
did," And he took her in his arms
again.
"Now," she said at last, "I'm goinr
to make some tea. Will you rinr ."
Harcourt crossed the room and
reached over low table to the electric
bell AS he did so his gaze fell casual
ly upon tiny brass tray and he gave
a start of surprise There. almost burn
ed down to the butt, lay cigarette
with the identical monogram Harcourt
had seen on the one beside the chair
the murdered man had been found in
the same monogram that was carved
so skillfully upon the hilt of the dag
Per Per which had ended, Towneshend's
'What is the matter?" Grace asked,
noticing his hesitation.
Without answering. Harcourt picked
up the remains of the cigarette and
|. examined it carefully. There was no
doubt of it. The monogram was iden-
tical. Slowly he turned toward her
and held it out at arms length.
where did this come from ?" he de-
i. manded.
, She seemed startled at his tone and
. | 'Cu 'iS tiS cue
"How should I know" she answer
ed. ''I suppose someone who has been
smoking left it there"
"But who-who left it?" Harcourt
insisted.
"Jack don't be absurd. Do you sup
pose ! keep track of all the cigarettes
that fathers guests or nv friends may
leave about the house?"
II want to know where this came
fromw
She shrugged her shoulders. "You
are too utterly silly"
'You mean you won't tell me?"
"Jackw
"You know-you know you do! |
want you to say now what caller at
this house smokes cigarettes mono
grammed like this" His eyes flashed
and he faced her coldly.
"I have said that do not know. To
my knowledge no one has been smok-
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