The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-04-29
IConHnuedy
N WTE

She looked at me somewhat quizzi- cally for a moment: then she laughed softly. Tt is a secret"
 q hope K havenst got you into bad odor with yo1E''
 'sOh, dear me no. Pm not in the least worried over Awhat mother may think I shall do as 1spIease. so there's the end of it.''
 I swallowed something that seemed to be sticking in my throat Then it !s true that you are going tor marry ?'' Quite she said suceinctly.
 I was silent for moment Well, I'rn-I'm glad to know it in tine,' I said rather more gruh1y than was nee essary.
 She smiled too nerrily I thought @You must not tell any one else about 1t. however
 q can promise that said, su1leD rage in nay soul. Devils could not drag it out of me. Rest easy 7 It occurred to me afterward that she laughed rather jerkily, you might say uneasily. At any rate, she turned away and began speaking to Max
 Have you had your breakfastr asked stupidly.
 'tNo.'',
 s'Neither have I. Will you join meg" s'Isn't it getting to be habit9"
 ssBreakfast or-youT'
 Breakfast and me-
 q confess, my dear countess, that l like you for breakfast" said gal lantly.
 sThat is a real tribute" she. said demurely and took her place beside me Together we crossed the court yard.
 On the steps Colingraft Titus waa standing. I uttered an audible groan and winced as if in dire pain.
 What is it?n she cried quickly.
 "Rheumatism,' I announced, care fully raising my right arm and affect ing an expression of torture. am not a physical coward, kind reader. The fact that young Mr. Titus carried in his hands a set of formidable look ing boxing gloves did not frighten me. Heaven knows, if it would give him any pleasure to slam me about with a pair of gloves I am not without manliness and pluck enough to endure physical pain and neutal humiliatfon It was diplomacy, cunning, astuteness -whatever you may choose te caai i6- that stood between me and a friendly encounter with him. Two minutes time would serve to convince him tha1 he was my master, and then where would I be2 Where would be tn, prestige I had gained? Where nnJ record as a conqueror? 'sI must have caught cold in my arms and shonl ders," I went on, making worse face. than before as I moved the afflicted parts experimentally.
 There" she exclaimed ruefulIy; [" knew you would catch cold. Men al ways do. I'm so sorry
 'sIt's nothing ] made haste to ex plain-.that is, nothing serious. Fl get rid of it in no time at all.' I cal culated for minute "A week or tel ingraft.''
 Morning. Hello, sis. well?" H dangled the gloves before my eyes.
 My disappointment was quite pathet tc- "rell him. l said to the count ess
 s'He's all crippled up with rheuma tism, Colly,'' she said ssPut those ugl. things away. We're going in to break fast"
 He tossed the gloves into corner 0 the vestibuIe. I felt a little ashame' of my subterfuge in the face of hi earnest expression of concern.
 '"TelI you what I'll do," he sait warmly. q know how to rub a fel low's muscIes''-
 "Oh, I have treasure in Britt0n! said I hastily Thanks. old man. Fl will work it out of me. Sorry W can't have a go this morning. The worst of it all was that he in sisted, as a matter of personal educs tfon, on coming to my room afte breakfast to watch the expert maneu vers of Britton in kneading the stiff ness out of my muscles. He was look ing for new ideas, he explained. first consulted Br1tton and then re signedly consented to the demonstrs ton.
 To my surprise, Britton was some thing of an expert. confess that almost killed me with those strong iron-like hands of his. If I was nc sore when he began with me certain ly was when he finished, Colingra1 was most enthusiastic. He said he never seen any one manipulate th muscles so scientifically as Britton an ventured the opinion that he woul not have to repeat the operation ofteI Tc myself said that he wouldn't hay to repeat it at all. We began laying our plans for th 14th. communications arrived frol Italy addressed to me, but intende for either the. countess or the rath, 1 remote MT. Bangs. who seemed bette