The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1915-04-13


 -f deserted me?' grew to be q vOdun1neusi indictment. could think of nothingl else. There was something inemabiy sad and pathetic about it. Had she been unhappy because of my beastlyy behavior?
 At last approached her door. Upon my soul, my legs were trembHngg experienced 8 silly sensation of fear. hesitated; then, p1ucEdng up my cour- age and putting all silly questions be- hind me, rapped resoundingly on the@ door.
 The excellent Hawkes. opened it. [ Atarted back in dismay. He stoods Oside impressively.
 t'Mr. SmartP' he announced.
 I caught sight of the countess. She was arranging some flowers on the tR- ble- B1atchford was placing the knives and forks. Helen Marie Louis An toinette stood beside her mistress hold ing a box of flowers in her hands.
 What was it that had been think ing out there in those gloomy hallsl That she would greet me with pathetic. hurt look and
 ssGood morningr' she cried gayly. { Hurt? PathetscE She was radiantl '.So glad to see you again. Hawkea has told me how busy you've been t'.Awfully, awfully busy" I nurmur- ed. Was it relief at finding her SC happy and unconcerned that swept through me? I am morally but shame lessAy certain it wasn't.
 Don't you think the roses are. lovely in that old silver bowl?''
 sExquisitei'
 'sBlatchford found it in the plate vault," she said. standing of to admire the effect .'Do you mind if go on arranging themg' she asked and with out waiting for an answer resumed her employment
 .'Bon jour, msieur," said Helen Ma rie Louise Antoinette over her mis- tress' shoulder One never knows whether a French maid is polite or i merely spiteful.
 tsIt seems ages since saw you last.P 1 said the countess in matter of fact 1 tone, jigg1ing rose into position and l then standing off to study the effect. her head cooked prettily at an angle of inquiry.
 It suddenly occurred to me that she had got on very well without me dur l ing the ages The discovery irritated me She was not behaving at all as I had expected.
 There hasn't been a great deal of news,'' I said I She dropped a long stemmed rose and waited for me to p5eksit up.
 "Thank ytsl,' she said. "oh, did it l prick you?'
 stYes,', said I fatIy, Then we both I gave the closest attention to the end of nay thumb, while I triumphantly | squeezed a/tiny drop of blood out of it I sucked it. The incident was =. lT, 4-.1L- f1 in the laceration.
 ESQ you thought had deserted your I said, and was a little surprised a& the gruffness in my voice.
 ssThe vioIets appeased me" she said. i with a smile. For the first time no ticed that she was wearing large l bunch of them You will be bank r11pt, Mr Smart, if you keep on buying roses and violets and orchids for me.
 So the roses were mine alsol I shot n swift glance at the mantelpieces tr- resistibly moved by some mysterious force There were two bowls of or chids there
 ~But they are lovelyr' she cried, not ing the expression in my face and nnis- construing it. .fYou are an angel"
 That was the last straw. @I am nothing of the sort!'' exclaimed, very hot and uncomfortable.
 You are,', was her retort. "Therei Isn't it a lovely centerpiece? Now you must come and see Rosemary She adores the new elephant you sent to her.''
 .sEle''- I began, blinking my eyes. 'tOh-oh, yes, yesI Ha. ha! The ele- phanti'' Good heavens! Had that idiotic Poopendyke started a menage- rie in my castle2
 was vastly relieved to find that the : elephant was made of felt and not too large to keep Rosemary from yielding it skillfully in an assault upon the hap less Jinko