The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-01-07

AG iiAsAN Nv No olib until
NV parted the neXts morning they
w were in full possession of all of
our plans, hopes n secrets,
but they were bound by prom
throughout all eternity If they al
lowed them to be violated. do not
recall having seen two more intensely
excited. radiant women in my life than
Elsie and Betty Billy. They were in
an ecstatic state of mind. Their hus-
bands, but little less excited, offered
to help us in every way possible, and,
to prove their earnest, turned the Prov
of the motor-boat downstream, aban-
doning the trip up the river in order
them for any purpose whatsoever.
you may rest easy so far as | am
concerned, Mrs. Titus" said the young
diplomat. A a representative Of the
United States Government ] can be-
come publicly involved in this interna-
tional muddle, I've just got to Keep
my lips sealed. If it were discovered
that | knew Of all this. my head would
be under the snickersnee in no time
at all. Swish! Officially suicided!"
At 10 o'clock the next morning ! was
called TO the telephone. Smith had
nowsy and Baron umoyitch had en-
gagged in a duel with pistols at sunrise
and the latter had gone down with a
bullet through his lungs. He died an
nOuI laltl, u cN, ullIS " tlt
rumors flying about official Vienna,
was already on his way to Berlin,
where he would probably remain in Sc
clusion until the affair blew over or
imperial forgiveness was extended to
him.
There was cause for satisfaction
among us, even though the Baron had
fallen instead of the Count. The sensa
tional affair would serve to keep Tar
nowsy under cover for some weekly at
l-Aa. -a A. -.r. a.
tending the Countess flight from the
castle. sim l could not help feeling
disappointed over the outcome OF the
meeting. Why couldn't Count Tar
nowsy have been the one to fall?
The Countess, very pale and distralt.
most remarkable speech. She said:
This is one of the few fine things
that Maris has ever done. | am glad
that he Killed that man. He should
have done so long ago-the beast! He
was-ugh!-the most d~espicable crea-
ture I've ever known"
She said no more than this, but one
could readily grasp all that she left
unuttered.
Colingraft rather sententiously re,
marked to little Rosemary, who could
not have comprehended the words, of
course: We'll, little Rosebud, your
papa may be a spendthrift, but he
never wastes bullets"
Which was entirely uncalled for. !
contend. was struck by the swift
look of dread that leaped into Alines
eyes and her pallor.
On top of all this came the aston
ishing news. by cipher dispatch from
old Jasper Titus principal adviser in
been declined by Tarnowsy two days
before. the Count having replied
through his lawyers that nothing short
Of $4,000, 900 would induce him to re-
1inquish all claims to his child.
| had been ignorant of this move in
the case, and expressed my surprise.
II asked father to do it, Mr., Smart
said the Countess dejectedly, "It
seemed the easiest way out OF our ditt,,
ficulties-and the cheapest. He will
never give in to this new demand
though. We must make the best Of It,
Why did you suggest such a thing
to him?" l demanded with heat,
She looked hurt. Because you
seemed to think it was the right and
honorable thing to do she said pa
tiently. Il do not forget what you
said to me, days and days ago, ever
though it may have slipped your mind
father Just what you thought about it.
There was a suspicion Of tears in hel
voice as she turned away. and left me
without another word. She was quite
out of sight around the bend in thu
staircase, and her little boots. Were
Gathering swiftly upwards, before
fully grasped the significance of he
ex%pianation-or, l might better say
her ~reproach. 1t slowly dawned upo,
me that I had said a great man. thing:
to her that it would pay me to remem
her before questioning her motives II
any particular.
As the day for her departure drew
nearer-it was not but 4S hours away
her manner seemed to undergo a com
plete change, She became moody, nerv
Gus, depressed. OF course, all his wal
attributable to the dread of discover!
and capture when she was once out
side the great walls of Schloss Rothoe
fen. | could understand her feelings
and rather lamely attempted to bolste
up her courage by making light o
the supposed perils.
The looked at me with a certain pa
thetic sombreness in her eyes tina
caused my heart to ache. All OF he
joyous raillery was gone, all OF he
gentle Her sole interest il
life in these last days seemed to be o
a sacrificial nature. She was swce
and gentle with everyone-with me i
particular, ! may say-and there wa
something positively humble in her at
titude of self-abnegation. Where sh
had once been wilful and ironic, sh
was gentle and considerate. Nor wa
| the only one to note these subtl
changes in her. ! doubt, however, !
the others were less puzzled than
In fact, Mrs. Titus was %palpably per
picked, and there were times when
caught her cycling me with distinct dis