The star-independent. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1904-1917, 1915-05-24

stant Of genuine feeling on her part
1t was not necessary for her to COM
plete the sentence so humbly begun.
Their departure was made with some
degree Of caution. Mrs. Titus rather
considerably reminding herself that
my interests were at stake. saw
them aboard the train She played her
part admira BLY, will say that for her.
She lifted her veil so that could be.
stow n farewell filia kiss upon her
cheek. jasper juniors eyes popped
very wide open at this. and as he
shook my hand warmly at parting he
said:
"You are a wonder. John-a sure
enough wonder. Why. hang 1t all, she
doesn't even let dad do that"
But Jasper Junior was very young,
and he couldn't understand.
At last We were to ourselves. my ex-
tensive household and |. Late that
night ] sat in my study considering the
best means of reducing my stafr Of
servants and In computing. with dis
may. the cost of being a princely host
to people who had not the least notion
what 1t meant to do sums in economic
subtraction. It was soon apparent to
me that retrenchment, stern and re-
lentless, would have to follow upon nv
wild though brief season of profigacy.
decided to dismiss the scullery maid.
l was indescribably lonely. Poopen-
dyke was worried about my pallor, my
lassitude. At the end of week he
took it upon himself to drop a line to
the Hazards. urging them to run out
for visit in the hope that company
might take me out of myself All at
tempts to renew my work on the Ill
fated novel met with utter failure.
The power of mental concentra ton
was gone. spent most of my time In
the garden.
The Hazards came and with them
the joyously beautiful Betty Billy.
Poopendyke must have prepared them
for the task in hand, for they proceed
ed at once to transform the bleak,
dreary old castle into a sort of hilar-
ious merry go round, with me In the
very vortex of it all. They succeeded
in taking me ''Out of myself" will
say that for them. My spirits took an
upward bound and. wonderful to re-
late, retained their altitude in spite of
all could do to lower them. did not
want to be happy. figured that l
owed 1t to my recently aroused tenn
perament to be permanently unhappy.
But the wind blew another way, and
l drifted amiably with it, as derelict
drifts with the currents of the ocean,
but preferably with the warm gulf
stream.
We bad word from Mrs. Titus in
London that negotiations had been re-
opened with the count and that CON-
promise might be expected. The OBJ
durate nobleman had agreed. 1t SEEM
ed. to met Jasper Titus lawyers In
Paris at no distant date. My Chief
concern. however was for the countess
herself. That she had successfully
reached the high seas was apparent:
If not. the newspapers. which | read
with eagerness, would have been file,
with accounts Of her seizure We
eagerly awaited the promised cable
gram from New YcrE announcing her
safe arrival there.
Smith Joined us at She end of the
week. nerved mysel. 70 question
him about the Englishman.
Splendid fellow" said he. with dis
eouraging fervor; "one of the finest
chaps know. eh, George?"
For an Englishman." admitted Haz.
zard.
Hes gentleman. and that's more
than you can say for the tagtag os no
bility that paid court to Aline Tar
uowsy. He was in love with her. tat
he was a gentleman about it. A thor.
oughbred, l say"
Good lookingT' inquired
"Well, rather-the sort of chap WON.
en- rave about Ask Betty. She was
mad about him, but he couldn't see
anything in her l think she hates him
now. He had eyes for no one but the
fair countess. An awful grind on Bet
ty. She's used to something different"
Hazard studied the clouds that drift
ed over our heads. II wonder IL Aline
cared anything for him."
1--WE always belieyed that she liked
him better than she cared to admit
even to herself"
II fancy he'll not let any grass grow
under his feet now that she's free,
said DIR. Hazard.
Think she'll have him?"
"Why not? He has much better
position in England than XArnowsy
has here, and he's not after her money
1 hate to say 1t, but Aline is seeker
after titles. She wouldn't be averse tc
adding your ladyship' to her collec
ton"
"Oh, comer protested. THAT Is
nasty thing to say, George"
"She may have been regenerated,'
he said obligingly. You know her bet
ter than do. old chap. What say?
81 didn't say anything" muttered.
"I thought you did"
hesitated a moment and then purg
ed myself OF the truth. "As a matter
of fact. l have reason to believe she''
In love with Amberdale and has beer
for 81 long time I'm NOT saving il Ii