South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1917-03-02
1T AM very gao" said Mr. Fanecourt. .
always hoped that you and Kathleen

Dick Gresham and Kathleen Fanecourt tried
not 20 look selfconscious. but it was trying
interview for them. They were prepared for
It. however. knowing that Mr.. Fanecourt vas
gentleman who lost no opportunity of airing
hs views.
Certainly this was hrst-class occasion for
him to deliver lecture on one Of his pet sub
iects. for he had just been informed that his
only daughter had consented to marry Dick
Gresham.
Il may well state plainly that there are
many men who appear to be on the same plane
as you Gresham, whom should have refused"
said Mr.. Fanecourt. MY family. I am proud
to say. has always kept its escuteheon untarn-
ished You point to mesalliance. There
have been-hOw shall I put it?-there have
been other women in the case, and-er--"
Mr.. Fanecourt. who was a widower. paused
and coughed loudly as he caught sight of his
daughters crimson face. He noticed. too, that
Dick Gresham was looking Ill at ease, but
imagined it was because Of Kathleen. He
mentally cnnfounded himself for allowing his
tongue to run away with itself
We'll, we know the Greshams are to be de
pended upon" he said. Now run away. chill
dren."
Out in the garden Kathleen turned to her
lover
Dick" she said. you have never cared for
any other girl have your"
He hesitated but was held by two serious
looking, dark blue eyes.
Well" he answered. Il have liked other
girls"
"Oh, Dick!"
But I've never cared for one as l have cared
for you" he said hastily
There have been Others" Kathleen said
slowly Others that you have cared for"
But I tell you dear. I never really loved a
girl before / met you"
4 wish there had not been any others"
"Katheen!" he exclaimed. ct wish l had
not answered you as 1 did. 1t would have been
just as easy for me to have said in the first
place that had never loved another girl and
then you would have been satisfied"
DO you ever any of-of those others
now?"
"Oh, occasionally But let's drop the sub
jet dear. There's other girl In the world
but you, as far as / am concerned"
He took her in his arms and kissed her, an
effective way of changing the subject
When he reached his rooms later on that
evening he sank into an easy-char and filled
and lit his pipe
q wish he wasn't so hot on that subject"
he murmured.
He was thinking of Kathleen's father Mr..
he was intensely proud of his family Not for
an immense fortune would he have allowed
Kathleen to engage herself to any man whose
life he knew not to have been aboveboard.
Two titles had been offered her. but Mr..
. Gresham had warned their owners of because
he knew little Of the inner history of the
lives OF the two men.
We'll. l can't help It," Dick Gresham said
presently. There's no why he should
ever find anything out about me-"
During the next few weeks he carefully led
Mr.. FanecOurt off his pet subject when be got
to it, managing to do without arousing
the elder mans suspicious.
Then came an evening when Gresham was
preparing to set out for the Fanecourts' when
his sittingroom door was opened and a girl
came in.
"Stellal" he exclaimed Il thought you were
up North"
The show bust up" she replied. THE old
man cleared out, and the ghost didn't walk.
I'd got just enough brass to pay my fare to
london and-wel, here l am"
She unpinned her hat and sat down in an
easy-chair and smiled at Gresham's expression.
Cheer up Dieky," she said. It's no ones
funeral"
He gazed helplessy at her pretty face. her
blue eyes dancing with mischief.
But Stella he said. you can't stay here"
why not?"
Il can't put you up How u"
Il don't see any reason why you can't.
Dicky Look here, I've got brilliant idea.
Take cottage on the river for me and then
you can down and spend week-ends
there"
he shook his head decidedly.
Aren't you going 10 work." he asked
"Of course ! am. old boy. reckon to get a
show in London. Monty BrgsOn told me he
would fix up"
You'd better trot along and see him at once.
then"