The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1919-01-23
CHAPTER SIX (Contlnued.)

loS, LuuCSu, "io.
ham ratified on; "and | said to
our dear Count: We must run
over at once; there may be some.
thing we can do for the saddened
ones
"Thank YOU" and had a mar
BILE statue been given vocal pow,
ers the effect would have been
much the same.
Dear friend" continued the
unabashed visitor, 81 know how
overcome you must be-
~ am not overcome at ALL"
said Pauline, rising, and deter.
mined to hear no more; "and ]
must beg to be excused, Mrs.
rockingham, as | have many mat
tiers to attend to this morning"
"Ah, yes, of course you have.
We will not detain you. The
Count and l merely called for a
moment to inquire"
Eyes, / quite understand. Miss
Frayne will be pleased to answer
your inquiries. Thank you both,
and-good morning"
With a polite but distant bow
Pauline left the room; and, as
Count Charlier sprang to hold the
door open for her, he after a mo.
ment's hesitation followed her out,
GA moment, / beg, Miss Stu.
art" he said as they reached the
hall. "You are offended at Mrs
Frothingham's intrusion, but have
mot a right to calls. Was I not
such a friend Of Miss Darlington
as to justify this tribute of re.
spect to her memoryY"
Certainly, Count" and Paul
inc grew a shade kinder, "but ]
am not sufficiently acquainted
with your friend to receive hel
visits" ~r~
"Ah, no.. That is conceded. But
L pray you, tell me of the sad af.
fair. I have heard no details
That is, unless you would rather
not"
"No, / am not unwilling. You
were a good friend of Aunt Lucy's
she was fond of you, and / am
kglad to talk to some one. Let us
sit here" Pauline indicated a re,
cessed seat in the, hall and the pair
sat there. She recounted briefly
the story of the tragedy and the
Count was duly sympathetic. Paul.
inc watched him closely, and dis
cerned great interest but little
grief or sorrow.
"A burglar, of course" said the
Count hearing Of the cruel weap-
on. "How could anyone attack
the charming lady, And the mar
yelous jewels she wore! they
were, of course, stolen?"
"No; that's the strange part.
They were not"
"Ah, how Splendid" and his
absorbed air of satisfaction gave
Pauline a thrill Of disgust at his
cold bloodedness. "And now they
are all yoursf Those magnificent
gems3"
"!The property, most Of it, is
divided between my cousin and
myself"
"Your consin9 Mr.. Haviland2''
"No; he is a distant connection
I mean my first cousin, Mr.. Loria,
now in Egypt"
"Ah, yes, I have heard Miss
Darlington refer to him. He will
come homeY"
81" do not know. We have
cabled, of course. Count Charlier
do you remember hearing my aunt
say last evening that she expected
something to happen to herr"
81 remember, Miss Stuart"
"Have you any idea what She
meantf"
"IR But how could / know3'
ANSWER my question, please
The Counts eyes fell, and he
shifted his feet about uneasily. Al
last he said: sit is not pleasant
to say such things; but, since you
ask, I may be permitted to assume
that the late Miss Darlington had
a regard for my humble self"
"And she expected, she-hoped
that her regard might be re.
turned2"
1T may be So"
"And that last night you might
tell her sol"
"You honor me-"
"Did you tell her SOL"
"I did not, Miss Stuart. Wha,
might have happened had she
lived I cannot say, but / did not
last evening say any word to Miss
Darlington of my aspiration tx
her hand"
"Did you say anything thai
cfC,ld have haau taken as n him