Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1919-05-06
A NEIGHBOURS CALL

A NE1GHBOR'S CALL
ooh. is 1t not terrible? what oar
! say to comfort youx'
Mrs. Frothingham's distressed tone,
land her air Of eager, intense SYM
patty met with little response from
Pauline. 4
Haviland had been called from The
room on an errand and Anfta's will,
ingness to receive the neighbours con.
doiences did not seem acceptable
The overdressed, forward-mannered
widow continued to direct her atten-
ton entirely to Pauline, and tina,
young woman merely surveyed her
visitor coolly and replied in monosyl-
Thanks" she said, and her icy air
would have deterredFa less determined
intruder.
II simply couldn't help running
over as soon as I heard the. dreadful
news. For we are neighbors after all,
though not so very well acquainted;
and neishbors have q camaraderie Of
their own. ], think"
"Yes?' said Pauline, and her eye
Ids fell slightly, with an expression of
N"Yes, indeed" Mrs. rockingham
ratified on; "and 1 said to our dear
Count, Ne must run owe at once.
there may BE- sonoething we can do
for the saddened ones"
Thank you;" and had a marble
statue been given vocal powers the eff
Dear friend" continued the un-
abashed visitos, Il know how over
come you must be-"
II am not overcome at ALL said
Pauline. rising, and determined to
hear no-lnoreH :, .'and I must beg to be
excused, Mrs. rockingham, ash. have
many matters to attend to this morn
ing" \ /.
will not idetain you. The Count and II
merely called for a moment to in
eyes, I quite understand. Miss
Frayne will. be pleased to answer your
inquiries: Thank you both. and
With a polite but distant bow,
Pauline left the room. ana as tCount
spranR to hold the door open
for her, he, after a moments hesita-
ton, followed her out. 2
"a moment, I beg, Miss stuart. he
afe offended at Mrs. ErothinghIrn'a
intrusion. but have I not a right TO
call? Was I not such . friend Of Miss
Darlington a. to justify this tribute Of
respect to her memory"
Certainly. Count" and Pauline
grew a shade kinder, 'but I am not
sufficiently ACQUAINTED with your
friend to receive her visits"
"Ah. no. That is conceded. but, I
pray you. tell me Of the sad affair. : I
have heardsno details-that Is, unless
you would rather not"
mo, I am no unwilling. You were
a good friend. of Aunt Bucy's-she
was fond Of you. and I I'M glad. to
talk to some ones Let US sit here,
Pauline indicated. a recessed seat in.
the hall Inc the, pair sat there, She
recoupted briefly the story of the
tragedy and the Count was duly SYM
pathetic, Pauline watched him close
y. and discerned' great interest but
little, grief or sorrow.
"A burglar, of course" said the
Count hearing Of the cruel weapon.
How could my one attack the
charming lady! And the marvellous
jewels she wrote! They were, Of
course, stolen?" 81
"No; that's the strange part. They
were not
"Ah, how splendid!" and his alb
.sorbed air Of satisfaction gave Pauline
a thrill Of disgust at his cold blobded-
ness; ~ nA aea,a ng they sy,! are all yours'sf
- AooO AA06A1AAINSNA -6OAAto . ,sT t-
THE property, most Of it, is divided
between my cousin and myself"
Your cousin? MI. Haviland"
"No; he is but d distant connection.
I mean my first cousin, Mr.. Loria,
now in Egypt" <
".Ah. yes, 1 have heard Miss Car
rington refer to him. He will come
Il, do not know. We have cabled Of
course. Count Charlisr, do you re-
member hearing my aunt say, last
evening, hat she expected something
to happen to herr"
IT remember, Miss Stuart"
"HaY you IN idea what she
II? But how could / know?"
Answer my question, please"
The Counts eyes fell, and she shift
ed his feet about uneasily. At last he
said: ut ID not pleasant to say such
things, but since you Nask, / may be
permitted to assume that the, late
Miss Darlington had q regard Aor my
humble self"
"And, she expected, she-hopsd that
her regard might b returned" XII
And that last night you might tell
you honor me.r
2 did you tell her so :? ~
II did not, Miss stuart, What
might have happened had The liysdf1
c~annotTsay, but I did hots last ever
ming, SAY any word TO- Mrs earring