The Washington herald., 1920-08-27
CONTINUED FROM PAGE ONE.

took US, and took us back. !
thought sure papa and Fernando
would fight duel. Papa has a liv-
cry business--in P'kipsee. you
know.
Finally. papa came round, all
right, and said we might be mar
ried next spring. Fernando showed
him proofs of his title and wealth
and then went over TO Italy to get
the castle fxed up for US. Papa's
very proud, and when Fernando
wanted to give me several thou
sand dollars for my troussesu he
called him down something awful.
He wouldn't even let me take a
ring or any presents from him.
And when Fernando sailed / came
to the city and got position as
cashier in a candy store.
Three days ago / got letter
from Italy, forwarded from P'kip-
see, saying that. Fernando had
been killed in a gondola accident.
That is why / am in mourning.
My heart, Mr.. Donovan. will re-
main forever in his grave. 1 guess
am poor company. Mr.. Donovan,
but I cannot take any interest in
no one. l should not care to keep
you from gayety and your friends
who can smile and entertain you.
Perhaps you would prefer to walk
back to the house?"
Now, girls, II you want to OBJ
serve a young man hustle out af-
ter a pick and shovel, just tell
him that your heart is in some
other fellows grave. Young men
are grave-robbers by nature. Ask
any widow. Something must be
done to restore that missing or
gan to weeping angels in crepe de
chine. Dead men certainly get
the worst of it from all sides.
I'm awful sorry" said Mr.. Dom
ovan. gently. NO. we won't walk
back to the house just yet. And
don't say you haven't no friends
in this city, Miss Conway. I'm
awful sorry. and l want you to
believe I'm your friend, and that
I'm awful sorry"
"Tv got his picture here in my
locket." said Miss Conway, after
wiping her eyes with her hand
kerchief. 81 never showed it to
anybody; but / will to you. Mr..
Donovan. because 1 believe you to
be a true friend"
Mr.. Donovan gazed long and
with much interest at the photo
graph in the locket that Miss
Conway opened for him. The face
Of Count Mazzini was one to com
mand interest. 1t was a smooth.
intelligent, bright. almost a hand
some face-the face Of a strong,
cheerful man who might well be a
leader among his fellows.
Il have a larger one, framed, in
my room" said Miss Conway.
when we return ! will show you
that. They are all l have to re-
mind me OF Fernando. But he
will ever be present in my heart
that's a sure thing"
A subtle task confronted Mr.
Donovan-that of suppIanting the
unfortunate Count in the heart Of
Miss Conway. This his admira-
tion for her determined him to do
But the magnitude of the under
taking did not seem to weigh
upon his spirits. The sympathetic
but cheerful friend was the role
he essayed; and he played it so
successfully that the next halt
hour found them cOnveTsing pen
sively across two plates Of ice
cream, though yet there was nc
diminutiOn of the sadness in Miss
Conway's large gray eyes.
Before they parted in the hall
that evening she ran upstairs and
brought down the framed photo
graph wrapped lovingly in a white
silk scarf. Mr.. Donovan surveyed
it with inscrutable eyes.
He gave me this the night he
. left for Italy" said Miss Conway
Il had the one for the loCket made
from this"
"A fine-looking man" said Mr.
Donovan, heartily. How would 1t
suit you. Miss Conway. to give
me the pleasure of your company
to Coney next Sunday afternoon"
A month later they announced
their engagement to Mrs. Scott
and the other boarders. Miss Con-
way continued to wear black.
A week after the announcement
the two sat on the same bench in
the downtown park. while the
fiuttering leaves of the trees
made a dim kinetoscopic picture
OF them in the moonlight. But
Donovan had worn a look of alb
stracted gloom all day. He was
so silent tonight that loves lips
could not keep back any longer
the questions that loves heart
propounded.
whats the matter. Andy. you
arc so solemn and grouchy to-
night?"
Nothing, Maggie"
Il know better. Can't | tell,
You never acted this way before
What is it?"
It's nothing much, Maggie"
Yes, it is; and 1 want to know
I'll bet it's some other girl you
are thinking about. All right
Why don't you go get her if you
want her? Take your arm away
if you please"
I'll tell you, then" said Andy
wisely, but I guess you won't
understand it exactly. You've
heard of Mike Sullivan, haven't
you? Big Mike Sullivan. every
body calls him"
No. I haven't" said Maggie