led.

"And now?"

At her question he dismissed all thought of jealousy. Looking into her
clear, half-laughing eyes, he read of no entangling alliances; without
words from her, he understood.

"Shall we go into the garden?" she said, and, opening the window, they
stepped out upon the veranda.

In the sky a single large cloud stretched itself in a dreamy torpor,
too sluggish, apparently to move, while a brood of little clouds
nestled and slept around it. From the window, the count's ally watched
them, among the plants and vines, pausing now and then; their interest
more in themselves than in the liveliest hues or forms that nature
offered. He stood still, regarding his shadow on the path seriously.

"Nearly noon by the soldier's dial!" he said.

She pushed back the hair the wind had blown about her brow.

"My boat sails in an hour," he continued.

"But--you are not--going--now?"

"If I stay, it must be--"

"Forever!" she said. "Forever!"

* * * * *

"Have you heard the news?" said Susan to the count.

"Secular?" drawled the erstwhile emissary. He was in ill-humor, having
called three times on Constance, who had been excused on all these
occasions.

"Not necessarily," replied she, with the old familiar toss of the
head. "Saint-Prosper has come back, and he's going to marry
Constance!"

"Eh? What? I don't be--Who told you?" demanded the count, sharply.

"Well, you needn't take my head off! She did, if you want to know."

"Miss Carew?"

"Herself!"

The nobleman lolled back in his chair, a dark look on his face. Here
were fine hopes gone a-glimmering!

"_Pardie!_ the creditors will have to wait awhile," he thought. "And
I--I have been a dunce, dancing attendance all these days! I had hoped
to marry wealth and beauty. What did I come over here for? The demned
country's barren of everything!"

"Isn't it delightful they should meet after such a long time?" rattled
on Susan, gaily. "So romantic! And then they were exactly suited for
each other. Dear me,"--enthusiastically--"I have taken such an
interest in them, I almost feel as if I had brought it all about."

THE END

A LIST OF RECENT FICTION OF THE BOWEN-MERRILL COMPANY

AN INTERESTING STORY OF FAMILY LIFE.

THE FIGHTING BISHOP

By HERBERT M. HOPKINS

"The Fighting Bishop" is drawn with firm, bold strokes and with a
sufficiently scholarly atmosphere to make the picture life like. There i