Cupid's Understudy, Page 4

  But the sweetest thing to me of all that wonderful evening was tosee the love and gratitude in Blakely's eyes when he looked at hismother; for a man who doesn't love his mother misses much, and Ilove Blakely so tenderly, I couldn't bear to have him miss the lastthen that makes for contentment and happiness.

  Chapter Eleven

  When I awoke, late next morning, it was to find myself, if notfamous, at least conspicuous; in the Los Angeles newspaper Valentinebrought me with my coffee, much space was devoted to the ducaldinner.

  GRAND DUKE SMASHES CHAMPAGNE GLASSES

  Miss Middleton Toasted in Truly Royal Fashion by DistinguishedNephew of Russia's Reigning Czar.

  Brilliant Dinner Reaches Climax in Shower of Costly Crystal WhileHostess Smiles Approval.

  Disgusting as it was, I couldn't help laughing at the pen-and-inksketch which accompanied it--a sketch of the duke, with crownedhead, and breast covered with decorations, smiling fatuously fromwithin a rakish border of broken champagne glasses.

  But there was worse to come. On another page under the heading:

  WHIRLWIND WOOING WINS WESTERN GIRL

  a distorted Cupid supported pictures of Blakely and me, whilebeneath our pictures, a most fulsome chronicle of untruths waspresented. "Mr. Porter first met his fiancee on shipboard.....Being of that fine old New York stock which never takes 'no' for ananswer, he followed her to Santa Barbara..... If rumor is to becredited, the Grand Duke Alexander, as well as Cupid, was concernedin this singularly up-to-date love affair..... Mr. Porter's sister,the Countess de Bienville, is a well-known leader in exclusiveParisian circles..... Miss Middleton an only daughter of ThomasMiddleton, the mining magnate..... Although slightly indisposed,His Imperial Highness granted an interview to our representativelate last evening. If the time-worn adage, in vino veritas, is to bebelieved; it is certain that the wedding will not only take placesoon, but that the favorite nephew of the Czar of all the Russiaswill himself appear in this charming romance of throbbing hearts,playing the role of best man."

  It was really too dreadful; my cheeks burned with mortification andanger.

  People had assured me the horrid little American newspaper publishedin Paris was not typical of America--that it was no more than a paidpanderer to seekers after notoriety. Yet here in California, my owndear California, a newspaper had dared print my picture without myconsent, had thrown its ugly light on the sweet story of my loveserving it up in yellow paragraphs for the benefit of the bootblack,the butcher, the waiter in cheap restaurants. What a hideous world!

  Pleading a sick headache, I stayed in my room till tea time.

  We had tea at five, Blakely and I, on the roof of the hotel. Ilooked across the channel to the distant islands, followed the sweetcontour of the shore, watched the aimless flight of sea-gulls;turning, I scanned the friendly hills, the mountains painted in thetender colors of late afternoon--I looked into Blakely's eyes. Itwas a beautiful world, after all. "Let's try and forget that awfulnewspaper," I said.

  "I forgot it long ago, dear."

  "You also seem to have forgotten that some one may appear anyminute."

  "Let's try and forget that some one may appear any minute."

  "I can't."

  "You shouldn't say 'I can't,' Elizabeth; you should say 'I'll try'."

  It is really surprising what one can do when one tries.

  Chapter Twelve

  "What would we have done with-out the duke`?" I murmured a momentlater.

  "There's a more important question than that to be answered," saidBlakely; "we have still to decide what we shall do with the duke."

  "I don't understand."

  "It's my charming way of breaking news gently, sweetheart."

  "Bad news?"

  "Not exactly. It may annoy you."

  "It annoys me that you seems afraid to tell it," I said.

  "I'm not afraid, not the least bit. I'm a little ashamed, though.You see mother is....."

  "Don't dare adopt an apologizing attitude towards your mother.Hasn't she done everything in the world for us?"

  "There are some things one would rather do for oneself, girlie. Ihad quite set my heart on Perry Arnold being best man at ourwedding."

  "And so he shall be."

  "I wrote him a week ago, and his answer came this morning. He wasdelighted, poor chap! He's in Denver, now, and could be here inthree days." "You won't need him for three months," I warned. "Butwhy can't you have him, dear?"

  "Because mother has already engaged the duke in that capacity."

  "Not really?"

  "It's the gospel truth. Perry will think me no end of a snob. Iwon't know what explanation to make."

  "Nonsense! I'll explain it to him myself."

  "Then you feel I ought to accept mother's arrangements?"

  "You must, if it will make her happy."

  "She assured me she would be most miserable if I didn't."

  "Then it's settled," I said.

  "That's not all, Elizabeth; the duke is sailing for Japan on thetwenty-sixth of February."

  "And this is the twentieth!" I gasped.

  "Yes, sweetheart. And mother has arranged our wedding for thetwenty-fourth."

  I was silent from sheer indignation.

  "I told mother you wouldn't like it. But will you.....? Do you.....?Would you mind very much being married on the twenty-fourth?"

  "Would you mind?" I asked.

  "Mind? I should love it above everything! Life is so uncertain, eachday is so precious, and I've waited so long for you, Elizabeth."

  "You've only known me a little over a month."

  "But I've waited years for you;"

  "Yes," I said, "I believe you have: It shall be as you wish, dear."

  And then, as a woman's greatest happiness lies in making the man sheloves happy, and as no one ever looked so radiantly happy asBlakely, I was so glad I had said "yes," I didn't know what to do.

  But Blakely knew exactly what to do; he kissed me.