The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1886-03-06

prove that all was not on her side only.
II could bear his being away-for year
even if he Thought it must be-if 1 coul'
but look forward-if | had the right t
look forward to his return" she said t
herself.
But the evening passes on TRANQUILITY
without word or look more than nigh
have been between real brother and sister
Kenneth talked kindly-tenderly even
Of the past; repeated more than once tn,
pleasure it had been to him to find agail
his old friend so little changed, so com
pletely his old friend still The boys cam,
in to say goodnight, and "Good-bye, alas
my lads" added their tall friend, with
sigh. "Dont forget me quite, Hal ant
Charlie, and don't let your mother forge
me either, eh ?" To which the little fel
lows replied solemnly, though hardly under
standing why he patted their curly head
with lingering hand this evening, or why
mamma looked grave at his words.
And Anne bore it all without flinching
and Smiled and talked little more thar
usual, perhaps, though all the time hel
| hCdio was pu1StiuSS,, anu hCuuCth hOuuSlCN
more than ever if, after all, she had ''much
heart or feeling to speak of
"You will be bringing back wife with
you, perhaps she said once. "Shall you
tell her about your sister Annie, Kenneth p
Major Graham looked at her earnestly
for half an instant before he replied, but
Anne's eyes were not turned toward him
and she did not see the look. And his
words almost belied it.
"Certainly, l shall tell her of you," he
said; "that is to say if she ever comes to
exist. At present few things are less
probable. Still, 1 am old enough now
never to say 'Fontaine, je ne boirai jamais
de ton eau But he went on, ~ may
return to find you married again, Anne.
You are still so young and you are rather
lonely"
'No," said Anne, with sudden fierce
ness which he had never seen in her before,
"I shall never marry again-never," and
she looked him full in the face with a
strange sparkle in her eyes which almost
frightened him.
Il beg your pardon he said meekly.
And though the momentary excitement
faded as quickly as it had come, and Anne,
murmuring some half Ineligible excuse,
was again her quiet self, this momentary
glimpse of ferier nature beneath gave
him food for reflection.
"Can Medway not have been what he
seemed on the surface after all ?" he thought
70 b;meoIe ssIVbo+ o,,, ,,,oI,o bo, .o W
dictive against matrimony?"
But it was growing late, and Kenneth
had still some last preparations to make.
He rose slowly and reluctantly from his
chair.
II must be going, fear" he said
Anne, too, had risen. They stood together
on the hearthrug. A slight, very slight,
shiver passed through her. Kenneth per-
ceived it.
"You have caught cold, fear, }" he said,
kindly. For the room was warm and the
fire was burning brightly.
"No, don't think so, she said, indif
ferently.
"You will write to me now and then ?"
he said next.
''Oh, certainly-no very often per-
haps," she replied lightly, "but now and
then. Stay and she turned away toward
her writing-table, "tell me exactly how to
address you. You namc-is your sur
name enough? There is no other Graham
in your regiment?"
"No," he said absently, II suppose not.
Yes, just my name and the regiment and
Allegheny, which will be our headquar-
ters. You might, if you were very anna
ble-you might write to Galles-a letter
overland would wait for me there" for it
was the days of '"long sea- for all troops to
India.
Anne returned to her former position on
the hearthrug moment at the table
had restored her courage ave shall
see," she said, smiling again.
Then Kenneth said once more, II must
co." but he fingered still moment.
'tYou must have caught cold, Anne, or
else you are very tired. You are so white"
and from his height above her, though
Anne herself was tall, he laid his hand on
her shoulder gently, and as brother might
have done, and looked down at her pale
face half inquiringly. A flush of color
rose for an instant to her cheeks. The
was strong upon her to throw
off that calmly caressing hand, but she re-
sisted it and looked up bravely with light
almost of defiance in her eyes.
81 am perfectly well, l assure you. But
perhaps 1 am little tired. l suppose it
is getting late
And Kenneth stifed sigh of scarcely
realized disappointment and quickly drew
back his hand.
eyes, it is late. l am very thoughtless.
Goodbye, then, Anne God bless you"
And before she had time to answer he
was gone.
Ambrose met him in the hall, with we'll
meaning officiousness bringing forward his
coat and hat. His presence helped to dis
sipate an impulse which seized Major Gra-
ham to rush up stairs for one other word
Of farewell. Had he done SO what would
he have found? Anne sobbing-with a
terrible intensity of self-contained nature
once the strain is withdrawn-sobbing in
the bitterness of her grief and the cruelty
Of her modification; with but one consola-
ton.
'At least he does not despise me. l
hid it well, she whispered to herself.
And Kenneth Graham, as he drove away
in his cab, repeated to himself, "She is SO
cold-this evening particularly. And yet,
can it be that it was to hide any other feel
ing? If L thought so-good God !" and
he half started up as if to call to the driver,
but sat down again. "No, no, 1 must not
be fool 1 could not stand repulse
from her-I could never see her again.
Better not risk it. And then | am so
poor r.
And in the hustle and hurry of his de-
parture he tried to forget the wild fancy
which for moment had disturbed him.
He sailed the next day.
But the few weeks which followed pass
ID heavily for Anne 1t was dead time
of year-there was no special necessity for
her exerting herself to throw off the over
depression, and, strong and brave
Is she was, she allowed herself to some ex-
.ent to yield to it.
eff only he had not come back-if l
Il 4 j