Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1889-05-03


his voice sounded muflled, perhaps be-
cause his head was bent over the
bride he still held.
Elvira, II little ashamed OF the con-
sequences of her ebullition of temper,
but very angry still, rode sullenly
away, muttering to her victor, IL
shall report you at once"
Dorothy fingered behind TO say in
soft sweet tones:
Il must apologize for my cousin.
She is-well, she has never been used
to be thwarted in all her life"
$50 should believe"
A cynical smile curved the well-cut
Inns the only feature Dorothy could
clearly see.
''Of course | know you were only
obeying orders, and doing your duty"
Thank you"
The tone sounded sarcastic,
Miss Beauchamp was half divided
whether 10 be attracted or repealed by
this man against whom she had so
curiously drifted, but something in the
proud easy figure, the iinely-poised
head as she regarded it,
interested her insensibly; and then
her glance fell on his hand, swollen
and red now and in an agony Of shame
she cried
II am so grieved my cousin forgot
herself so strangely. Does your hand
i hope it does not-pain you much?"
The man looked down upon the
hand for some minutes before he re-
piled in odd quiet tones;
Il have borne worse than this,
thank you"
Il would bandage it if you would
let me; have some lotion"
Thanks. think | viii keep it as
memento of "A strange meet
ing" Then with swift glance into
the lovely distressed face which was
half turned aside, he added with
sudden tone in the low deep voice
which set all the girls pulses beating:
Il am grateful beyond measure for all
your kindness, it is only what | should
have expected from you, but still"
He paused abruptly, and Dorothy
leaned forward, trying to gaze into
the face she could not see, yielding to
the absorbing interest she could not
account for.
why should you have expected
anything from me?"
For answer he only saluted, and
turning away recommended his beat.
Slowly Dorothy returned to her
cousins bungalow, and found Sir
Peter and Lady Ruskin at high words.
Elvira was throwing off the burden
of her undisciplined temper upon her
husband, who was no mean hand at
retaliation.
1t made Dorothy sick to hear the
cutting bitter things they said to each
other, and so she turned from them,
this Unmatched loveless couple and
went to her room.
But Dorothy was curiously haunted
by the memory of that sentry.
What was the powerful strange in
terest that this private soldier had in
spired in her? She could not tell; but
the more she proudly fought. against it
the stronger it grew, and when the
cool Of the evening came she persuaded
one of her officer friends 10 take her
round the barracks.
The men were all sitting lounging
about in the yard and veranda, and
Dorothy scanned each bronzed face
with eager quick glance; but the man
she sought was not visible, and in dis
appointment was turning TO depart,
when she espied one solitary form sit
ting in a distant corner, and something
in the hight and grace of the figure
made her turn impetuously toward it.
Her escort was just talking to broth
er officer
Dorothy crossed the veranda with
her easy quick step, IA tall white figure
in her white embroidered robe. with
her dark soft hair and wonderful eyes.
and stood before the soldier.
lie saluted, then bent over his work
again; he was chasing in silver, and
model. an exquisite little vase, in ma
tive work, stood on the bench beside
him.
"What "a lovely little thing" Doro-
thy observed, taking it up. lis it for
sale?" She spoke more from embar-
rassment than anything else; but she
was more embarrassed when the SOL
der said impulsively:
"Do you like it? Then would you do
me the honor of accepting it, madam"
His tone was courteous and gentle
manly, but so exactly that of an equal
that sudden hauteur came to Dorothy.
In spite Of her sweetness she was
proud, almost as proud as Lady Rus
kin herself.
''Of course could not dream -"
she began coldly, and naughty little
elevation of the head completed the
sentence.
The soldier bowed as proud bow as
Dorothy herself could have given, and
went calmly on with his work: but
the girl saw the deep dusky color rise
in the bowed face. ami suddenly re-
Numbering the debt she owed TO this
man, she could not bear to hurt his
feelings.
II mean that you have already to-
day laid me under sufficient obliga-
ton, she said softly. II could not
draor,, ,f incr,osipn l.