The Caucasian. (Clinton, N.C.) 188?-1913, 1890-11-27

riyai-aii the while, too, looking shyly
up in his eyes Us her fingers worked; /
when Ii was seen that she presently de- |
taehed 1t from the button and then, half /
hesitatingly, but evidently in compliance |
with his wishes, handed it to him: when |
he was seen to toss !. carelessly-cven |
contemptuousiy-away and then bend |
down lower, as though gazing into her |
shaded eyes, Mrs. Lawrence could stand |
1t no longer
"Mr. Graham. said she, isn't your
friend. Dir. Perry, something of flirt?'
"Whof-Ned?' asked Mr.. Graham, in
well feigned amaze and with sudden
glance towards the object Of his inquiry.
"How on earth should / know anything
about iE OF course you do not seek ex-
pert testimony IN asking me. He tries,
suppose, to adapt himself to circum-
stances. But why do you ask?'
Because see that he has been induc-
ing Mrs. Belknap to take off that little
tassel on the button of his cap. He has
worn it when off duty ever since he
came; and we supposed it was something
he cherished; know she did"
Graham broke forth in peal of merry
laughter, but gave no further reply, for
their chairs. and, sauntering over to the
hammock, brought mighty relief to Bel
KNAPP at the whist table and vexation Of
spirit to his pretty wife. The filtration
was broken at most interesting point,
and Perry, rising suddenly, came over
and Joined Mrs. Lawrence
If she expected to see him piqued or
annoyed at the interruption and some
what perturbed in manner, she was
greatly mistaken. Nothing could have
been more sunshiny and jovial than the
greeting he gave her. A laughing apol-
ogy to Graham for spelling his tete-a-
tete was accomplished in moment, and
then down by her side he sat and plunged
into merry description of his expert
ences at dinner, where he had been
placed next to the chaplain's wife on the
one hand, and she had been properly ag-
grieved at his attentions to Mrs. Belknap
on the other.
"You must remember that Mrs. Wells
is very strict Presbyterian, Mr.. Perry;
and, for that matter, none OF us have
seen dinner such as the colonel gave us
this evening for ever and ever so long.
We are quite unused to the ways Of
civilization; whereas you have just come
from the east-and long leave. Perhaps
it is the fashion to be all devotion to
ones next door neighbor at dinner"
"Not if she be as repellent and vener-
able as Mrs. Wells, assure you. Why,
I thought she would have been glad to
leave the table when, after having re-
fused sherry and Pontet-C Canet for up
wards of an hour, her glass was filled
with champagne when she happened to
I be looking tho other way"
cit is the first dinner of the kind she
has ever seen here, Mr.. Perry, and
don't suppose either Mr.. or Mrs. Wells
has been up so late before in years. He
would have enjoyed staying and watch
ing Whist, but she carried him off almost
as soon as we left the table. Our society
has been very dull, you know-only our
| selves at the post all this last year, and
| nobody outside of it."
''One would suppose that with all this
| magnificent cattle range there would be
some congenial people ranching near
| you. Are there none at all?'
absolutely none! There are some
| ranches down in the Washita country,
but only one fine one near us; and that
might as well be on the other side of the
Atlantic. No one from there ever
comes here; and DR.. Quin Is the only
living soul in the garrison who ever got
within the walls of that ranch. What
he saw there he positively refuses to tell,
despite all our entreaty."
"You don't tell me there's q ranch
with mystery here near Rossiter!" ex-
claimed Mr.. Perry, with sudden interest.
"Why, do. indeed! Is it possible
you have been here two whole weeks
and haven't heard of Dunraven Ranch?'
"rve heard there was such thing; /
saw it from distance when out hunting
the other day. But what's the mystery!
what's the matter with it?'
"That's what we all want to know
and. cannot find out. Now, there is ar
exploit worthy your energy and bes1
efforts, Mr. Perry. There Is a big
wealthy, well stocked ranch, the finest
homestead buildings, we are told, in al
this part of Texas. They say it Is beau
tifully ftlrnished-that it has fin,
library, grand piano, all manner O
things indicative of culture and refine
ment among its occupants-but the own
er only comes around once or twice I
year, and is an iceberg of an English
man. All the people about the rancl
are. English, too, and the most repellent
boorish, discourteous lot of men you eve
saw. When the Eleventh were her
they did everything they could to b
! civil to them, but not an Invitation
would they accept, not one would the,
textend; and so from that day to thi
none of the officers have had any inter
course with the people at the ranch, AM
the soldiers know very little more. Ono
or twice year some very ordinary look
| ing men arrive who are said to be yer,
distinguished people-in England; bu
they remain only a little while, and g
away as suddenly as they came"
ssAnd you have never seen any @
thern?"
"Never, except at distance. No
has any one of the officers, except D1
Quin."
"And you have never heard anythin
about the inmates and why they kee
up this policy of exciusiveness"
1--WE have heard all manner Of thing
some of them wildly romantic, som
mysteriously tragic, and all Of them
| probably, absurd. At all events, Cap
| Lawrence. has told s1le did not wis
ne TO relseat what had heard, or to
concerned in any way with the storit
/ afloat; 81, you must ask somebody els
Try the sioctos. To.change the subjec
] Dir. Perry. ser you have lost that my
, terious little silken braid and tassei yo
; wore On yoar cap button. l fancie
: there was some romance attached to ]
: and now it is gone"
Perry laughed, his blue eyes twinklir
q with fun. IF / will tell you how an
= where got that tassel, win you tell n