Waterbury evening Democrat., 1891-11-30
CHAPTER III.

CHAPTER III.
Mrs. Farwell and May went over to
Mrs. Aliens at an early hour. They
did not intend to stay late, and as this
would be the last evening it was proba-
BILE that either of them would spend
with Mrs Allen or her sister, they
thought they would go early and have
q COW little time before the others ar
rived.
May and Eva Grant, Mrs. Aliens sis
ter, were sitting in a little alcove which
was curtained off from the parlor.
They partly drew the curtains so that
their little retreat was in a deep shadow
and they themselves not perceived by
the first Corners. They sat by win
dow, which opened on to one end of the
veranda and watched the people come
up the walk to the house.
Presently few gentlemen congre-
gated on the porch at the opposite end
from them. They were discussing
purchase that Capt. Armstrong had
made that morning. 1t was beautiful
panthers skin, and the captain had
paid so high a price to get it that
great deal of curiosity was felt as to
what he meant to do with it.
The party were just about to enter
the house when Capt. Armstrong was
seen crossing the parade; they waited
for him and as he came up the steps
one of them hailed him with:
81 say, Armstrong! Where's the cats
skin? We expected nothing less than
to see it draped around your graceful
shoulders tonight"
Armstrong laughed. "Nevertheless
it's on it's way to Washington by this
time" he answered.
One of the young fellows gave a
significant whistle, and another re-
marked in a very innocent tone:
| 81 suppose it's for your uncle, the
| senator?"
Curiosity is your besetting sin, Fos-
ter" the captain answered, gravely.
Then as the young men passed into the
hall he turned with smile to Carleton,
who had come up the steps and now
stood beside him.
II knew it would delight Edith's ar
tistic soul,'' he said, land make a good
hearth rug for her new house."
81 should think SOP his friend re-
piled, ''but when are we all to present
substantial tokens of our esteem?"
"Oh about the holidays, 1 hope. I
cannot possibly go east before then"
81 suppose you will apply for long
leave?"
Eyes, rather"
Lucky dog. but, old man, don't be-
grudge you any of your privileges. You
deserve them all"
Carleton put his hand through his
friends arm and they walked to the
other end of the moonlit piazza. The
two fair eavesdroppers heard him say
something in low, earnest voice, anG
saw him grasp for moment the cap
tain'S hand.
"He is congratulating him." Eva
whispered.
"Ah me! really have got to give If
that our handsome captain has a sweet
heart in the east. 1 have half believed
all summer that it was just garrison
gossip"
May stood tp. LET us not eavesdroI
any longer. Come" she said, holding
out her hand, and together they wen
into the parlor, where anxious inquir
les were being made for them.
Meanwhile out in the moonlight Capt
Armstrong was listening to a story tolc
in boyish, impetuous way. Carleton
had begun it by saying suddenly:
Ralph, would give few years o
my life to have been in your place yes
terday but bless you just the same TO
what you did! She was under my car
and if she had been-hurt (his voice fal
tered little) would have blamed my
= self all my life"
Then sitting down he rested his ell
, bows on the railing and his chin in hi
hands, and looking away to the glim
: mering mountains told in short, i'm
pulsive sentences his story of the sum
mer, his hopes, and above all his fears
and the captain listened to him, gaze
too at the far off mountains, and whe
: he had finished wrung his hand silent
ly, finding no word of comfort for hi
friend.
. May was the center of an animate
group when the two gentlemen Ell
! tered the parlor. She had been all an
i nation before their entrance, but a
they advanced toward the sofa wher
,. she sat, she felt sudden nervousness
take possession of her. She had NEAR
= to make her greeting very kind and we
, annoyed to find how constrained it wa
= All gayety seemed suddenly to hav
!, left the little group and conversatio
= became difficult. Capt. Armstrong, to-
% seemed laboring with feeling of col
straint, and Lieut.. Carleton's gay spirit
seemed suffering from an eclipse. Afte
y a few moments the group began
- break up: perhaps the others though
that the two chief actors in what can
10 SO near being q tragedy might hay