The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-05-16

aIv,-that Il q pretty name Tor it,
coIonel Severn stayed TO luncheon
xith them. but left almost Immediately
afterward. He had business letters to
write, and shut himself up In his study
10 finish them directly he reached home.
But he found his thoughts wandering
very often, si.d face coming between
him and the paper scattered ali his
ideas. 1t was always the same face, yer
In different moods. Ellen Warde smiL
ing. Ellen Warde In tears, or inscrutable
as q sphinx, with far-seeing absent eyes
and parted speechless lips.
What was the fascination she possess
ed for himf He could not tell; but he
realized with some excitement and .
little fear that the attraction she exer-
cised was growing stronger every hour,
and that, II he meant to combat II, he
must do 80 at once, before 1t com
pletely mastered him.
Should he go away2 Charlie was not
to join him for another week. but he
could meet him somewhere; and the boy
would probably not object TO month In
Paris instead Of being in the country.
Two or three hours had been spent In
doubt and hesitation, and only half his
letters were written, when a cheerful
voice was heard outside some one cali
ing out to know where the colonel was
and the next moment the door was
thrown open, and Charlie, travel-stained
but radiant, stood before him.
~ am here before you expected me,
sir" he explained, after cordial hand
shake. 1.-THE fact is, / grew tired Of
old Browns pressing; and then wante.l
to see the new inheritance"
you've not come before you are
welcome, my boy" answered the colo
mel, warmly. . have been wanting
you very much indeed"
And ] hope you will want to keep me
now that you have me, sir.'
9 expect that you will get so sick Of
the dullness OF Littlehaven that you will
be glad enough to get away, even to
work and Mr.. Brown
No fear Of that! met the loyeiiest
girl ! ever saw as | came up from the
station. You know,(of course, there
was nothing to meet me there 50 bor-
rowed pony from the station-master.
Such an old crock-I thought / should
mt get here before dark . Well, the
reins were over his neck, and / was
hurrooshing him along, when we came
round a corner sharply; and the pony
saw something that made him stop dead
and sent me nearly over his head.
When recovered, saw that it was .
girl sketching at an easel and an old
man who was with her began to laugh
like anything and so did she. So did
l ; for thought it best to join In the
joke, though |. was against myself. /
know / must have been queer figure to
look at, with my arms filing round like
the sails of windmill, fourishing my
hat and stick-for did not like actually
to hit the poor old beast; and then my
legs were nearly touching the ground
it was such a little beggari don't re-
greet 1t either, by Jove, for 1t gave me an
excuse to stop and speak to those peo-
plel The man, thin, tall, and with
white hair looks like an American, and
the girl-she was lovely simply love-
.y!" he concluded, softly.
They are my tenants--they occupy
the Dover House," said the father,
somewhat soberly.
Oh, that is charmingi Then you
will take me there tomorrow, and intro
duce me properly. / want to see her
again, and remove the ridiculous i'm
preston must have made. How she
did laugh and showed such pretty
teeth And then what eyesl Father,
did you ever see such eyes ?"
Colonel Severn smiled family, possibly
in mute depreciation Of the boys rap
lures. He was busy putting up his
papers apparently, but In reality was
merely shutting them backward and
forward aimlessly. Charlie ratified on in
an easy unembarrassed manner about his
experiences abroad, his journey down,
and a dozen other mtters.
He was good blocking young fellow,
tall and broad-shouldered, with fair
curling her. His eyes were bright blue,
and gave winning softness of express
sion to his square-jawed face. But In
his manner lay his great charm-the
happy audacity with which he always
took it for granted that he was welcome,
his ready sympathy and unvarying
brightness. He was so good-hearted
that all who knew him loved him, and
forgave in him what in others they
might have condemned.
Severn felt old and prosy in the pres
ence Of his sons youth and exuberant
spirits. 1t seemed to him that the mad
ness of the past two days was thing to
be ashamed Of and to be jealousy hid
den away. He knew that he loved or
was learning to love Ellen Warde; but
fortunately he was warned in time, and
it was not too late to stihe the passion
the folly Of which was SO clear to him
now. What chance had he with his gray
hairs and spent life against Charles
handsome face and winning ways? But,
even had he more in his favor, the sit
uation was untenable in its indignity.
It was impossible, utterly impossible,