The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1895-11-06

offered the captain chair. and mo-
ment later bolted across the hall to per-
form similar services III oyerhauling
and dusting Mr.. Randolph's possessions.
Left to himself, Rolfe wearily turned
10 the mantel, and without show of in
terest glanced over the various photo
graphs there displayed. They were
mainly of army friends, young fellows
in whom he felt slight interest at any
time and none at all now. Sowere those
in the basket on the round table. Brew
ster was popular, if one We're to judge
by the array of pictures that had been
sent 10 him by their prototypes. Then
there was large, handsome album lying
open on the desk near the window.
Turning hstlessly thither Rolfe gave
shrug Of the shoulders, something al
most ike a shudder, at sight of the pho
tograph which lay uppermost, a cabinet
portrait, highly FURNISHED and finished,
of an exuberant woman in evening dress.
In that neighborhood everybody knew
her by sight. He himself had received
invitations in her hand to lunch or to
dinner. He knew the writing Of the
note that lay beside the album, first page
uppermost. He would have had no eyes
at all had he not seen the Carroll, mon
ami" with which it began. With
shiyer of disgust he whirled over page
of the album. as though TO cover and
hide the beguiling face, the betraying
words, and then Brewster came bound
ing back and in. Rolfe's hand was still
on the album as he turned to face him.
The eyes of the two men met, and
again Brewster flushed holly. He re-
membered that only in the mornings
mail had the large packet arrived con-
tanning this unasked for and unexpected
addition to his portrait gallery. He had
not opened it until after court-had not
more than glanced at the photograph
even then, beautiful as it was from an
artistic point of view. Then that note,
and that idiotic, semisentimental begin
ming, She had never called him Car
roll, but in certain eyasive, insinuating,
in-well, we have no word for 1t in all
tiie vocabulary of the United States-in
a way he could not but see and could
not find way TO object to, she had been
lately yerging in that direction. 1t was,
,,Sow, Mr., Carroll Brewster" or .'my
good friend Carroll" or "Sir Carroll"
or in some way Carroll; but here was
an out and out Carroll, the first OF the
kind, 4 month before he might not
have finched; now be shrank from the
mere idea of familiarity of the faintest
kind. He had been striving TO cut loose
from her in every possible way, but hers
was friendship that "clung closer than
brother" and Just as sure as shooting
Rolfe must have seen that Internal pic
ture, those misleading words. Brewster
read il in Rolfe's calm brown eyes, but
he would not discuss matters with him,
much less stoop to explain.
You wish TO see me, captain. VIII
you take a se3t:'
s.No. What / have to asl; need occ 5py
but little time. and the call viii sound
in 4 moment or two. am going to ask
you question, and as man 10 man |
want you to answer it." He paused, rs
though awaiting submissive reply.
..And the question: asked Brewster,
finally and nnyielding.
Il was in hopes you would ~ me
Of a readiness TO answer. Wh-. Jever
have been the differences between US in
the past, you can never accuse me Of
having pried into your affairs. and the
question wish 10 ask is one of deep i'm
portance to myself, and its answer can
not, | believe. unpleasantly involve you"
And still Brewster stood silent, the blue
eyes looking straight into the brown.
Il will not prolong matters unnecessa-
.ily. What l desire TO know, Mr.. Brew
sicr, is this: Have you or have yOu not
some knowledge OF the past history Of
Sergeant Ellis:"
Pardon me, Captain Rolfe, but do
pot see how that can concern you III the
least"
Il have stated substantially that il
did, was the quiet reply, after a mo
ments thought. 1T concerns me very
deeply. | need to know something of
his antecedents. ] have reason to ask,
and repeat my question"
There was a painful pause. Then
| Brewster spoke firmly:
captain Rolfe. it is a question re-
| fuse TO answer"
Continued Nert IToeE)