The Van Buren press., 1895-08-31
~ ,uros.ible II vould be for his

y
how impossible II would be for his
love and loyalty ever to wane. Ana
now it lay within his power to make
her quite as happy again. He began
10 feel almost magnanimous In the
thought of what he was giving up and
how he meant to rejoice her tender
heart. He found his step growing
quicker as it turned back along the
path toward the great house.
/ On the lawn he found them gathered,
watching a game of tennis; and, alert
and swift and rosy, Eleanor darted
here and there across the court or sent
the balls swift and straight into her
opponents field.
Cad she plays agood gamer young
Carter called out. admiringly.
"She hadn't peer in our little club
in New York" Lieut.. Thorne said, with
enthusiasm.
Gray turned away somewhat dis
quieted He would have preferred her
in sadder mood. He would wait until
the end of the game and take her
stroll along the bluffs. But at the end
of the game. by some preconcerted plan,
she and her naval friend repaired to
the cool drawing room for special
little visit with Mrs. Carter. Graham
could hear the quiet convers alton and
the occasional soft little peals OF
laughter, from where he sat upon the
wide veranda. BY the time they
sauntered out he had reached that
hypercritical state where everything
| about this handsome officer with his
fine figure, his soft manners, and his
rare smile, struck him disagreeably.
| He was quite sure he didn't care to see
| Ell eanor now, or to talk with her. 1t
was just as we'll; for dinner was
presently announced. and as they were
assigned their dinner-seats and Miss
Field was cozily ensconced between
her friend Tom and the lieutenant.
there would ha We been small chance
| for HIM q q y -
There was no denying the fact that
he, Harlowe Graham, the cool, the
polished, the irresistible, was in q
plain, everyday fit Of the sulks. The
young moon was hardly risen over the
willow-fringed river, and the rockets
beginning to sing through the rose
colored air, ere he betook himself to
the further end of the piazza, there to
tread gloomily back and forth, angrily
resolving to s'have it out with Eleanor
on the homeward trip, and to tell her
exactly what he thought of her "un-.
blushing Irritation" with Lieut.
| Thorne.
In the meantime, that obnoxious
person, usually the most reserved OF
men, was detailing to the little girl in
gray all the long, long thoughts that
had haunted him since an evening,
weeks before. when she had put sud-
den end to the hopes burning high
within him.
"And this fortunate fellow whom
can't help wanting to bayonet, Miss
Eleanor, where is he?"
Here" said Eleanor, with
pathetic little gesture, and then, in
answer to his look of amaze: Il think
it was all a-mistake. He-did not
care; and now, believe-I do not care,
myself" The man was looking at her
in kind of stupefaction, and she went
on hurriedly: 81 don't understand it
or myself. How can l tell you?
think must be very shallow and very
fickle; for at first l thought it would
break my heart, but now"
Now" he interrupted, and his eyes
sought her own as If to read the very
soul in them-''now. Eleanor, is II
ruffian who has tormented you SO long
because his life was so intolerable q
J thing without you?"
She did not speak at once, but hel
trembling little fingers touched his
own with sudden impulse o1
gratitude and fervor. "You are 81
good, so good!" she said, her sweet
, voice choking. There is no one like
you-no. not one-so grand, so strong
so worthy the best love-and the frst!'
He held the little fingers close
''Eleanor, sweet" he said, 'if l wiz
your love, however tardy, pray
heaven shall be made worthy SO un
, speakably precious gift"
The deep voice rang with earnest
, ness; and when she lifted her tear-we
, eyes to his face there was shining il
their limpid depths light he hat
never seen there before.
The rest of that evening was like {
dream. The pyrotechnics over, Eleanor
: sang for them; and standing off across
the room, his eyes feasting upon hel
: sweet and radiant face, as did all hi
sense of sound and melody upon hel
t liquid notes, Lieut.. Thorne felt that {
} kindly providence had united all IT.
! best girls In this one adorable maiden
, and that in her, indeed, was nothing
more to be desired.
From the dimness of the cool verand;
another man looked ong amazed pas
/! all expression at the power and sweet
ness of that voice as it set his pulse
: tingling. What an easy, graceful, self
possessed little lady it was, too; ant
: what perfect control she had of ever.
tone ringing clear and bird-like on tn
air. He tried to remember the simple
ity and shyness which he had alway
, thought characterized her. Their
. seemed to be not trace of it left. He
very gown, that soft, gray affair, sill
, very in the white lamp-light, had Ger
| tain tone and elegance about it tina
' struck him oddly. Evidently, to thi
> self-poised and accomplished younl
: woman he mustapply other argument
and persuasions than those he hat
| planned so easily few hours before
He waited in sort of frenzy Of impa
5 t.ence for the time of their leave
, taking.
; When at last they were gathered il
the soft moonlight, ready to clambe'
into the noisy littla tug. be reached