Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-06-28
HE AND SHE,

Langdon Chace, country house, wit
messed their meeting. He was ON sick leave
from India, known to few but his hostess,
who found herself quite unable co stem
the stream setting in against him.
His silence, his languor, his indiffer-
ence, all stamped him as lawful prey to
the company, with youth flushing their
veins, with the creed that one should min
lister to the amusement of the many. In
one way or another he should add to the
"sport."
Why he staid was a mystery. He was
suspected of n resolve to 'see it out" In
spite of present inertia whisper of ian
awkward temper" gained ground.
She had held aloof. Only II, with the
intoxication of a dawning sense of beauty,
yet the woman chivalry felt pang. He
was inofrensive. Jungle fever must be
"rather nasty" If she had dared, she
might have offered friendliness.
At last-the whole reckless crowd Of
men had burst down his door, breaking in
on q hardly wooed fevcrsh sleep-the gray
eyes flashed under their heavy lids. He
looked round the room, and he spoke short
| ly, but to the point.
"Look here, " he said. "Igive you warn
ing that III give a lesson to the next man
or woman who annoys me by a hairs
breadth"
Somehow the flash in his eye carried con-
viction. BY twos and threes they struggled
from the room.
In the morning they spoke OF him vague
ly slightly, as the "worm" which has
turned" and thereby shown itself an I'M
worthy prey "a sulky beggar" they de-
nounced him. "We've had some fun out
of him, though, all but you-you funked
it."
The rcproach was struck at her. The
other girls flung their darts.
eyes, little coward, you re afraid Of him.
That's the worst of having u schoolgirl
around"
"Im never. afraid" she painted, her
blood stirring against these false witnesses.
IT will do something, just to show you.
You'll see if I'm afraid"
At lunchtime, three hours later, sudden
ly she sprang up. A dish of ice stood
there. She caught an oblong crystal in her
fingers. AS she passed his seat she slipped
the fragment within his collar, with
shrill, unsteady laugh.
Ice as it was, it acted like flame to gun
powder. With u swift movement he sprang
up, catching her as she turned for flight.
Mastering her hands in one of his, he held
her prisoner; then, with his open hand, he
struck her
A breathless pause fell. For an instant
he still held her hands, soft fluttering
things, before the hostess shook off the stu
pefaction upon them all and sprang up.
Her look spoke volumes. She threw her
arms around the trembling girl and drew
her from the room.
"There," he said, "I've kept my word.
Now, if any man likes to take it up, I'm
ready for the consequences.
Next day, himself waiting the advent of
his fly, he heard the doctor on the stair
way. "An intensely sensitive organization
evidently, nerves all unstrung"- The
words smote his consciousness; no explana-
ton was required.
In ten years the memory had gained a
tenfold bitterness. He 1oggGd himself with
the thought that somewhere at home a
man was thirsting to avenge the insult to
his wife; that shuddcr of disgust drew
her shoulders together whenever chance
recalled his name.
Such thoughts as these made ideas of
leave and England n tasteless WEAKNESS.
Homeward bound at last, he met anoth-
er torment. Among the passengers might
be some who shared the memory. His left
handed neighbor at table had a trick of
the eyes that somehow put an edge to con-
seriousness. But they glanced calmly at
him under level brows. The red that surg
ed up under his sunburn faded unnoticed
For day or so he avoided her, but those
eyes drew him. He could not choose but
seek those direct brown glances, their
steadiness half contradicted by the sweet
mouth. 1t mattered little that for another
man the lady had worn the sign of wife
hood. Her widows weeds told him that
his unconscious rival slept.
For the first time for years his scorching
recollections cooled. In the calm of the
Indian ocean he sought his game. He low
ed her better for her shyness. He told
himself in incredulous happiness she was
not altogether averse to him. Inch by inch
he won nearer; leach blue day. brought
him closer; already he touched friendship,
that debatable land on the hither side of
love.
There came a night when, in the star.
light, her hand rested in his.
1T is true" she said in her quiet voice.,
II have not many friends. married very
young and have had no settled home. My
life has been lonely one"
"Your husband?" The words fell dis
jointedly.
HE was very kind always much older
than l. but he was too learned to have
time for-lovc. He was very good to me- -
"And you-wasted your life on hisY
''No, no! L was so grateful always, and
married deliberately to-purchase self
respect, think"
His glance questioned hers.
at was years ago, was only H. but
something-my life seemed branded, and
thought if n man like him, SO clever, SO
good-wanted me 1 should lose those rec
ollectioA5 could face society again. All,
yes" gazing out on the ripping phosphor-
escence as it changed and surged in the
vessels wake, "now 1 see my conscious
ness was overweighted. made too much
of what, after all, on my part, was q
schoolgirlish bad taste, but even now it
hurts me to think how bitterly suffered,
and how long it was before the memory
of'-she faced him steadily, leaning her
slender body against the taffrail-'o OF
Langdon Chace became anything but deep
est shame to me-"
"Langdon Chacel' Her hand fell free.
He gripped the rail intensely. II never
guessed-you. If 1 could tell you if you
1 L