Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1895-08-30

Llcut. InOrnel now ul0 III happenY
l thought you were well on your way
toward Spain"
Graham heard no more; but he felt
something like resentment mixed with
his wonder that Eleanor could posi-
bly,, without his knowledge and con-
sent, count among her acquaintances
so commanding and attractive person
as this unexplained Lieut.. Thorne.
His mind was SO busy with the prob
lem that at first he did not hear Miss
Celia's laughing comment:
Your little friend seems to have
found desideratum In brass buttons!''
He shrugged his shoulders with an
answering laugh that was not wholly
mirthful. They'll hear you," he re-
turned, shortly, by way of warning, for
Eleanor and the blue uniform were but
step ahead
But Miss Celia was not to be warned.
II will console you If / can," she said,
gayly, though you have not honored
me with an account of your little ro-
mance;" and then, more softly: II have
only waited for your condolences be-
fere burdening you with my own. You
remember Mr.. Burnap, whom you met
at the house last week? He is the for
tunate man, and he thought an expla-
nation rather due you before now; but
l was hardly so egotistical as to ac-
knowledge the necessity"
She was looking at him squarely,
and it rather amused her that his face
grew white. Another little face, few
PAGES ahead, turned shade paler for
an instant, too; but in another the
color had come pulsing back to it as
swiftly as had sprung strange, new
emotion to her heart. Was it relief at
the revelation just heard? Then must
relief masquerade in fine scorn to Sc
curve mobile lips and to fash with
such contempt from violet eyes!
Lieut.. Thorn saw none of it, nor had
he heard the hooking laugh behind.
He was conscious of but one fact in all
the glowing universe, and that fact
walked beside him in modest gray
gown.
ITO think that all mans aspira.
tions, his very life and strength, should
be bound up in little parcel five feet
twow he suddenly exclaimed; and
though the voice was playful, when
Eleanor looked up there was strange
mistiness about the kindly eyes.
A sudden glow and warmth suffuse d
her face. How tall and powerful he
looked, towering above her, and YET
how kind and good And she had been
so blind to it all before, blind because
but she would not think of that.
There should be no more blindness
she decided, though cye-openings were
not always the pleasantest things in the
world. He saw the flare of color OF
her rounded cheek and the slight pale
ness that followed.
II have annoyed you" he said, "ant
promised to be good But the day,
have been long since you left, and how
am l to remember promises or any
other things, when all my energies
have been used of late in trying t.
forget? There! will not spoil YOU
visit. I'm in mortal terror lest yor
may be spirited off as mysteriously as
you came" He was laughing light,
now, with the evident desire to set he
at her ease, and he launched swift,
into description of the various provi
Dental happenings that had gaine'
him his furlough, and of the furthe
good fortune of his meeting with Mrs
Carter at Cleveland, of her invitation
and his Acknowledgement acceptance.
His voice, slow and sweet, and Away
with that undertone Of kindly feeling
caused Eleanor to think that, after all
1t might not be so irksome to assum
a happiness she had thought she coul,
not feel. In truth, day had just begu
to dawn for Eleanor, though by tn
calendar that event had transpire
some hours before.
| 1t was really beautiful day for S
tardy dawning; and Eleanor, feelin
the cordial gladress in her hostess
welcome, smiled the more gladly whe
that astute soul remarked, with a ia
Of her fan upon his shoulder:
you, Lieut.. Thorne, are to take Mis-
Field to dinner, My dear, send 20
out with the only lion have capture
for this happy occasion"
Eleanor laughed gayly. Somehow
began to be natural to laugh.
I'm afraid Of lions she said, som,
what shyly, as she took his arm.
you needn't be-" was his mischief
Gus reply, they never eat sweets.
He, too, had forgotten that only la.
night he had paced the walk in tn
white starlight and fancied himself
worn old man, SO tired and lifeless h
had grown. There were threads {
white in his hair, that he knew; br
to-day he felt boy-like, exuberant.
What merry dinner it wa
Eleanor never had seemed so brigh
Girls are funny things!" Tom Chant
Ter thought. only last week tn;
child was looking the picture of d.
spair; and now she's like sunshine i
self"
Harlowe Granam was thinking s.
too. The sunshine had not fallen @
him with any very brilliant effec
The world looked rather gray, indeed
and life good deal of bore. Il
took himself off after dinner, an
walked along the river bank, sullenl
throwing in stones and watching I'll
water as it broke into futtering ri
Piles. The reflections thus shivore
and marred were no more disturbe
, than his own. One thing he knew
Celia Chichester should never que
what chagrin she had caused him. +
would impress it upon her that h
devoirs to herself were the mere
willing away of a weary tedium, ar
that the little romance" to which 81
had so ironically referred was the vel