The Washington times., 1895-01-13

ner ngure at aidanco and even fancied that
she had been watching him-but he only re-
doubled his attentions to the fair woman be-
side him, and looked no more.
But be was glad when the guests began to
drop of; the great rooms thinned and Susy,
appearing on the arm of her husband, CO.
que.tishly reminded him of his promise.
"For l want to talk to you 81 old times.
torily to Boompointer, married my adopted
mother in California, ut Robes, a dear old
place, where i1sIent my earliest years. So
you see we are sort Of relations by marriage"
she added, with delightful naivette. Hook
ers once yain-glorious allusion to his rela-
tions to the man before him flashed across
Brant's mind but ii left now only a smile on
his lips. He felt he had already become
part OF the irresponsible comedy of life
around him. Why should he resist or exam
inc its ethics too closely? He offered his arm
to Susy; they descended the stairs; but in
stead of pausing in the supper-room, she
eimply passed through it with significant
pressure on his arm, and drawing aside
curtain, stepped into the moonlit eonserva-
tory. Behind the curtain there was small
rustic settee; without releasing his arm, she
sat down so that when he dropped beside her
their hands met and mutually casr ed.
Now, Klauns.' she said with slight
comfortable shivef as she settled beside him,
'it's little like old Robles, isn't it2 Tell me.
And TO think it's five years ago. But Kla'uns.
what's the matter? You are changed" she
said, looking at his dark face in the moon
light, ''or you have something to tell me-"
II have"
saip, wrinkling her brows with pretty ter
rcr. Couldn't you pretend you had told it
to me and let US go on just the same9
Couldn't you, Kla'uns? Tell me"
Il am afraid couldn't, he said with sad
SMILE"
lis it about yourself. Kla'uns? You know"
she went on with cheerful rapidity, II know
everything about you'll always did. you
know and / don't care and never did care
| and it don't and never did make the slightest
| difference TO me- So don't tell II and waste
| time, Kla'uns.'
"It's not about me, but about my wife, he
said, slowly.
| Her expression changed slightly. 80.
her, she said, after pause. Then, half re-
signedy: GO on, Kla'uns."
He began. He had dozen times rehearsed
! to himself his miserable story, always feeling
! il keenly, and even fearing that he might be
carried away by emotion or morbid sentiment
! in telling it another, but to his astonishment
| he found himself telling it practically, calmly
| almost cynically 10 his old playmate, repress-
| ing the half devotion and even tenderness
! that had governed him from the time that
| his wife, disguised as a mulatto woman, had
| secretly watched him in his Office, to the hour
4 tuHt he Iicu passed through tue lines. flo
withheld only the incident of Miss Fauikner's
completely and sacrifice.
And she got away-after having kicked
| you out of your place, Kia'unsy' said Susy,
when he had ended.
Clarence stiiTened beside her. but he felt he
! had gone too far to quarrel with his conf
dante.
"she went away. honestly believe that
! we shall never meet again, or | should not be
/ telling you this"
/ "Kla'uns, " she said. lightly, taking his hand
! again. don't you believe IT, She won't let
! you go. Youlre9i one of those men that a
woman when she once has hooked onto wont
| let go Of even when she believes she no
| longer loves him, or meets bigger and better
men. reckon it's because you're so differ
! ent from other men, maybe. There are so
( many different things about You 10 hook onto,
and you don't slip off so easily as the others.
/ Now. If you were like old Peyton, her first
/ husband. or ike roor jim, or even my Bonn
! pointer, you'd be all right No, my boy. all
we can do is TO try TO keep her from getting
4 at you here. / reeken she won't trust herself
( in Washington again in a hurry"
But cannot stay here. Ny career Is in
/ the leld.' eE5 tfe
/ "Your careeris alongside o. me honey-and
/ Boompointer We'll fix all that.,I heard
something about your being in disgrace but
I the story wasthat yon were soft on some girl
down there and neglected your business,
/ Kla auns. But. Lordyi 10 think it was only
/ your own wifel Never mind, We Hstraighten
I that out. We've had worse jobs than that on.
I Why there was that commissary who was
blying up dead horses at one end OF the Held
and selling them to the goyernment, for mess
/ beef at the other; and there was that general
! who wouldn't make an. attack when 1t rained,
/ anu the other general-you know who |
/ mean. kla'ups-who wouldn't invade the
/ State where his sister lived-but we straight
1 a., H. a 81.
/ heap worse than you. Well get you 4 po-
sition in the War Department here. one of the
bureau offices, where you keep your rank and
your uniIorin-you don't look bad in it Kla :
uns-on better pay. And you'll como and
/ see me-and we'll talk over old times
Brant felt his heart turn sick within him.
/ But he was at her mercy now. He said, with
an effort: But I've told you that my career
nay, my li.e-now is in the field
Don't you be a fool, kla' 'uns. and leave 1t
! there! You have done your work of fight
/ ing mighty good fighting, too. and every
body knows ii. You've earned a change. Let
! others take your place"
! He shnddered as he remembered that his
wife had made the same appeal. Was he a
fool then, and these two women-so totally
unlike in everything-right in this2
Come. launs said Susy, NOV talk to
me! You don't say what you think OF me. of
my home. of my furniture of my position
Il find you well, prosperous, and happy"
he said, with faint smile.
rs that all? How do look2''
| She turned her still youthful, mischievous
| face toward him in the moonlight. Tho
witchery Of her blue eyes was still there as of
Old the same frank responsibility beamed
from them; her parted lips seemed to give
bin back the breath OF his youth.
Susy. deari"
1t was her husbands voice. 81 quite for
| got" il went on, as he drew the curtain
aside. "ihat you are engaged with friend,
but Miss Faulkner is waiting to say good
| night and j volunteered to find you.'
/ Tell her to wait Il moment" said Susy.
| with all jmpatienee that was as undisguised
as it was without embarrassment or con-
| fusion.
But Miss Faulkner, unconsciously follow
! ing Mr.. Boompointer, was already upon
| them. For moment the whole four were
| silent-although perfectly composed.
Senator Boompointer, unconscious of any
| infelicity 10 his interruption. was calmly
waiting Clarence, opposed suddenly to the
| young girl. whom he believed was avoiding
! his recognition, rose colily imperturbable
Miss Faulkner, looking taller and more erect
in the long folds OF her satin cloak. neither
paed nor blushed. as she r, garded Susy and
Brant with smile of well-bred apology.
Il expect to leave Washington tomorrow,
and may not be, able to call again. she said,
'or would not have so particularly pressed
a leave-taking upon you"
- was talking. with my old friend Gen.
| Brant." said Susy, more by way of introduc-
tion than apology.
Brant bowed. For an instant the clear eye
of Miss Faulkner slipped icily across his as
| she made him an old-fashioned colonial
| courtesy, and taking Susy's arm she left the
! D.o, a 80 l;x,r. L,-& Il.