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

| love ana loyalty ever TO Wane. Ana
now it lay within his power to make
her quite as happy again. He began
to 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 ss it turned back along the
path toward the great house.
On the lawn he found them gathered,
watching 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 camel" young
Carter called out, admiringly.
''She hadn't a peer in our little club
in New York" Lieut.. Thorne said, with
enthusiasm.
Gray turned away somewhat dis
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 tc
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 well 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.
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
willowfringed 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 ''have it out with Elean or"
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 hep
Here" said Eleanor, with a
J pathetic little gesture, and then, in
: answer to his look of amaze: 81 think
: it was all a-mistake. Heidi 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: II don't understand il
or myself. How can ] tell you?
! think must be very shallow and very
fckle; 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
possible there is hope for a great old
ruflian who has tormented you SO long
because his life was SO intolerabie 4
5 thing without your
She did not speak at once, but hel
, trembling little fingers touched hi.
, own with sudden impulse OF
! gratitude and fervor ''You ARE 81
a good, so good" she said, her sweet
9 voice choking. ''There is no one like
you--no, not one-so grand, so strong
SO worthy the best iove-and the first!
0 He held the little fingers close
2 Eleanor, sweet" he said, 'if | VIII
! your love. however tardy, pray
n heaven l shall be made worthy SO un
p speakably precious a gift"
hC oCCP NOiCC idlh Wibu CdIhCoV
S ness; and when she lifted her tear-we
u eyes to his face there was shining il
4 their limpid depths light he hat
never seen there before.
t The rest of that evening was like {
dream. The pyrotechnies over, Eleanor
! sang for them; and standing off acros,
the room, his eyes feasting upon hel
= sweet and radiant face, as did all hi
" sense of sound and melody upon hel
It liquid notes, Lieut.. Thorne felt that
e kindly providence had united all it,
a best girls in this one adorable maiden
e and that in her, indeed, was nothing
# more to be desired
It From the dimness of the cool verand;
another man looked on, amazed pas
5! all expression at the power and sweet
|. ness of that voice as it set his pulse
l. tingling. What an easy, graceful, self
It possessed little lady it was, too; an,
= what perfect control she had Of ever,
t. tone ringing clear and bird-like on tn
air! He tried to remember the simple
}, ity and shyness which he had Away
n thought characterized her. Their
t. seemed TO be not trace of it left. He
|, very gown, that soft, gray affair, sill
e very in the white lamp-light, had a Ger
d tain tone and elegance about it tina
Y struck him oddly. Evidently, to thi
e self-poised and accomplished younI
D woman he must apply other argument
d and persuasions than those he ha
d planned SO easily few hours before
:; He waited in a sort of frenzy of impa
IS tieuce for the time of their leave
e taking,
is When at last they were gathered i
st the soft moonlight, ready to clambe
d into the noisy little tug, he reache
e forth an eager, impetuous hand to Flea
" nor. still lingering on the dock,