The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-02-04

grandeur
Thorne stared straight into the glow
and bit his straw-colored muotache.
"Out with it" encouraged Mrs
Vavasour' with CLEAN of kindly
amusement in her eyes.
"Well," said Richard Thorne,
plainly pulling himself together, cts
come at last. I'm first officer no
longer"
you've got ship?'
Eyes; I've got a ship" he repeated
after her slowly.
MY dear boy, I'm so glad" lean
ing forward little in her arm chair.
81 knew you would be-" he said,
smiling slightly, without raising his
eyes.
"Oi course I am. Is it one Of Don
aldson's?"
eyes. Same line"
She watched him curiously in the
silence that followed. They had been
stanch friends, these two, as boy and
girl, twenty years ago, and though lie
went to sen, and she married Tom
Vavasour, they were still the same.
"You don't seem extravagantly
elNted yourself" she hazurded pres
entity.
Don't ?" he answered aimlessly,
giving his big shoulders n hitch IN a
second endeavor to recall his thoughts
"No, You don't sharply. "What
is it, kindly.
"Well, fact is, the new berth's on
the Sydney and Vancouver trip. The
other side Of the world, you know, "
he explained.
"Of course | know. 1 need not be
sailor man with gold embroidery on
my hat to know that"
Thorne laughed at the Characteristic
onslaught, and her face frightened in
sympathy with his.
But we won'G lose you altogether ~
she queried briskly. "Of course it
! would be much nicer if it were on the
home trip; but we'll see you some.
times, won't we?"
con, yes" listlessly.
She shot searching glance Mt him
from behind her fire screen and leaned
her chin against its edge TO gaze with
puzzled eyes into the fire
"Oi course, you're awfully glad of
tho step?' she said, after pause, and
listened intently for his answer.
eyes. Awfully-I suppose"
The response seemed satisfactory,
and required little cogitation before
the next remark.
"Ah, well!" she went ON, leaning
4 far back in her chair, AMI turning her
4 head in the shadow to watch him. 81
8 shall lose n friend You are sure to
marry some one, now you are in q 70.
i .ition TO do it,"
"T shall marry nobody" said
Thorne, decidedly, laying his cup on
q table beside him; and Mrs. Vava.
our smiled triumphantly TO herself rs
81 nc heard, and watched the stubborn
ines come about his mouth
Dear old simpletoD," she thought,
The thinks he's betrayiug nothing"
Then came a silence, while Thorne
cyan 60 bite modify at his mustache
nee more, and while Mrs. Yavasour
3okei on with troubled sympathy in
or bright eyes.
Dick she said, suddenly, "tcll
aIl about it, Who is she?"
About what?' ne asked, looking
u quickly. There isn't anyhow
oarjh did you know
''You goose You've been telling
+ for the last ten minutes"
"I2 ! never said"
IA didn't say you said anything; ali
omc you hnvo been telling me.
ON now, ! want 20 help You"
Her voice trembled rs she spoke,
suc stretched out hand to him.
oiaspeiit for moment, while n
OF perfect trugt passed between
m
Wei, you sec, " he began awkward.
looking into the fire once more, 81
ppcn O. know il was all her doing. "
What was1"
This vancouver business"
DO explain littleW
10 was old Don1lson who told mo
had no right to, ofcourse when
offered me his ship, that che had
gested it TO him.
Shell Whor'
His daughter Cicely, you know. "
Ot course, / know; he hasn't
ther. But what, in astonishment,
thot to NOPE aboutf"
Don't you ses3 She has got nee