The Lebanon express. (Lebanon, Linn County, Or.) 1887-1898, 1896-10-01

you thisl"
"Kla'uns," she said lightly, taking his
hand again, "don't you believe it! She
won't let you 60, You're one Of those
men that woman when she once has
hooked on to won't let go of even when
she believes she no longer loves him-or
meets bigger and better men. Ireckon
Its because you're so different from
other men-maybe-there are SO many
different things about you to hook on
to-and you don't slip off as easily as
the others. Now, if you were like old
Peyton, her first husband, or like poor
Jim, or even my Boompointer, you'd
be all right! No, my boy, all we can do
is try to keep her from getting at you
here. / reckon she won't trust herself
in Washington again in hurry!"
"But I cannot stay here-my career
is In the field"
"Your career is alongside o. me,
| honey-and Boompointer. But nearer
me. Well fix all that. / heard some
thing about your being in disgrace,
but the story was that you were soft
on some secesh girl down there and
neglected your business, Kla'tns. But
Lordy! to think it was only your own
wife! Never mind, we'll straighten that
out. We've had worse jobs than that
on. Why, there was that commissary
who was buying up dead horses at one
end of the field and selling them to the
! government for mess beef at the other;
and there was that general who
wouldn't make an attack when it
rained, and the other general-you
know who i mean, MIA uns--who
wouldn't invade the state where his sis
ter lived-but we Strengthened them out
somehow, and they were heap worse
than you. Wen get you q position in
the war department here, one of the
bureau Offices, where you keep your
rank and your uniform--you don't look
bad in it, Kla'uns-on better pay. And
rou'il come 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 life-now
is in the field"
Don't you be fool, Kla'uns, and
leave it there. You have done your
work of fighting mighty good fight
ing, too, and everybody knows it,
You've earned a change. Let others
take your place"
He shuddered as he remembered that
his wife had made the same appeal.
Was he fool, then, and these two
women-so totally unlike in everything
right in thisP
Come, Kla'uns,r said Susy, relapsing
against his shoulder, NOW talk to me!
| lou don't say what you think of me, OF
my home, my furnitnre-of my posi-
tion-even of him Tell mel"
/ II find you well, prosperous, and
happy" he said, with faint smile.
lis that all? How do look?'
She turned her still youthful mis-
chievous face toward him in the moon
| light. The witchery of her blue eyes
was still there as of old, the same frank
| responsibility beamed from them; her
| parted lips seemed to give him back the
| breath of his youth. he started, but
she did not.
"Susy, dear!"
4 It was her husbands voice. 81 quits
forgot" it went on, as he drew the cur
tain aside, "that you are engaged with
| friend, but Miss Faulkner is waiting
to say good night, and volunteered to
lnd you"
4 'Tell her to wait moment" said
| Susy, with an impatience that was as
undisguised as it was without embar-
rassment or confusion.
4 But Miss Faulkner, unconscously fol
lowing Mr. Boompointer, was alrea'l.s I
upon them. For q moment, the who'll
four were silent--although perfectly
composed.
Senator Boompointer, unconseiouso OF
any infelicity III us interruptions, was
calmly waiting. Clarence, opposed sud
denly to the young girl. whom lie be-
Iieyed was avoiding his recognition
rose, coldly imperturbahe Miss
Faulkner, looking taller and more erect
in the long folds of her satin cloak
neither paled nor blushed, as she re-
garded Susy and Brant with smile OF
well-bred apology.
! Il expect to leave Washington to-
morrow, and may not be able to call
again." she said, "or would not hayesc
particularly pressed leavetaking up
on you"
II was talking with my old friend
Gen. Brant," said Susy, more by way
OF introduction than apology.
Brant bowed. For an instant the
clear eyes Of Miss Faulkner slipped iciiy
across him as she made him an old
No. = Il