The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1896-06-25
Kill
ANSWERS VARIOUS.


Ringbrand slept next day until after
noon, coming down to a very late dinner
feeling as if he had circumnayigated
the globe in the wrong direction and so
lost day out of the calendar. Mrs.
Ludlow, having slaked the imperative
thirst of her curiosity at the well of her
husbands information, spared him the
task of recounting his adventures at
length; but she managed to make him
give very fair description of the bat
tie at "The Laurels" from the point Of
view of the chief actor therein, ruthless
ly ignoring his modest endeavors to
dwell lightly upon his own achieve
ments. She listened with lively appre-
citation, making acomical little grimace
of incredulous scorn as he concluded.
And Tom thought--shan't pour you
another cup of tea?"
"Thank you; what were you about to
say?'
II did say it. Iasked if you would have
another cup of tea"
mo, but about what Tom thought"
"Oh! Tom thought you'd sleep right
along till tomorrow morning." she re-
piled, with unblushing effrontery. sand
that reminds me: Henry's been down
to inquire after YOU. and told him
you'd pay your respects at The Laurels'
this afternoon"
/ How did you know would?"
"Iknew you'd do anything promised
for you" tti
"Well (since you've committed your
SELF suppose I'll have to CO."
ooh, please don't!" she urged, teas
ingly. ITS long, long walk, and it's
SO dreadfully hot; I'd go back to bed
again, if were YOU"
"And impugn your reputation for
truth and veracity ?-that would be
very unthankful; you see you've made
it impossible for me not to CO." Then,
with diplomatic abruptness: Haven't
you anything to tell me before
start?" alia t
you asked me that question last
night, and I'll make you the same
answer: you may give Hester my love. "
"Thank you SO much. Perhaps shall
go back to New York tomorrow"
Perhaps you will; and perhaps the
world came to an end yesterday. j
think one is about as probable as the
other"
"Oh! then you know of some good
reason why should stay"
Eyes, the best of reasons: you're not
able to travel, yet"
Ringbrand laughed and reached for his
hat. "Just watch me climb that hill
and then you may repent at leisure" he
said. s s.
An hour later he was comfortably
established upon the veranda of tn,
colonel's home, Longing invalid-wisc
in the library easy-chair which Hester
had insisted upon dragging out for him
They had been talking about the feud
his Imprisonment in the cave, and al
the exciting events of the past few
days; and Ringbrand had been trying
with palpable effort at ingenuousness
TO bring the conversation around by
easy and graduated approaches to The
subject nearest his heart. Oh
the long walk up the noun
tain he had forecast the manner
of these approaches with such stric'
fidelity to details that he now fount
it impossible to break away from tn,
| ant,,,rla,,ant Of ca+ Spao.hoc op6 c,,r,
posed answers, and every fresh endeav
or seemed to involve him more hope
lessly. Even the perversity of mani
mate objects added to his helplessness
How could one talk upon serious sub
iects from the lazy rostrum of an easy
chair whose high back took away tn
last vestige of ones dignity Pane
when he sat up the comfortable hollow
of the low seat brought his knees an
his chin togetner IN an attitude thatwa
r pathetically inadequate to the require
ments of the case. Once or twice h
! had tried to rise, but Hester had pre-
!. tested playfully, saying that he mus
consider himself an invalid, if onl
for that afternoon. To add to his en-
barrassment, she left her own chair an
began to saunter up and down the vel
anda in front of him, shipping dea
t leaves from the ivy on the railing as sh
talked.
I He watched her furtively while tn
car of idle talk ran smoothly over enc
. less stretches of track wherein ther
| were no crossings or switches, unit
I the subtle intoxication of her beaut
!. began to make his replies irrelevan
e at last she stopped just opposite h
? chair and leaned over the railing TO +,
go n9g6i360