Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1898-09-07
STORY Or THE DAY.
THE GOLD OF SILENCE.

the silver OF speech. Especially is this
true of matters of the heart. Farland
came to realize it in the end; but as he
left the commanding officer and walked
in his deliberate way across the hop
room where Miss Cameron stood, he
was priding himself upon his ability to
hold his tongue and, with a wretched
sort of vain glory, nerving himself to
hold it for seven hours longer.
Miss Cameron was talking to the
regimental quartermaster, and when
she caught sight Of Farland she grew
radiant. The regimental quartermaster
observed this, and was, of course an
noyed. He went away and left her
with the lieutenant.
It is the fate Of q woman to be for
ever smiling. Few men have learned
to distinguish that eternal smile. Those
who have observed this subtlest TRACE
dies of life.
Farland was not one Of them. He
was too distinctly manly to understand
women. He was, therefore, strength
ened in bis resolve to keep silence when
Miss Camerons expression in no wise
changed as he told her that she must
excuse him for the next dance.
81 have just seen the colonel, and he
has been pleased to inform me that I
must leave at reveille."
"For what portion Of the globe'"
She gazed over his shoulder in ap-
parent absorption in something at the
other side Of the room. If Farland had
been student of the sex he would have
known that this was over-acting. 1t
was one of The many of Miss Cameron's
charms that she usually fixed her entire
attention upon the person at hand.
where are you going?" she repeat
ed.
ITO join Blake's command. After
that wherever the will Of heaven and
the craft of the Apache may lead me-
For just one instant her expression
cha nged. But Farland was not acute
upon q scout theni" she asked.
upon scout, yes. And as have
to leave before reyeille, and as it is now
IL o'clock, there is no time to be lost. "
Miss Cameron was smiling again.
"You will not sleep much tonight.
Things must be serious"
"They are," he told her,
There was pause-one OF those in
tervals when the gods benumbed our
mental powers that instinctmay have fair
play. But we defeat their ends. We
have trained instinct to lie quiet.
The lieutenant moved uneasily. Miss
Cameron, with the delicate, much-sung
Ii scernment of woman, thought him
restless to be gone. She drew herself
up 10 her full height, determined that
she was Indifferent and his resolution
vas enforced,
"You must not let me keep YOU" she
aid.
Farland was too well trained to al
ow his anger and uDhappiness to ap-
'ear in more than an exaggerated un-
He took her extended hand.
"Shall you be here when return?"
le asked. His resolution was near to
breaking. If her tawny eyes had grown
ver SO little soft, he would have flung
lis golden wealth Of silence to the
Winds. But her pride was mighty,
nd it was aroused.
"My visit comes to an end this week."
be said.
eve shall probably meet again" he
entured.
She shrugged her shoulders negli-
emily.
Probably One can never be sure
hat one has seen the last Of anybody
n the Amy" And then she added,
Goodbye"
She would have been glad to bow her |
cad upon her arms and to have kept
er heartache in silence. Instead she
ave the dance which was to have been
'arland's 10 a married captain, and
ucceeded perfectly in her effort to ap-
ear to enjoy it.
And Farland went out, morally end
oldly, into the night. His was code
honor-which considers not the wo-
,an-that holds that if q man may not
SIX woman to marry him then and
here, neither may he tell her OF his
I'VE. He thought he was doing right.
nd he was not vne TO rail at fat Q. A