The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-09
Two Nights in JdDe


The words echoed wildly in Bruntons
mind as, escaping by favor of "a French
easement from the crowded reception
room, he found himself in the pleas
sLnce. Softly the thrill Of the distant
music rose and fell upon the still air.
Less tuneful sounded the nearer hum
OF conversation and laughter. Glanc-
ing back toward the lighted windows,
the vague yearning for sympathy that
had lain like a cord around his
heart all day gripped him close. Then
an affected laugh stung his ear and
Brunton turned afresh toward soll-
tude. Under his feet lay the smooth
grass Of the trim lawn. Overhead was
the blue-blac summer sky, star-feck-
cd and cloudless. Lower the fairy
lights. red, green and gold. twinkled
like Jewels among the dark foliage.
About him hung the fragrance Of the
heliotrope.
Brunton was young: his soul, new
fledged, was immature, nebulous, and
his emotions still of the crudest. Yet
as he looked sky-wards his spirit sunk
at the thought of leaving so much
beauty and sweetness for-he knew not
what. Tomorrow he would leave Eng
land to join his regiment and few
seemed 70 know or care. For the first
time he felt constrained to mourn the
lack of near relatives to fuss and weep
over his departure. His coming to
Mrs. Derricks' "at home" had been
mistake too. Having a few hours to
fill in, he had come with the idea that
1t would pass the time pleasantly.
Now he felt annoyed at his folly in 50
doing.
Taking out cigar he lit a match,
which a sportive zephyr playfully ex-
tinguished. Among the shadows hid
rustic arbor. and stepping inside the
shelter of its doorwoy he struck
fresh gleanl. Flaring up brightly it
revealed. huddled UP, close to the back
wall of the arbor, a shrinking girlish
form.
For one startled moment hiskcen gray
eyes looked amazement into frightened
blue ones.
why by Jove, oh, ] say" he ejac-
ulated inconsequently.
The girlish face, set in an aureole
of golden hair. raised appeal to his.
"Oh, please, please, don't tell any
body. / only came out here to get
away from the people"
did you? Well, l say, that should
be a bond of union between us, for so
did J."
The dying flicker of the waX-match
saw an expression of relief across the
girls face. And YOU won't tell any
body about my coming out here. 1t
would seem so rude to Mrs. Derrick,
you know"
Not a soul honor bright. But sure
ly you didn't leave the house TO crouch
UP here in the wark?"
"Oh, no. 1t was lovely among the
stars and flowers and things; then |
heard some one coming. and ran in
here till he should go past and so you
caught me-"
He could tell that she was smiling
little now, though there was still lit
tie hesitatinG eaten in her voice.
Won't you come out and walk
again." He was longing to see her.
The darkness of the summer house
was tantalizing. and chivalry rebelled
at the rudeness of striking another
light.
And you will smoke?" she asked,
rising, in reply to his query. and walk
ing to the door.
NO, thanks, l don't care TO now.
Suppose We stroll around?'
The starlight that revealed 10 Sylvia
4 soldicrly form with short-cropped
dark hair and a quite perccptible mus
'dChe, showed Blulton a petite figure,
whose robe of shimmering white satin
Graped loosely from the old lace that
outlined its square-cut bodice, a string
Of pearls around the slender neck the
only ornament.
For Il moment convention tiumphed
and they were bashful together. There
after the influence Of the June night
prevailed ana they inclined TO conf
dencr. Before they had completely en-
circled the lawn Sylvia knew that
Brun on wss a soldier, that tomorrow
he would sail for India to join his regi-
ment. "P. and o. China, awfuly jolly
deck cabin to myself" And ere they
emerged from the long archway of
roses Brunton knew that this was Syl-
Was first party, that she was an or
phan and lived with her grandmam-
ma; that at that moment her grand
mamma was playing whist in Mrs
Derrick's ante-drawing room; that Syl-
Via herself passed endless evenings
playing whist with Grandmamma. Mrs.
Dawson (the companion) and "a dunn
my. Also that a look in grandmam-
INA . eye, WHICH SEEMED 10 sylvia TO
hold a suggestion that in the event of
no better partner being Forthcoming
Sylvia might be called upon to make
up Il set, had led to Sylvia's taking ref
uge in the garden, thus showing that
out of her narrower life the woman
had the more to tell.
And you have never been any
where?" This pityingly, from the
haipht ,F aSn4,iop,aS,
yet TO come.
No, never We always so to Tor
quay in winter, but that's nearly Just
the same as being at home. DO you
know, I've never, never once been out
of doors at night before"
Not even TO a theater?"
NO"
Poor little girl! saH3'-strucl by
n sudden idea-"your guardian will be
some time over whist won't she?"
why, yes. The game has just be-
gun, aad they won't finish under a
rubber"
well, suppose l take YOU some
where for half an hour or SOTO a
theater .or Sic hall? Ny cab is wait
ing"
oh" \ gasp of delight followed
bS the inevitable But would it not be
wrong?" and II can't go dressed like
this"
Manlike, Brunton rode rough-shod
over both scruples.
"Oh, nobody viii know. Wait mere
moment while | run ito the house
and forage for wraps"
Leaving Sylvia in the SAT saclusion
OF the arbor he vanished returning
speedily clad in light top coat and
crush hat ard bearing a heavy cloak