The Portland daily press., 1898-03-01

TROOPS up or GOWN tuo IlNoA. LILO 50Ao
his handsome span of bays and his
glossy new victoria to the Cloverdell
landing every day for week. lie was
not at all averse to have them IN evil
dence before the townspeople as OFTEN
as was practicable He hoped his sister
would not discredit him or his fine es-
Enlistment Betty had not had the ad-
vantages of travel which had done SO
much for him, but the dentist she had
married was said to have been good
sort, and as the widow Grosvenor' he
had seen notices of her in the society
columns of the Dayton papers, which
would seem to indicate that she was
not altogether unpresentable. 1t was
not without certain amount OF nerv-
BUSINESS, however, that he stalked up
and down his freshly sodded terraces,
munching the end of an unlighted cigar
while he waited for the return OF the
carriage
In her youth Betty had been decid-
ed beauty As the mature Mrs. q. OAR
oy Grosvenor she might have coarsened.
He hoped not. If there was one thing in
life he could not bear with equanimlty,
it was a coarse woman.
At last the rapid roll of wheels, and
his handsome turnout swung gracefully
around the graveled driveway - not
empty this time. His first glance at the
stately figure and the brilliant eyes
which laughed greeting to him before
the carriage stopped was reassuring.
The first words his sister spoke, happily
after the driver had touched up his
horses, were disconcerting:
swell, old boy, bottom rail is on top
at last"
Whitney recoiled in the act of en-
bracing her.
Mrs. Betty laughed merrily, thereby
bringing into view very perfect
mouthful Of dazzling teeth.
.sOh, come now, Dennie, we won't
put on airs just for each other. When
any of your buokram darkies are on
hand, I'll treat you with all the defer
enoe your state demands. My, but it is
relief to have you all to myself little
while! Where did you get that Chester
field in ebony? He made me feel as if I
had drawn my corset strings too tight. |
am dreadfully uncomfortable. -
Recognizing promptly that, SO far
from being easily dazzled, his sister was
possessed Of the same old laughing devil
which had made her as girl a thorn i'll
his flesh, Whitney decided to preserve
his own dignity when they were alone
by way of emphasizing the fact that he
had effaced the past utterly, with the
exception of the grudges he bore certain
individuals connected with it.
Richards understands horses admi-
rably," he said frigidly. lam sure you
must be tired. Your room is quite ready
if you would like to rest before dinner. F"
"Dinner? Why, my boy, it is 3
O'Clock. %
81 dine at g.
"Oh, you dol Well, Buddy, I'll catch
on presently. Just give me time to get
my breath. But you mustn't insist up
on my resting when I haven't done a
thing but sit still and stare at the Mis-
sissippi river for four days and half.
I'm just dying to see all there is to see
and to hear all there is to hear. I'lI
just lay aside my hat and gloves, and
then we can go about comfortably. Your
place looks perfectly lovely as you ap-
proach it. But''-she turned impulsive-
" and locked her hands about his neck
1.-THE handsomest thing I've seen yet
in old Tony's place is my brother Den
mis-. Ny, wish I could think time had
dealt as kindly with me''
"You are very handsome, Betty, and
perceive you care as much for your
good looks as ever"
"Yes, more, far more. When youth
turns his back on a woman, he leaves
her desolate indeed if he robs her of her
good locks too"
It was not until the lamps were light
ed and ths last servant had disappeared
for the night that Whitney was able to
decide whether he was glad or sorry
that he had summoned Betty to be his
companion. With her husband dead
and no children to complicate matters
she would prove very acceptable COM
panion. But certain amount of prun-
ing would be absolutely necessary.
"Now, then, he said. throwing him
self luxuriously into an easy chair with
in reach of his cigar box. "we can have
a comfortable time talking. What sort
of trip did you have down the rlver:'
"a tolerably lively one. There were
dead loads of soldiers on board, and so
7 did not lack for attention, seeing
there were only two Or three other wom-
en-wives of officers going to join them
IN New Orleans We had John the Bap-
list on board. By the way, he got off at
Cloverdell, and persuaded Duke Rich
ards to give him lift as far as Locust
street. There we put him down and left
him to pursue his way, preaching re-
pentance. -
"My dear girl, who do you mean by
John the Baptist"
"Well, for once am ready to apollo
gize for f1ippancy. That old man is a
peripatetic saint, if one ever did inhabit
this sinful world. He is a Baptist
preacher, tall, gaunt figure, bent with
age now. He has long, white hair and a
. snowy beard that reaches almost to his