The New South., 1898-01-15

two young people, but he know, too ior
fancled he knew, that no engagement
existed. He had had no reason to be-
lieve that careless. sport loving Rae
burn thought of Ethel Stuart save as
a cousin; and Ethel did her best. with.
out words, but with smiles and long
lashed, starry glances. to beguile the
boy into dreaming she thought some.
times of him.
One day, at garden party at Rae
burns, Just before Hope was to Join
his regiment. he lost his head, and
told Ethel that he loved her. She
arched her eyebrows, and was sur-
prised
oh, no; she had never guessed that
he had cared for her in that way. He
must forget. Then she held out her
hand and, and he took it dazedly
and rushed away with his head down,
hardly conscious of what he was
doing.
He had been too proud TO leave at
once; and little later, MS he wan
dered miserably alone in thick shrub
berry, he came upon Raeburn and
Ethel. his arm around her slim waist.
her fair, curly head nesting against
his shoulder.
How could You suppose, Won silly
old dear, that / should ever care
for little boy like that?" she was
saying
Then they both laughed out happily.
And Hope, sick at heart, tingling with
hurt pride, could not forgive the
laugh, either to Ethel Stuart or Henry
Raeburn, the friend he had SO loved.
The laugh had been cruel, he thought
-detestable in both.
he strobe away, vowing he would
never see either of them again. and he
had kept his vow. In India he had
read of Raeburn's marriage with Edith
| Stuart.
Later he had CHANGED upon the
news. OF the birth of daughter. again
of son; and after some years of the
mothers death. But Hope had never
answered the letter that followed him
on that mad day of his departure, and
no other had ever been sent. Raeburn
had become distinguished Judge and
was happy enough, no doubt, in his
success and his children. AS for VIII
frid, Ethel Stuart had been his last as
she was his first, love; and for years
now he had regarded himself as a CON
frmed bachelor.
With sigh and start Colonel Hope
woke suddenly from his reverie. The
laughing voices of his nephews came
TO him from the river bank, and, stroll
ing down, he.called to them.
Come on, boys, he said. 'sThere's
still much for you to see.r And he
led the way toward the school build
ing.
With some little difficulty he dis
covered the house where he had lived
In his Eton days, and ascended the
steep spiral stairs Of stone to find his
old rooms. But all was changed with |
in, for the place had been remodelled |
and it brought certain relief to get |
away to the famous Eton Chapel. |
matched only by grace by that OF
Kings College at Cambridge.
On they went through the schools.
the soldier pointing ont the names of |
the famous men carved on the walls. |
and the rostrums from which tine bows
made their public orations.
Thus it was that they came at last
to the celebrated little class room
where the head-master presides over
the Sixth Form, and where the walls
OF panelled oak were completedly coy-yl
cred with the names of past pupils
once cut by the boys themselves. now
done by the head-master's servant.
who inmortalizes the youth Of Eton |
in oak for moderate fee.
where's your name, Uncle vii
frid?'' asked the elder nephew. But
it hardly needed that question to set
the soldier half wistfully searching for
the well remembered name among the
that had gone before or come
after.
1t was a Saturday afternoon and
several parties OF visitors, including
some smartly dressed girls, were be-
ing shown round the schools. Bright
eyes rested admiringly on the face and
hgure Of the big, handsome officer, but
they did not penetrate the armor Of
his self-absorption. Up and down his
gaze went, over the panels, meeting
many name of school contemporary
since grown famous in the world Of
thought or action.
At length he reached his own year:
but large heavy frame, containing
map in relief Of ancient Italy, hung on
The spot, concealing everything be-
meath it. Reaching out pair Of strong
hands Hope lifted down the weighty
obstruction, and, as he did SO, his own
name seemed to start out to meet his
eyes
Suddenly girlish voice sounded its
music over his shoulder, thrilling him
ls he had not thought to be thrilled
oy q woman's voice again. A deli
ate, indefnable perfume, Like that
II flowers in the dew Of evening. float
ID on the air, and be was conscious of
! crisp, silksn rustic Of feminine
A shadow hand from the past seemed
sid with mighty hold upon him, and 4
ae stood still and rigid, waiting Tor the