The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1899-09-29

failed. She had not been SO blind as to
believe that in both cases his effort to
speak to her was merely chance; and
the major realized with a sense OF the
keenest disappointment that, as mat
ters stood, it was practically useless
hoping to make the slightest progress
toward a more intimate acquaintance.
There was nothing for 1t therefore
but to let things take their own
course for a day or two, in the mean
while preserving such a strict silence.
when CHANGING to encounter Miss Lut-
trell, as to diSarm her OF all suspic-
ions, and then TO trust to fate to
throw her in some way across his
path. At any rate, he was prepared
to remain an occupant of No. 40, on
the second floor of the Royal George"
even il he had to remain until dooms-
day for that suspicious moment to ar
rive.
Until doomsday! Yet, when only
one hot sultry afternoon, one cool
dewey evening, and n sunshiny
morning had passed, Major Brown was
thoroughly impatient.
1t was the afternoon Of the second
day after his decision, and he was
standing at the open window Of the
smoking room with a most detected
expression upon his face. 1t seemed
such a hopeless case to imagine that
by keeping aloof from her in this way
he was making the slightest progress
towards the stage of friendship at
which he was resolved sooner Or later
10 arrive. What should he do with
himself? Go for a stroll in the town?
Yes; anything would be better than
dawdling away his time as he had
been doing all the morning. He was
on the point of withdrawing when foot
steps beneath the window and voices
in slight but decided alteration ar
rested his attention.
mo; it is of no use-you are not
to come! | want to have a quiet af-
ternoon under the trees, SO that | a
read my book without any chance of
an interruption. | have just reached
il most exciting point, and l am dying
to see how it all ends"
But how can my presence affect
your peace and comfort if | promise not
to speak? Surely, if l bring plenty
of literature of my own in which l
am equally interested, you cannot OBJ
ject-"
Yes; but I do. l know SO we'll
what would happen. Just at the most
pathetic part, when the hero and he
rome were plunged in the depths of
despair, you would look calmly up
from one of Reuters most matter-of-
fact kilograms, to discover me with
tears streaming down my cheeks. No,
Mr.. Falkland-go into Satellite, as
you had arranged, buy a new flower
for your coat and
But at that point the voices and
footsteps passed out Of hearing.
The Major shrugged his shoulders
and knocked the ashes somewhat i'm
patiently off his cigar as he suddenly
found himself lost in a vague mental
speculation as to how far those en-
treaties would fail or succeed. All the
same, there was a slight frown upon
his forehead as he turned away from
the window; and, apparently forget
ting his resolution to take a walk
round the town, he threw himself into
a low chair, to puff away at his cigar
with renewed energy.
The hour OF three had struck in
loud measured tones before he reused
himself again; and then. as though by
instinct, he returned to his post at
the window just in time to catch a
glimpse of Miss Luttrell and a large
white parasol disappearing across the
lawn III the direction of an inviting
clump of trees.
So the fellow had failed, after all,
Involuntarily a smile rose to the Ma
jor's face, a particularly unsympathet,
ic smile.
Poor beggar!" he calculated.
(To be c~ontinued.)