Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1899-03-28
TWO NIGHTS IN JUNE

The words echoed idly in Brunton'4 mind, as. escaping by favor of T French easement from the crowded re. ception room. he found himself in the pleasance. Softly the thrill of the dis tant music rose and fell upon the still air. Less tunefully sounded the nearer hum of conversation and laughter, tha vague yearning for sympathy that had lain like q cord round his heart all day gripped him close. Then an affected laugh stung In his ear. and Brunton turned afresh toward solitude.
 Brunton was young; his soul, new f1edged. was immature, nebulous, and his emotions still of the crudest, Yet as he looked skyward his spirit sunk st the thought of leaving so much beauty and sweetness fOr-he knew not what. Tomorrow he would leave England to join his regiment, and few seemed to 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. Derriek's At Homeo had been 8 mistake, too Having a few hours to fill in, he had come with the idea that it would pass the time pleasantly. Now he felt annoyed at his folly h s0 doing.
 Taking out a cigar he lit a match. which a sportiFe zephyr playfully ex. tinguished. Among the shadows hid rustic arbor, and stepping inside the shelter of it's doorway he struck q fresh gleam. Flaring up brightly it re. vealed, huddled up close to the back wall of the arbor, q shrinking girl jsh form.
 For one startled moment his keen gray eyes looked amazement Into frightened blue ones.
 Why, by love! Oht say he ejac- ulated inconsequently.
 The childish face, set in m aureoIe Of golden hair. raised appealingly to his.
 "Oh, please, please, don't tell any body. I only came out here to get away from the people,
 Did you7 We'll, I say that should be a bond Of union between us, for so did L.
 The dying flicker of the wax match SAW an expression of relief cross the girls face. And you won't tell any body about my coming out here. It would seem so rude to Mrs. Derrick, you know"
 Not q soul, honor bright. But sure ly you didn't leave the house to crouch up here in the dark?9
 HOh, no. It was lovely among the stars and flowers and things; then I heard some one coming, and ran in here till he should go past and yod caught me.
 Won't you come out and walk againE He was longing to see her The darkness of the summer-housd was taHtaliztng, and chiyalrv rebelIed at the rudeness of striking another light
 And you will smoke?a she asked, rising in reply to his query, and walking to the door
 +No. thanks. don't care to now. Suppose we stroll round P
 The starlight that revealed to Sylvia B soIdierIy form with shortcroppe1 dark hair, and q quite perceptibla showed Brunton a petite figure. whose robe of shimmerine white satin draped loosely from thu old lace that outlined it's square cut bodice. string of pearls round the slender neck the only ornament
 For a moment convention triumph. ed and they were -bashful together. Thereafter the influence of the June night prevailed, and they inclined to Before they had complete Y encircled the lawn Sylvia knew that 3runten was a soldier, that tomorrow he would sail for India to join his regiment. 'P. and O.. China, awfuIly Jolly deck cabin to myself" And ere hey emerged from the long archway 1f roses Brunton knew that this was Sylvia's first party, that she was an orphan. and lived with her grand mamma. That at that moment her grandmamma was playing whist in Mrs. Derrick's ante-room; that Sylvia herself passed endless evenings play, ng whist with grandnamma,
 And you have never been any. vberew This pityingly, from the height of his experiences which were ret to come.
 "No, never. We always go to Tor. Iuay in winter, but that's nearly just he same as being at home Do you znow, I've never, never once been out If doors at night beforer'
 Not even to q theatre? ?"
 "No."
 Poor little girl I struck by sudden idea-"your guardian will be ,ome time over whist, won't she?"
 "Why, yes. The game has just be gun, and they won't finish under ,ubber."
 Well, suppose I take you some, where for haIt an hour or so-to or music han7 My cab is walt. ng"'
 "ohr A gasp of delight followed by he inevitable. But would 1t not bo