The Chilhowee echo. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1899-19??, 1900-03-24

'io iooii'j Oiiol hlCu " udouy GOllcU oil
went to the supper-room. 1t warme
his very heart to hear the chorus G
welcome that greeted him.
81 knew you'd be back tonight,
said Mr.. Hardison, as soon as he coul
make himself heard, "and here's you
place all ready for YOU
AS they were all nearly through sup
per, the gentlemen soon rose, accordin.
to their curious custom, leaving Rosco
to finish his meal as best he could, will
only the ladies for company. He dit
not at all object to this arrangement
but slipped his coffee and ate his biscui
very leisurely as he answered the run
ming fire of questions directed at him
81 hope you had a real nice time, Mr.
Owen" said Mrs. Belmont. 81 dom,
expect you missed US bit, did you?"
THAT'S not fair, Aunt Louise" inter
posed Clara. "We mustn't make Mr.
Owen tell stories."
II suppose you stayed with the
Moores?' said Mr.. Hardison. This re-
minded Roscoe of his notes, and he al
once delivered them.
"Oh! Mr.. Owen; isn't Fairy Grand.
ma splendid?" exclaimed Clara.
II have no words to express my ad.
miration of her appearance and charac.
ter" he answered; "and her son i:
scarcely her inferior"
"There, Clara" exclaimed Mrs. Bel
mont; "you ought to say much obliged
for such q compliment to Charley
Moore"
sit was no compliment, replied
Clara; 'it's every word true;" but the
fair face was little flushed and there
was slight shade of vexation on the
sunny brow.
Meanwhile Mrs. Hardison and Con-
stance had read their notes, which
seemed to be brief.
"What does she say, mammal" in
quired Clara.
"If Mr.. Owen will promise not to feel
very much flattered, I'll read it aloud.
It's entirely about him." said she, smil-
ing.
---s-Fvu i1uvv an spoifeu~ne 50 aiIUc q
that | am safe for the future" he
laughed.
swell, here's what she says said
Mrs. Hardison:
Dear Mrs. Hardison-We have en-
joyed very much the visit of Mr.. Owen.
| write to congratulate you upon the ac-
QUESTION of such desirable member to
your community. If am any Judge of
human nature, he is true chevalier
and ought to have been a Southerner.
We must do our best to make him one
by marrying him to some nice South
ern girl. Take good care of him.
hope you are coming to X-soon. My
love to Mr.. Hardison and the girls and
uedF MISS JOuIlSOu.
"Thats ALL" said Mrs. Hardison.
There was a general laugh around the
table, in which all but Mrs. Belmont
and Constance joined heartily. Mrs.
Belmont seemed annoyed at something,
probably at being carefully ignored in
the note. Constance, although she
smiled little, suffered the smile to
vanish Immediately, and her look was
unusually serious.
SIS your note about Mr.. Owen, too?"
inquired Clara, thoughtlessly; read it
aloud, dov'
''My note is of such nature as to be
interesting only to myself" said she;
and her quiet face plainly showed that
Importantly would fail to persuade her
to read it.
They arose from the table and Roscoe
joined the gentlemen.
Soon they all re-assembled in the
parlor, and music and pleasant talk
wiled the hours away rapidly. Roscoe
had but little conversation with Maj.
Carney, though he was very kind and
cordial. His attention seemed gener-
ally bestowed, although when speaking
to Constance there was q grave earn
estness in his manner that was not so
int of nthaY Of -, ho
evening Roscoe, who had not approach
ed Constance, thought he detected
look of surprise in her glance that once
or twice met his own. Despising his
own folly, he finally took seat that
chanced to be vacant by her side. After
taking it he knew not what to say. No
appropriate subject suggested itself,
and for full minute he sat silently
listening to dashing fantasia that
Mrs. Belmont was playing. Her exc
cution was brilliant and correct, but
there was nothing in her music that
stirred or moved him. 1t was all me-
chanical.
81 hope the dark spirit is not upon
you tonight, Mr.. Owen" said Con-
stance, in a low, clear voice.
"No," he replied; 'it's only the spirit
of stupidity. l want to thank you for
exercising it the last evening was
here, but don't know how"
ITO BE CONTINUED.