The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1900-07-24

fs&IY ers's eldest daugh-
tR3fF ter, Rhoda, used
&#yA 81 laughingly to de-
rsg4s((E@ s s5o and 'pa %y ' teP"isF
{sG1N- ,SE-zaHX9 Nip shared my UNI
Sssss,,.4NNyTNgDS divided affection,
Ssga,llNNN[%M%z.x yet Nip held first
q AFSeSNTTylg place in my esteem.
JttS.IFTS 'yTts>s's---s.--! When | remem-
ees Ssrss2Sss.@.- ~ bered Rhoda's
- mother, | thought
otherwise, for in years gone by, when
we were both subaItcrns. Jack TRAY
ers and | had loved the same girl.
We both wooed her, but Jack won
her fairly; he and / were none the less
friends, yet the day when we stood
side 10y side at his child wife's open
grave under the scarlet glory of the
gold-mohur trees was the bitterest i'm
my life. She left one little girl. and
IN good time Jack forgot his grief and
married again. His vcranda was full
OF merry voices and the patter of tiny
ieet, but | remembered always, and
SO Rhoda, for her mothers sake. was
dearcr to me than anything on earth.
lime had not stood still since those
days. We had gone home with the
regiment, and now 1T was cummcncing
It's ten years of Indian service again.
Jack commanded and | was senior
major, Rhoda was grown up. and had
come out under the wing of the second
Mrs. Travers.
The second year after we had
arrived i'm tho station the ouuuars
gave ball. When | arrived the ball
was already in full swing and the first
person | saw was Rhoda Travers.
what on earth are you doing
here?' | said. ''Why are You not
dancing, Rhoda?"
II am dancing" she answered.
tucking her arm into minc, with
you"
But I'm not dancing man. "
know that, don't /, Major Dick?
you've never danced with me yet
Take me into the veranda quick.
There's Mrs Travers looking AFT us.
You see, she wants me to dance with
old Sir Henry Lushington, and said
my programme was full.
"Well?"
well, it ism't-quitc. Sir Henry
pursues me from Dan to Beershcba.
aud Mrs Travers has quite made mn
her mind that I'm to marry him, aud
that he'll propose tonight -
The idea is preposterous; the
mans old enough to he your grand
'Pther! Well, how about the pro-
gramme?"
Ehoda handed it to me.
what on earth are all these blanks
for? Stop, though, there's hieroglv-
phic against them.
well, said Rhoda, "rm-Tm
keeping them for some one. but till
NJ comes I'm engaged to YOU. See?
Major Dick, with coaxing cLauee
OF tone, where's Alist-Mr. Grahame
to.night?'
'Alistair Grahame. " said. with q
sudden flash of comprehension. "why
out IN the district at Kotanhulli: he
said he would be back for the ball. "
When did you see him last?"
The morning he left. And all
those dances for him, Rhoda? Do
you mean to tell NE"
Rhoda nodded violently and be.
came absorbed in the study of her
programme.
Good heavens, How LIirl t,...
beeul I'd no notion of If Eblra
has he--?"
Yes, he has Interrupted Ebodar
II was to have his answer next dav
then he was ordered OF into the dis.
trict suddenly, and ] haven't seen
him since. I've been SO vrctcheJ.
Major. dear. do Won fbipI. b..u .l,,a
to-night?"
"Of course lie will ,,su.r.1
checrly: che gone ont 4, some Lc.stI,
little village ALONG fine fiv,, II,.s,;I
he would put mn M KotauLurIi l""
Calow and be blrf Lv l.'r,,,,,,
Ehoda. dear. I'm awhile rI,d
AIistars rghi good feII,o, and yor
will make him lowell of wifc - o'
The shadow decpcucd i'm iIr oiyl.s
,vr. .. ...