The Delta independent., 1900-04-06

less. somewhat ne4rtless maioen Oh INC
past.
Toe interest she had manifested in
his-Don's-convalescence. and his ca
reer altogether. lent impetus to the
thought that she would not refuse him
her hsnd . second time.
him sfnuenee equal to the rent rolls OF
Gadie. and-wsll. he admired Lille n
much - Don felt II incumbent upon
him TO samirs any one. to the exclu-
sion Of the ovsrrulinE Idol OF his life.
and that Vas self.
But 1t was almost With the air of an
ardent lover Don drew rein before the
spacious white house surrounded by a
cool veranda. between whose slender
excluded the heat Of the sun by day.
Yes. the memsahib Vas at home"
hs vas informed BY the durvan-door-
kseper-who hurried to his summons.
A gong vas banged 10 announce =
visitor. and thereupon another native.
red-turbaned and White-caftansd. ap-
psarsd on the thrsshoid and saiaamed
Doa 0ordoa through the white vssti-
bale toward . delightful apartment.
which proved to be untenaatsd. II was
. vesitabss iaAy's boudoir. furnished
With Eeropean tasts and Oriental
spisadoe eo0bined.
On the walls wers dotted valuable
prints in Engiish frames. which Don
reDsobsrsd to have sdorned Capt
Dervent's private quarters At home.
They had . toseh Of pathos ~ seen in
CONJUNCTION With the great gilded
punkAh Which hung overhead.
About the room we're scattered the
hooks and Thousand and one knick-
knscks vAleA betrayed that even n
fAr northeaStsrn lndis N English lady
must have her dravtag-roon. 1t -
hes ovn especial kingdoo. where she
can sather together aAd sashrine In
constant remenbraaee all the pretty
triAes which make up the larger coa-
forts oe tAs mother coaatry.
Dos Gordon. standing II the center
Of TIE rooa for n iastant irrsso,ute.
tosk In all ths details at . giaacs. rAsa
- WALKED TO he tarDs viDAov opsaiAe
iato Gardsa. Il vas stiil light ssoash
Nee he lA0Qs 70 - uaiit, aDA tAs sesat
q he oeaAes btosse0s and IL tubs-
ruses sole soflly IN % ehs cir.
Hs tes usaally seif-OuvesnsA 70 .
lsalt: bst - s1oAt - tAis BagiAA
resn AaA seisrsA a1sv Ass0 thoughts
q tAat distast SeottiaA hone ~ told
hiDsef be could asver bsar 70 hook
upea assin. ...
a silk curtain which drapsA The aoor
ssAAsaly rassled, and. turning suichiy.
Doe foaad the Girl he had come to So
advaAcinG to meet hin.
Lille Dervent wore . sinpae Gown a
vashing siik. which came close about
hss s,ssAes throat: but Il Was Of spot
lsos white. and the Ane mold oe her
slopiAg sAoulders and rounded arms
showed Aasaiingiy through IL delicate
tenure. ssd her abundaat golden hair
hor1sd Q cSroaet With which no Jewels
eouid have vied.
A As looked At her Doa felt his
heart stirred with admiration. for she
wss Q vision of loveliness Of which aAy
naa might b. proud. much more Q
vould-Se lover.
AnA Liilie. Who shall say what we're
her svift thoughts of the tall. siim
soldier. looking doubly handsome st
that mooeu: In his Kharki uniform,
ons Aand holding his helmet. the other
rsstias lightly on the hilt Of his sword.
The next instant the helmet vas LAID
on the noor. and he was takiA9 both
her haads and rstainine them. with an
un0istAkable emotion
Il hope you doa't mind ne coming
90 awSuiiy late. Miss Dsrwent: but
was on duty o6 and on till meas. and
then some fellows detained me so long
till had simply to rush away and ride
here post haste"
She smiled A. she seated herself on
. divan and motioued him to . chair
asaf her.
"But. indeed. Il h not At all late. and
I an very pleased to see you. Capt.
Gordon" Then she addcd. with .
spics Of her old coquetry: And what
urgent necessity that couid not wait
another day brought you here post
haste,'' .s..
Don felt his breath come auacker, for,
despite those visits and presents of
fruit and invalid daintiea with which
she had honor~d him In hospital. he
was not at all sure how high In her e.
TEEN he had reached.
II fear made u . point Of nsces-
sity." he answered biuatly: but I had
q letter from home today. Miss Der
veat. aad--and the tact - coaidn't
sse~p tiil I'd had Ave minutes' private
eoaverMtioa With yoa. Yoa woat ~
fns - ity" he broke %. with . look
- his ARK eyDs abe coasd sot otstahs.
- 1UaAsA anA Looked dev1 bsesss
| ~nlsA Hsashlta b aivaS0 saoAos1
UolA Cseu ~ he ayah ~ o0w." sAe
~ osllly. We SHAH ~ - ~