The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1900-03-31

empty drawing-room when the Admit
raj returned. Somehow the afternoon
seemed very long, after the two we'll
mounted figures dropped down the
road together and were out OF sight.
Sereta among the flowers pricked her
fingers more than common. SAM
uel, I should think the Admiral would
like change" she said fiercely when
she had cut all the pink buds and
walked carefully around the curved
beds to begin on the red.
Samuel stared as if he had been
challenged by the burning bush.
"The Admiral? Miss Sweeta, the Adj
mirals a py'rennial. Most OF the
men that come here is just blown
away seed, half-sown or wind-sown-
come up first in one garden then in
another. The Admiral's rooted like
red laloc; he don't need transplantin'
now; more likely strange soil would
kill him outright"
It was disappointing that the con-
versation OF dinner that night should
have taken a strictly technical turn;
it ran, nay, it fairly few, on naval
equipment, tactics and maneuvres,
till the sleepy hostess Withdrew unno-
ticed. Left all to themselves it burned
out with big guns toward morning,
when the stranger opened attack on
the old subject Of the Admiral's iso-
lation, urging the necessity of renewed
contact with men, the charm of old
scenes-while the Admiral listened as
if to far off music, and finally said.
half.musing, entirely unmoved: II
am like that dear fellow Stevenson,
Roger, my boy. I, too, have lived
and loved and closed the door,"
"But surely the Welt-geist is not
dead in you, Admiral. Gray hairs do
not make moss-grown wits; there's not
O man in the service to match you"
'sThanks," interrupted the Older
man, briefly. "Welt-lust ist vorbei.
III can avoid Welt-schmertz here in
the oyergrown corner Of my pasture
fastness, don't let envy of my peace
poison your happiness. lam too DID,
and Sereta--"
"Ah, yes, Sereta-" broke in the
youngster; "she is at the other end OF
the path. You and she are like the
two last petals Of the daisy rhyme we
used to nay our fate by-'passionement
pas de tout!' You live in your
library and your thoughts; she lives
, in your shadow and the companion
ship of that hyercritical old gardener?
'Your voice betrays irritation
Roger" said the Admiral, blandly
, "Samuel did not forget himself,
hopea" -,
, ssNo-that is, I tried to talk will
, him d bit about slips this morning.
. was admiring his yellow lilies-but n
took no interest in my botanical re
searches. That is neither here no
there. however. Your ward has eye
, that no rose bugs can appreciate, ant
, a nature that would whiten up som
{ of the dark places of earth consider
a ably if properly applied. She ough
: to see less OF herself, and more Of :.
He began to say people of her owl
| age, but ended worse by adding, 9TH
things her mother would have give
: her-fun and dancing, and
8 ! "Stop," cried the Admiral. Goo
/, forbid such fate as her mothers wa
a for herl Thus far her feet have tro
: in angel innocence; she is happy as
|. boy, high minded as saint. She ha
& never tempered with her emotions
nor felt the wasting reaction froi
q pleasure. She doesn't know be
r heart, except as she knows her lung
!. by name. She is youth, gracefr
|. and unspoiled, classic as Greel
& You cannot make Folly of her; th
Il marble is already cut on straighte
It lines" :,
D For time things went on in I'll
/ old routine; except that the Admir
smoked more and talked less, no OF
d would have guessed anything ma
% happened. No one saw the bait
J. fought or took account of self-il
a diligence slain, or carried drink to I'll
diving convictions or softened Il
a going of well-loved preferences; b.
q after many days aud nights q
a.. campaign ended as suddenly as 1T b
IS gan, and the Admiral was every inc
H. a commander still as he went to mn
a Sereta with surrender on his bro'
,r tt was bedtime, and he found her
:. the terrace bidding the stars gos
to night; one of her many quaint o
Ia servances of childhood.
ar There was touch of pagan wond
is on her upturned face as she sto
o. th ere; he stood beside her q
:. breathed a last long breath OF Co
N nIete content. ''They look down
M many heart and country tonight
K he began; "think of the Alps-th
3. must love such tall peaks best becau
he they are nearest-and then the
bs chat losses their image back to TIL