Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1901-08-17
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
IFIrENANr rNSlN =. n l.

CtuncL A4tE -t --aa-H Ltat t... ".sa. t...s
pretty girl who, an lc-- before r-1
become Mrs. Harka:,- Lieutenant
Ensou was fond IL bis -sca --s
companion. Lieutenant E-,1s-. YET
he was not happy even on WIS 4-s7--
cious occasion. In fac, BE vas dis
tinctly unhappy, although rhe was
cious young woman who >5- He> de
him chatted and laughed With enter
tanning grace. To all Of her remarks
he made cheerful answers t--esG.y Is.
The trouble with Lieutenao. E->o1
was that the scene before him, in
which the bride and groom formed
the center of the picture, with -ayly
decorated table, cur flowers and
naval emblems done in roses, as vel
as numerous brightly adorned can
dies for the background, brought
more poignantly TO his mind the fact
that the girl whom he had once
hoped to make Mrs, EuSOn was not
there. Worse still, Lieutenant Enson
did not know where she was. Such a
condition of affairs would disconcert
the average man, and Lieutenant En-
son considered himself not above the
average individual.
A week before the warship on
which he and Hacbett served had
touched al a home port, after three
years cruise in foreign waters.
Lieutenant Enson had FASTENED to
the little city Of Maybrook, only to
find that Mrs. Lytle and her daugh-
ter Lysbeth had moved away a year
before A feyerish search for them
resulted in failure. The quiet,
mothorly widow and the dainty
daughter whose image Ned Enson
had carried in his heart for years,
had disappeared as if earthquakes
were common in America. Hay be-
lefs that Mrs. Lyle had lost all her
fortune were held by the few whom
Lieutenant Enson felt at liberty to
question; but where or how, these
well-meaning, but unsatisfactory in
formers could not say.
So it was with a heavy heart in
deed that a week later he responded
to Hacketts telegram, and kept his
promise to act as best man in this
distant city of the west.
'Mr. Enson!" exclaimed the girl be
side him, in a laughingly provoked
tone, ARE you ever going to answer
my question:"
II beg your pardon, Miss Perry"
said Enson, contritcly, coming to
himself with a start, Il did not hear
you. My apology shall be as abject
as I can make it. You We're say
ing-?'
THAT the best man was either
fighting some of his glorious sea bat
ties over again, or that his nearest
neighbor at present has lost her abil-
ity to interest"
And l assure YOU that neither is
the case" declared Enson, ~ do
plead guilty 10 missing your last re-
mark but the preceding ones | will
repeat verbatim for you, if you will
allow me-"
Most assuredly mott should
blush with modification to hear my
words OF wisdom repeated by SO lax
a listener. The girl across Che
table is undoubtedly the cause Of
your abstraction. Shes fascinating
just TO look at, I know. But what is
Mr.. IIackett going to do? I hope it
isn't a speech.'
Don't be alarmed; he is only
handing his sword to the bride 10 cut
the cake. 1t is a time-honored GUS
tom explained Enson.
As he spoke, the bride. with girl
ish pride and many bushes, aided by
many suggestions from those near.
est her cut the great bridal cake
into many slices, and the silent sery-
ing-man passed it around the table.
A burst Of joyous laughter rose
above the general hum Of talk as one
of the wedding-party discovered the
thimble in her slice Of cake, while
the earnest young man beside her
whispered; u hope YOU are not 90
ing to let that influence your answer
TO me. are you, Ellen?' Before she
could reply another bridesmaid had
found the ring. and the cake was be-
ing offered to Enson, He took q por-
tion and broke it mechanically.
Oh, you have the sixpence," cried
Miss Perry. "See. Mr. Enson. wealth
is 70 be yours
When it comes, ] trust You win all
assist me to spend part Of IT," said
the lieutenant, smiling. as be dropped
the coin into his pocket. "Ah. here
comes the toast to the bride." and
the glasses clinked.
It was not until the last handful
of rice had been thrown, and the
house had begun TO be less com
pactly filed with guests, that Enson
thought of the sixpence again. Then
he took it out of his pocket and
looked at it idly for a moment, for
as he turned ii over in his palm, he
noted peculiar mark upon the old
English coin, mark with which he
was strangely familiar, Across tn,
coat-of-arms had been scratched
deeply the figures 1888" That wal
all, and yet for the time being En-
sons heart seemed to stand still
"As ! live" he said to himself, 81
is her sixpence-the one / gave her
II il isn't, how came that mark jus
where ! put it? And If the six
pence is here" But he did no
finish the sentence. Making his wa
TO where one of the walters stoo
near the dining-room door, he asked
abruptly, and in tone of voice whic
his men aboardship were not in tn
habit of questioning. who serve
the supper tonight"
Hammond, sir" replied the maj
promptly and respectfully.
''Hammond?' repeated the lieuter
ant. docs he bake his own cakes ?
~ think he does, sir but if yo
win wait a moment III find out frol
the man in charge"
I'm go with you" said Enson, an
In a moment The two were in tn
kitchen.
Five minutes later the best ma
was seated IN a cab, dashing alon
4he efraof "a tf lsFo ao-..-1.a -