The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-03-15

CURTIS TtNSTALL was known in
the regiment as Stonewall. From
this it may be gathered that he
was not an impressionable or impul-
sive men. He had never been in love
honest Injun," as his brother Off
GERS would have said They would
also have added that when he did COM
NIT that folly. he would go In pretty
deep. En- revanche. he was q hard
working officer, who got plenty of
work out of his Tommes, and con-
trived at the same time to be popular
with them.
He was not SO popular with the fair
sex. No man really is who persistent
ly holds aloof from them, and, without
being impolite in their presence, shows
that he can do thoroughly well with
their absence. Captain Tunstall was,
from their point of view, no use at all.
He could not be relied ON except for
barren courtesy. What, then, did 1t
matter to any wearer of petticoat
whether he was a popular officer and
had earned the d. S. o. or not? 1t
mattered just as little that he was
Lord Amershan's son, and would be a
peer one day, with comfortable access
sories-except that it was eXasperat-
ing for it all to be out of reach.
1t was one time when his battalion
was quartered at Windsor on guard
duty that the great event happened.
Ascot races were just over, and by
way of finish to the week the Guards
had arranger a big day on the pretty
polo ground just outside Datchet. The
elite of Windsor and the two counties
gathered in state to see the sport, and
the place was gay with flowers, frills,
frocks and fashion. Captain Tunstall,
of course, was playing in his own
team. He was one of it's strongest pill
lars, and when victory fell eventually
to his side it was largely due to his
rapid runs up and skilful shots at goal.
ooh, who is that man-the man who
made most of the goals?" cried a girl
with enthusiasm. She was seated in
Lady Philiston's carriage, which stood
at the side of the ground. Captain
Tunstall, riding in at the close of the
game, came almost straight at the car
riage, and the girl was able to see on
closer inspection what a fine man he
was. They exchanged glances.
'"That is Captain Tunstall," replied
Lady Philiston. "TIe is good to look
at, isn't he? but you would be dsap-
pointed if you knew him. They call
him an-hater-which, I suppose,
means that he is too stupid to be able
to make himself agreeable to any wo-
man. Not that he seemed stupid on
the only occasion that I ever met him.
But if he is really a woman-hater, he
must be a fool. Think what he
misses!"
"He evidently doesn't hate you,"
said the girl in a discreet whisper, 'for
he is obviously coming to speak to
you" But in her heart she wondered
whether it were true that the ponys
course had altered just fraction since
the exchange of that glance.
Dear me, SO he is," replied Lady
Philiston in the same tone. HE has
not forgotten me then" She was obvi-
ously much pleased. "He can't really
be such bear as people make out"
She welcomed him cordially, and
Tunstall responded with (for him) un-
usual brightness. Usually he was
grave with ladies. Lady Philiston who
liked big, good looking men, and knew
we'll that Tunstall was not lavish in
even these small attentions, ratified on
for some time in a lively manner, talk
ing all the compliment to her own fad
ing attractions, and pluming herself
on their effect. 1t was only as an af-
terthought that she introduced her
friend Miss Certis.
The intelligent reader has probably
OWNED by now that it was Miss Ger
tis' face, and not Lady Philiston's at
fractions, which had drawn Stonewall
Tunstall out of his ordinary groove as
If with some magnetic power. In
r,,1
altogether regular, yet charming in it's
irregularity. What fixed the attention
at once was the eyes-large, dark and
1ustrous. They might have belonged to
an oriental sultana but for the express
sion, which spoke of the active brain
of the west, not of the soulless torpor
of the east.
She spoke to Tunstan about the polo,
and he replied with zest. He had suf-
ficient sense not to neglect Lady Phil
iston; but how great would have been
her pique had she known that he re-
garded her as but the stepping stone
over which man must pass each time
he comes and goes to the Happy Land?
1t does not do to kick it away into
mid-stream.
He was so sincerely delighted with
The encounter, so really anxious to
please, that both ladies We're captivat-
ed with him.
You must come and see me-" said
Lady Philiston. "Oh, know you are
not calling man, but you must make
an exception. Write and say when
you will come to lunch. Or, better still,
come on Tuesday-if you don't mind a
short invitation. We have a few peo-
pie coming, and Miss Certis will still
be with u.s."
Now, Tunstall always refused lunch |
con invitations, People who had had
any experience of him in this way had
given up sending them. Great would |
have been their surprise to hear him |
accept this invitation readily, nay,
with gratitude. p.
Captain Tunstall went to that lunch |
con party and enjoyed 1t. Miss Certis |
was not only pretty to look at, but |
charming to talk to. Opportunities |
came in his way, and he used them. |
Nor was the language of the eyes |
wanting. Again and again the twain |
drew together, and by manner and
glance declared the pleasure that they
felt In each others society. Curtis
Tunstall, who was not, as a rule, of |
am idealistic temperament, found him
self talking fiuently on the affinity OF
souls and the natural rapprochement
which, on some rare and beatfic occa-
sions, one feels for another at the first
encounter. He did not actually tell
her that he had fallen in love with her
at first sight, nor did he intend to. 1t