The Indianapolis journal., 1902-10-26

edges OF my strangership. 1t must be rip
ping up in town just now. You go along.
old chap. Ten days leave and thoroughly
enjoy yourself"
But do you mean to say you're not go
ing to take ten days leave? 1 thought you
had actually got it,"
'I did think of asking for it," said Ros-
lyn, carelessly. II think I'll take it a little
later; I'm sick of town."
Eventually Devereux asked for and OBJ
tanned the period OF leave of which Roslyn
had spoken. and the following day saw him
go gayly off with his portmanteau followed
by the envy of nine-tenths of his brother
officers. / have said that he went gayly
off, Well, that was not exactly the word
that 1 should have used. He went off with
an assumption of gayety which deceived
everybody excepting George Roslyn.
Before leaving he wrote a note to the
beautiful lady in the Little House down
by the river walk.
Dear Angela" he wrote. 'I am Just off
to town for a few days. haven't had time
to come in and say goodbye. I'm awfully
bothered just now, and worried no end.
Why do ones people interfere with every
thing one wants to do. and upset one in
every relation of life? Excuse more. In
great haste.-Yours, PAT"
This letter he gave to his soldier-servant
and bade him take it to Mrs. Bruton with
out delay. New, it happened that the
soldier-servant had other fish to fry than
delivering his masters letters. so that it
was close on the hour of ere he went
off to the Little House and delivered his
masters missive.
1t happened that Roslyn, having taken
literal advantage of Mrs. Bruton's asser-
tion that she was generally to be found
in at about o'clock, had just sauntered
in.
"you see, I took you literally at your
word" he said.
"You did, indeed. I am most pleased to
see you. Is something on to-day in the
barracks?"
mo. the usual grind; nothing else.
why?"
"Oh, I-I-thought things seemed very
quiet" she said, half stammering.
Then the maid came in bringing the tea
tray, and also the note from Devereux.
rs there an answer, Mary?"
'T don't know. Ma'am. The servant is
still waiting"
"You will excuse me II read this?" Mrs.
Bruton said, turning to Roslyn.
"Oh, of course
She read it and changed color. There's
no answer, Mary" she said, biting her
lip.
She thrust the letter under the tray and
asked Roslyn If he took cream and sugar.
Roslyn replied that he took both.
Mrs, Bruton handed him the tea-cup, and
then said: "Mr. Devereux's gone to Lon
DON"
"Yes, yes. He's got ten days leave"
Rather unexpected. isn't it?"
"I believe quite unexpected. Indeed, I
know 1t is. He went off all of a sudden.
1t sometimes is a good way to get leave
family business, and so on. you know
"Yes, he mentions family business
here"
For a minute or two neither spoke.
Roslyn drank his tea and ate his muffin
with fine stolidity which gave the widow
time to pull herself together a little.
Then Roslyn got up and strode to the
window, the window which overlooked the
river walk-at least, which overlooked
the trees of that charming promenade.
Mrs. Bruton,' he said at last, not
looking at her or even out of the window,
but intently at his finger nails, Mrs.
Bruton, may I-would you mind If were
to say something to your"
cit would depend"
Eyes of course But mean something
that you nigh think impertinent or in
terfering."
What is it?''
young Devereux is engaged to your
"Yes"
"He Is in mess.''
"As how?"
''Well, his people aren't very reasona-
| BILE. They have their views"
''You mean that they object to me?"
'well. not knowing you they can't OBJ
ject to you personally. You see, you are
widow. You may be year or so older
than he is.''
II am. / am five years older"
'I gathered as much. He is very much
in love with you, that boy, but it's a case
Of Oh, I'd better put 1t plainly.
hadn't ~"
Eyes. don't be afraid. Say exactly what
you like
''Well, Mrs. Bruton, it's a case of He
who pays the piper calls the tune You
know how wise these old saws sometimes
are. In this case it's Devereux's father
| who pays the piper, and he calls a tune
Of another kind TO that to which Devereux
himself wants to dance. The father and
| mother have both quite made up their
| minds that IL their son marries you"
He Redeemed and stopped short; his words
| sounded so brutal, so callous.
Mrs. Bruton looked up at him with a
| steady smile. Go on" she said, don't
| mind. know what's In your thought, but
| tell me everything"
"Well, they've made up their minds that
| they'll cut him out of everything. that's the
| long and the short of ii. There's very
little money-good position. several daugh-
ters to provide for. and for a younger son.
They've always been hard up; they've
never had-at least, not for many genera
tions-enough money to keep up the place
| as IL should be kept. He isn't much Of q
catch, Mrs Bruton.
'You have come here to try and get me
| out of a bad bargain?' she said. In sharp,
| decisive tones.
Mrs. Bruton, have done nothing of the
kind. 1 have come here because the lad
!. >ssnA