The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1903-05-21

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I've been telegraphed to
stop and deliver it, and drink cup of
tea-a quiet cupful Of tea, he said.
Have you seen her ir this giddy
throng?"
The curving lips parted in a way that
to Bobby was the dearest way in the
world. With sudden tightening in
an organ he had been trying to dis
pense with, he remembered the major,
and rushed into conversation again
without waiting an answer to his ques-
ton.
Flows the major?" he said.
The girl frowned in puzzled way
there was a faint reproach in her an
swer. After an absence of two years
his first thought was o. the major.
"Where is hep"
abroad" carelessly. She wasn't
thinking of the major, but she had
thought a good deal of Bobby Harris
in the two years.
Whatever made you do it?'
"Do what?" in establishment.
Enlist, of course"
The lines of Bobby's face settled into
bitterness. He laughed. "If you were
a writer, I'd tell you, and there'd be
another war story on a WORKOUT
theme"
With a quick. curious little intake the
girl caught her breath. 81 didn't know.
Forgive me-"
ITS just that my viewpoint is
wrong" apologized the man. land that
I have the misfortune 10 love another
mans wife"
The pretty color left the girls face.
I'm sorry" she said, in low voice.
THAT helps" said Bobby, simply.
Then abruptly: why is the major
abroad?"
Still sightseeing" listlessly.
what has come between you?"
Distance" with a little smile.
Don't you care for him?"
az adore him" This with an attempt
at gayety.
"Then why
"Oh, Bobby, you've grown tiresome,"
petulantly.
A quick stain flushed the mans brow.
Pardon me-" he said, stiff1y.
It would be metaphorical to say that
the young woman swept Bobby into a
quiet little room out of the hubbub of
things, but something like that hap
pened. She stood in front of him,
straight and tall and severe.
You're an idiot or am she de-
clared. you've got to explain your in
terest in the major"
"In his wife, gloomily.
The girls laughter rang through the
room. Bobby stiffened at the sound.
I'LL never heard of anything
quite so funny" She went off into q
staccato peal of mirth.
perhaps the majors wife's merri-
ment will hasten my recovery" sug-
gested Bobby. who wasn't enjoying
himself
The girl, suddenly sobered, came
nearer and looked at him with eyes he
could not fathom.
If man in his blindness went from
you because he was q coward and
thought he saw the end of all things"
said Bobby, developing symptoms of
mental delirium under that long look
and quite forgetting the major, eff
if Remembering thr other man he
set his teeth hard-hia words trailed
off into silence, painful silence.
The beautiful face came nearer-her
voice trembled through his brain.
"1f he went in his blindness" she
said, he'd come back for-for the be-
ginning of things"
Good Lord" groaneG Bobby, why
didn't bullet"
Bobby dear" said a choked voice
Carolyn had turned her back on him,
nobody noticed me at the wedding
although looked beautiful. was as gay
as butterfly and threw rice. Why
weren't You there? /" Bobby didn't
know it was laughter that affected her
voice. and his face was set wanted
you, Bobby. The world turned gray
and there was dust en- my heart plain
lively.
Silence.
Couldn't you come to the wedding?'
Whose wedding?' in an agonized
whisper
my dear Aunt Carols to the Major
whose else. pray?"
Bobby swept her into his hungry
arms.
Her taunting, tender. half-smoth.
cred voice still reached him 1t said:
You're not so many, you deal
stupid. There's lots you don't know
Why, you're even in the wrong house