Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-08-26
CHAPTER XVI.

CHAPTER XVII.
~ NBOUr a week after this trans
sIA action Rayburn Miller went
+ to Atlanta ON business for
one Of his clients and while
there h accidentally called at the o.
6ees az the Southern Land and. Timber
company. hoping TO meet Wilson and
learn something about his immediate
plans In regard to the new railroad.
But he was Informed that the presi-
dent OF the company had just gone to
New York and would not be back for
week.
Rayburn was waiting in the rotunda
of the kimball House for his train.
which left at 10 o'clock, when he ran
across his friend, Captain Ralph Bur
ton Of the Gate City guards. local
military company.
Glad to see you" said the young
officer. did you run up for the ball?"
What bull Is that" asked Miller.
II am at the first of it,
.sOh. we are giving one here in this
house tonight answered Burton, who
was q handsome man OF thirty.five,
tall and erect and appeared at his best
In his close fitting evening suit and
light overcoat. Come upstairs, and
I'LL introduce you to lot OF stran-
gers.s
Cant" Rayburn told him. "I'ye
got to leave ut 10so'clock."
We'll. you've got n good hour yet"
insisted the officer. Come up on the
next floor. where the orchestra is. any
way. and we can sit down and watch
the crowd come in"
Miller complied. and they found
seats on the spacious floor overlooking
the thronged Office. From where they
sat they could look through several
drawing rooms into the ballroom be-
yond. Already a considerablefnum
OF people had assembled. and many
couples were walking about even quite
near to the two young men,
BY George!' suddenly exclaimed
Miller as a couple passed them. who
is that stunning looking blond? She
walks like queen"
"Wheref" asked Burton, hooking in
the wrong direction.
Why. there, with Charlie Penrose."
"Oh, that one" said Burton, trying
to think, Il know as well as know
anything. but her name hns slipped
my memory. Why, she's visiting the
Bishops. ON Peachtree street-a Miss
Bishop; that's It"
Adele little Adele7 Impossible"
cried Rayburn. "And I've been think.
ing Of her as child all these years."
so You know herf' said Captain
Burton.
Her brother Is chum of NINE" ex-
planned Miller. II haven't seen her
since she went to Virginia to school
five years ago. never would have
recognized her in the world. My Lord,
she's simply regal!''
4 haven't had the pleasure of meet
ing her" sud the captain, "but I've
heard lots about her from the boys
who go to Bishops They say she's re
markedly clever recites, you know,
and takes on the plantation negro to
perfection. She's a great favorite with
Major Middleton. who doesn't often
take to the frying size. She has been
q big drawing card out at Bishops
ever since she came. The boys say the
house overfows every evening. Are
you going to speak to herT'
III get good chance" said Ray
burn. his eyes on the couple as they
disappeared in the ballroom. II don't
like to so In looking like this. but she'd
want to hear from home"
sOh, See" said Burton. well,
you'd better try it before the grand
march sweeps everything before It.
As Miller entered the ballroom Pen
rose was giving Adele a seat behind a
cluster OF pGlms, near the grand piano,
around which the German orchestra
was grouped. He went straight to her.
- "YOu won't remember me. Miss
Adele" he said. with a smile, "but Pm
going to risk speaking to you anyway"
She looked up from tho bunch Of
flowers in ha lap and In a startled,
eager sort OF way began to study his
face
mo. do not" she said, flushing a
little and yet smiling agreeably.
'Well. ! call that a good joke" Pen
rose broke In, with laugh. as he
greeted Miller with a familiar slap on
the shoulder. why. Raybnrn, on my
word, she hasn't talked OF anybody
else for the last week, and here She
You are not Rayburn Millerw Adele
exclaimed, and she stood up to give
him her hand "Yes I have been talk
ing OF you, and 1t seems to me have
thousand things to say and. oh, SC
many thanksl''
There was something In this impul.
: sive greeting that gave Miller a delec.
table thrill all over.
'.You were such little thing the
last time saw you," he said almost
tenderly. II declare, you have changed
.eso. so remarkably"
She nodded to Penrose, who was ex.
custng himself, and then she said to
Miller. Are you going to dance to
night
He explained that he was obliged te
take the train which left in a few
minutes.
He saw her face actually fall with
s appointment. The very genuineness
OF the expression pleased him inexplica
bly,. "Then must hurry she said
Would you mind talking to me little
while?
Nothing could possibly please me SC
much. said he. Suppose we stroll
around"
She took his arm. and he led hel
back to the rotunda overlooking the