The Colfax chronicle., 1903-06-20

news of prodigal son to . white
haired old LADY, guess she's white
haired-and I've been telegrsphed :,
stop and deliver it, and drink cup o
tea--a quiet cupful of tea, he said
Have you seen her in this gidd,
throng?"
The curving lips parted in way thai
to Bobby was the dearest way in tn,
world. With a sudden Tightening IL
an organ he had been trying to dis
pense with, he remembered the major
and rushed into conversation AGAR
without waiting an answer to his ques
| ton.
slows the major?" he said.
The girl frowned in puzzled way
there was faint reproach in her an
swer. After an absence of two years
his first thought was of the major.
"Where is hep"
Abroad" carelessly. She wasn't
thinking of the major, but she had
thought good deal of Bobby Harri,
in the two years.
"Whatever made you do it?'
"Do what?" in astonishment.
ENLIST, of course"
The lines of Bobby's face settled into
bitterness. He laughed. "If you were
writer, I'd tell you, and there'd be
another war story on a worn-out
theme"
With quick, curious little intake the
girl caught her breath. 81 didn't know.
Forgive me-"
"It's just that my viewpoint il
wrong" apologized the man, land that
I have the misfortune to love another
mans WIFE"
The pretty color left the girls face.
"I'm sorry" she said, in a low voice.
"That helps" said Bobby. simply.
Then abruptly: "Why is the major
abroad?"
"Still sightseeing" listlessly.
"What has come between your"
Distance" with little smile.
Don't you care for him?"
81 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, stifly.
1t 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.
Ill never heard of anything
quite SO funny" She went off into q
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
'ould not fathom.
If man in his blindness went from
7ou because he was a coward and
hought he saw the end of all things"
aid Bobby. developing symptoms of
mental delirium under that long look |
md quite forgetting the major, eff
+" Remembering the other man he
ct his teeth hard-his words trailed |
III into silence, painful silence.
The beautiful face came nearer-her
'oice trembled through his brain.
If he went in his blindness" she
aid, "he'd come back for-for the be-
inning of things"
Good Lord" groaned Bobby, "why
idn't bullet"
Bobby DEAR" said a choked voice.
'arolyn had turned her back on him,
nobody noticed me at the wedding,
Though ! looked beautiful, was as CAV
butterfly and threw rice. WHY
'eren't you there? +" Bobby didn't
now it was laughter that affected her
oice, and his face was set-"I wanted
on, Bobby. The world turned gray,
nd there was dust on my heart" plain.
vely.
Silence.
Couldn't you come to the weddine?"
Whose wedding?" in an agonized
hisper.
my dear Aunt Caro's to the Major,
hose else. pray?"
Bobby swept her into his hungry
rms.
Her taunting, tender, half-smoth-
ed voice still reached him. 1t said:
You're not so many, you dear
upid. There's lots you don't know.
ny, you're even in the wrong house."