The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-04-27

ject I hoped" She broke off. I read
the reason for her cordial reception of
me in her troubled face
7 was anxious 10 see you" she y ent
on. I promised to ask you to call to-
morrow. The fact is. my mother and
are uneasy about her. You are an old
friend, Mr.. Eastlake. and I feel I can
cOnfide in you. Monsieur de la F'este
has long wished to marry Zoe and we
had persuaded her at last to consent to
receive him tomorrow and give him a
definite answer. Your coming seemed
providential. We may count on you not
to- she hesitat ed-"not to encourag &c
any sentimental recoIleetions about Mr..
Hamilton"
J bowed. Tomorrow. then, at g." she
said. and I took my leave.
L made d point of getting introduced
to the Count de Ia Feste that evening
and asking him about ReveIl Hamilton
de was rich young Frenchman, gay.
careless. arrogant.
All, yes. sad affair that" ne said.
night heartedly. His pony circled back
and broke his neck. 1t was at Poona-''
y thought the Fifth IIussars were at
ADpotabad. remarked
The count reflected. The deuce, they
Were!' he answered. I have been mix
ing young Hamilton up with Hawtrey
OF the Ninth Lancers. Hamilton was
shot-that was it. One of those frontier
sklrmishes He was foolhardy, poor
chap, rode down into the midst of q lot
OF Fathans, and they picked him off. -
and could see he was elated at the
prospect of his interview with Zoe
There was no one in the drawing room
when I presented myself at Los An
gelos' at the next day. Presently Zoe
ghded IN alone, and / was startled not
only by her beauty but at the change
IN her She looked as though she be-
lOnged to another world The brillianr.
Of her eyes and the CLEAN of her sunny
hair were the only touches of color
about her. for her face was like ale
baster, and even tho scarlet of her lips
had faded. She was all in black and in
the pillows Of lace on her breast no
ttced the little lace handkerchief-how
1t brought back Hamilton to mel.
tucked in. The touch of her hand was
IeVerlsh. and / ventured to retain it n
mine while I answered her greeting
Your friend" she said sis it true
that he was killed at polo2'
I told her that this seemed to have
been mistake; he had died a soldiers
death defending our borders in India.
When did you last hear from him %
she asked.
We did not correspond, I answered
her. "RevelI was never a good hand at
writing letters: it was not his way"
She was looking out of the window.
her mind and thoughts far from me I
could see, and her listless hand still
resting passively in mine.
He was true" she murmureds to her
self; he would never have broken his
word, I shall come back for Zoe, he
said"
We must all break our word when
death steps in" 1 said, quietly No
doubt he meant to come. But he would
have wished you to be happy and to
forget him, I am sure
1t is impossible" she said.
surely. I urged, you could find
some happiness in making some one
else happy. There are many who love
you. This NJ. de la Feste--" She in
+ terrupted me dreamily: He is coming
today for his answer; it will be No .
There was sound of approa ching
Footsteps and a stir down below in the
courtyard. Zoe snatched her hand from
me and put it to her heart; a wild light
/ spfang INTO her eyes-she looked dis
tfaught [ feared that her dread of the
count had unhinged her mind
Anen she ran to the door, and. as it
opened. fell fainting into the arms of
me man who, entering, caught her with
! passionate ca gerness.
II have come back for YOU, Zoe he
said. tTiumphantly.
4 And it was ReveH fTamiltonl
MY dear old stick-in-the-mud.p he
sald' you don suppose I should go and
I get ported by those beggars when I was
counting the DAYS until my leave to get
BACK TO her. They sniped me once-a
mere iesh Wound-and cur friend the
count made the most of it,
fou got back in the very nick of
time. observed. You are 2 lurlzv
fellow. Hammyl "
Il am the luckiest man in the world
TO get her" he assented: but # was
bound to be. You know I said I would
come back and she said she would walt.
Inc thing was settled ''-Baltimore
Herald.