The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-12-25

become mOFDlQ, snort u Speecil, stl-
most surly. And here it was barely
December and there were months
more of it aheadi
BY this time in our narrative 1t is
in order for those interested in the
handspring of masculine action to
.cherchez la femme" She was not
far away in ST Quentin's case. since
Miss Lefty Linden had the reputation
of more hearts on her string than any
girl of her day in Richmond. and was
constantly in evidence, walking from
Franklin street riding out on horse
back in the environs of the town, at
tended by staff of officers, or bril-
iiantly Swirling in the maZeS of the
starvation parties with which the
young people tried to trick themselves
into the belief that grim visaged war
was not always close at hand He had
know the charmer since his univer-
sity days, where she had come as a
girl of sixteen, merry, pretty, her head
turned by mems attentions. 20 be pres
ent at one of the commandments.
Lefty had begun By laughing at St.
Quentin's lordly ways, his belief in
his own supremacy and the fabulous
origin of his family. Then she had
grown interested in him and had al
lowed him to correspond with her. For
him there had never been any other
woman since the first. She really did
him enormous good, reducing him to a
normal level and restraining his self
conceit After he found h mself" and
became es other men. and later on,
when the tales of his brilliant daring
as q soldier kept coming in like sue
ceeding waves to her feet, Letty's
heart-which really existed, spite of
numerous doubts to the contrary-till-
ed with pride in her possession. She
new that she had him bound hand and
foot, and some day she meant to let
him know that she returned his love.
And SO it had gone on Getty ac-
credited as tiance to sundry other
men in the meantime) until ST. Quen-
tins unhappy wounding, his long
fight for life and his return to exist
ence a MANNED and ruined man.
OF course Lefty had gone TO see him
in the hospital. had supplied him with
daintieS. Wrung, Heaven knows how,
from her mothers exhausted kitchen;
had seen that he had flowers and lit
tie three-cornered notes in envelopes
which the Richmond girls REGARDED as
The acme of epistolary elegance. RoZ
mad enough of these notes to fill d
small pasteboard box which he KEEP,
under his pillow night and day. the
nurses respecting the soldiers reli-
quarry, as they were so often called
upon to do. They were masterpieces in
their way. Light, graceful, a triffe
artificial in style, as Southern women
of that day were inclined to write; full
of sympathy, Astounding in Inspiration,
but never committing" their writer.
Miss Lefty Linden was, in fact. past
mistress of the art of composing cor
respondence that might be safely read
upon battle fields, and through prac-
tice had reached perfection. When
she thought ROE st. Quentin was going
to die she showed much natural feel
ing-stayed away from a starvation
party where she had promised to be
in tableau, and went to early morn
ing service for a week.
When he finally emerged upon the
world of the active and living Lefty.
on seeing him in her mothers drawing
room for the first time in the guise
of a caller, was Mortified beyond
words. She thought he had actually
lost all his beauty. his fire, animation.
everything that had attracted her to
him. st. Quentin, abnormally self
conscious, recognized this too quick
~. The blood rushed to his temples
He saw her stare, waver, balk, close
her extraordinary self-possession, her
ready speech fail her. and in that in
slant the love for her that had nerved
his soul for four long years fell slain.
She had made strenuous efforts to
!
lover But he would have all or moth
ing at her hands. He had gone into q
shell, had drifted away from her gay
companions. and now in these winter
days did not care whether he lived or
died
One evening, late in December,
when he came back from his office,
tired disp:rited, more i'll than usual,
cold and generally out of sorts, to
al Il "a G
to his room, he saw in the passage
covred basket from before the door az
old Major Clymer, next beyond him,
and deposit it at his door.
The gas jet in the hall below showed
him that this was a lady and st. Quen-
tins instinct prompted him to hasten
to her relief. He sprang forward with
an apology. took the basket from her
hand and, the effort proving too much
for him. staggered against the wall.
Mr.. ST. Quentin ] am so sorry"
cried the strange young woman. thor
oughly alarmed This hamper was
eft by mistake for us, and I got the
house boy to bring it up to you. since
your name was on the card. I feared
he would do something stupid, as he
always does, and it seems l was right
in coming after himZOh, please. you
are lli-may open your door and help
you 2"
Too forlorn to say her nay, Roz gave
her his ey and walked dizziIy into his
quarters, she following. AS he dropp-
ed upon his chair he saw, dmly, q pair
of soft dark eyes fixed upon his, ana
then knew nothing, since he faintca
dead away.
When consciousness came back Roz
found himself upon his couch, with
TWO women in evidence about the
room. The other, whom he had not
seen before, was an older, sadder,
more faded replica of the first. They
were moving noiselessly, putting lit
tie touches here and there. kindline
the fire built in his CRATE, shading his
reading lamp, and as he stirred the
younger lady, coming swiftly to his
bedside. cried out in Joy. 81 knew Il
was exhaustion. I have seen it so
often in the hospitals" Said the elder
softly, Poor boy! To think we had
noting to give him but that poor wa
termelou brandy. But he'll be all
right now"
you are feeling better Mr.. ST
Quentin" asked the mother coming
to sit beside him. II am Mrs. La
cretelle, and this is my daughter
Narcotic. She ran down to tell me
you were i'll. and we have taken the
liberty to stay with YOU till you re-