The Press. (Stafford Springs, Conn.) 1883-1935, 1904-04-20
IN LOVE
and WAR
BY kGse ~. CIeorY
Copyright, 1905. by 7. c. Mcclure

Doris was singing as she came flying
down the wide stairway and out into
the warm brilliancy of the young day,
for it was midsummer, the time OF
roses, Of fragrance, of romance
And Doris seemed the veritable spirit
fellow watching her from his seat un-
der the great elm. But it was not till
she was quite close to him that she was
aware of his presence. The gay little
chanson she had been lifting ceased,
and the pretty, startled color deepened
in her soft cheeks.
"Bon jour- she cried blithely and
paused in her Atalanta-like fight.
mercy! What morning to be porting
over a book! Why: instead you
should
81 knowy He had risen and was
towering before her, straight and state
", q man with an air that was more
that of soldier than a student. You
think should prefer to cultivate Dame
Nature" -.~..
There was quizzical flicker in the
gray, black dashed, black browed eyes
that met her accusing gaze.
"If you will put down that book you
may walk with me as far as the abode
of Mrs. Melinda Parsons, who is ex-
pecting me this morning to write her
monthly letter to her son in the Phil
ippines." ..-z
"The permission is tempting" con-
fessed John Jardine, "but there is Fred
die''-
"Oh, if you prefer Freddie's society
to miner The little chin with the dim
pie went up in the air.
But Pm paid to teach your broth
err, Miss Ware" he fastened to ex-
plain.
"And not to accompany me. l quite
understand" And then, with much
dignity of demeanor, "Good morning,
Mr.. Jardine."
"Good morning." he replied ruefully.
But the quizzical smile was dancing
again in his handsome eyes as Miss
Ware flashed open her parasol, whisked
up the skirts of her embroidered ba-
tiste and turned loftily away, only to
pause when she had taken a few steps
and look back over her shoulder with
eyes full of infinite reproach. ;-...
There's that dog at Browns, and
he might bite. And-and it's hard to
get over the pasture stile - alone
And"-a pitiful culver in her voice
clinched the sincerity of her assertions
of, Of
may be snakes. Freddie saw one last
summer"
There was no questioning the tri-
umphant truth of the final declarat ton.
Nor was refusal longer possible. Con
Quered, John Jardine found himself
walking along the avenue, adjusting
his long stride to the gait of Miss Doris
Ware, who, now that she had her own
way in persuading the most stubborn
individual with whom she. had ever
come in contact, was radiant and bub-
bling over with merriment.
Since six months before their ac-
quaintance began the little flirt, belle,
beauty and heiress had vainly tried all
her graces and destinations ON the seris
ferrous young brother. 1t had seemed
SO natural since she was schoolgirl in
short dresses to have admirers by the
dozen that the difficulty she expert
enced of bringing Jardine to her feet
piqued her and made her more than
ever determined to make him capitu-
late. She would have opened her pan
sy purple eyes very wide indeed and
have been honestly amazed had any
one accused her of being heartless.
She would have said that no one meant
to be serious. Anyhow, all knew-for
1t was an open secret-that she was not
free. Her marriage had been arranged
oh, ages ago-by parents and lawyers
and solicitors and that kind of people.
1t was purely a marriage Of conven-
1ence. But it appeared to be very con-
venlent indeed, and quite satisfactory
all around.
Some day, when she was old, very
old = perhaps twenty-four or theye-
about-Lord Lessington would come
sailing over the sea and wed her and
bear her back over the billOw to a mag
n1ficent historic old home in Sussex.
and she would be great lady and lead
a good and beautiful life and be happy
forever and ever. Which, as her heart
had never been touched, and she was
only wild and winsome little maiden,
seemed quite right and natural.
Only of late she had begun to won
DER why her eyes would droop when
suddenly encountering those of the
man beside whom she now walked,
rafting on in light, inconsequent fash
ion. She was furious when she found
ner cheeks grow burning hot at the mo-
ment of a chance meeting. What was
he to her that her heart had come to
beat more quickly when in his pres
ence? Defiantly she summoned all her
bright audacity to conceal this strange
new unrest ..*~ e*= =
Homeward bound an hour later. they
secured their mail at the village. In
the green gloom, gold pierced, of the
forest pathway the girl sat down to
read her letters. Leaning against q
tree, grave and silent, Jardine stood
watching her. ~. ..."
"Ohw she cried out suddenly and
turned very pale. "He is coming! His
lawyer writes he is coming. Oh, |
didn't think he'd come for years and
years!' There was downright dread
in the eyes that looked piteously up at
her companion. Lord Lessington Is
coming"
He nodded. you've never seen
him?' he asked. ''He is old, sup
pose, and ugly and altogether uetest-
ablev'
"No. Oh, no. 1t was all arranged.
But they say he is young and good.
He is very rich, of course l didn't
think I'd mind-and now.' She rose
trembling. The tears brimmed over
and ran down the cheeks from " hich
the rose bloom had faded "He will
be here today, and I-soon l will have
to marry him."
'You poor little thingv' The COM
passion in his voice thrilled her-that
"A y