Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1905-10-14


II was the dinner hour at the Ocean
House. Inside the spacious dining
room the hum OF conversation and low
laughter OF women's voices mingled
with soft strains OF music. AT the open
windows the light curtains swayed
gently In the ocean breeze.
A burst OF infectious laughter came
from u gay party by one Of the win.
dows, aud Robert Woodruff. seated
Rlone at a nearby table. glanced up Ia
amused interest Something vaguely
familiar about one OF the grOup-a girl
who sat with her back TO him reused
his attention. lie was consumed with
n burning desire 10 see her face. but
some one was between them.
Just thea the little party rose Co go.
As the girl pushed back her chair she
turned, and with a glad thrill he recog.
nized her-Ellzabcth! How often the
picture OF that slender, almost faultless
ngure. the appealing eyes. the odd liz
tie touch Of hauteur In the expressive
face. had been In his mind during the
past dreary months. II only she had
given him q chance 20 explain. now.
by the force OF his love, grown strong
through months OF hunger. he would
compel her 10 listen. Perhaps she
would ignore that foolish misunder.
stabding after these two long years.
NE wa very near now-ln another
2 pent abe must pass him. He rose.
AMI bis face was very bright and eager
ss he stood. tall and straight. beside
his chair. On she came. pausing n mo
ment at the table next To his own.
Now abe was so close he could have
touched her, and his heart throbbed
painfully. Then slowly. deliberately.
coolly. without glance. she passed
him. her soft white draperies trailing
gracefully down the long room.
Outside In the corridor little Billy
Preston hurried past her. his fat. good
natured face aglow
-Seo Bobby WoodruffT' he painted.
Must be In there-name's ON the
register-not In room-must have come
by late boat missed hlm-saillngr'
he gasped eIpIainingly.
The smile on EliEabeth's llps-every.
body always smiled NJ Bobby-faded
With quick shock OF comprehension
she glanced hack into the dining room
SO that was Robert Woodruff. that
tail. splendid fellow smiling an answer
20 Bllly's ELUSIVE greeting; he had
been NO near and she had not known.
Her heart beat In great. suffocntlng
throbs. the lights were swimming be-
fore her eyes. and In her ears rang
Billy's high pitched voice.
Here he Is. Miss Worthingt0n
Here's the prodIgalr' be bubbled Joy
ously. Keeping 90 himself just be-
cause the papers are full % that old
bridge he managed 10 build down there
In South America. Can't shake his old
friends like that. can he. Miss Worth
ingtonl Doesn't he look fine. thought
And Billy beamci ecstatically.
II am 30 glad 10 see YOU" she said
with a trcmulous little smile. trying 70
speak steadily Her dark eyes were
full Of tender light
hut there was no wcrlng smile
on the stern face above her. "Miss
worthlngton Is very kind" be said
courteously and bowling gravely.
Her face was very white as she
turned proudly aside She had lived
In the hope Of his coming and be had
come-and did not care.
later Zoo the evening. so late that the
long suffering chlperous had already
begun q, issue warning signals 10 their
unhecdlng charges. Billy finished
waltz with Miss Worthngton His
companion had been singularly silent
You look done up he said anX
lously. Come NJ on the porch. where
Woodruff and the rest OF the crowd
are"
"Oh. no-I''- she commenced I'm a
quick. pleading voice. then stopped and
walked beside him with gentle dignity
Billy drew her chair within the
friendly circle and she leaned CRATE
fully back In her shadowy corner The
sound OF viollns came softly from the
distance; below them was the mutfled
beating OF the surf against the rocks;
an unusual spell OF silence lay upon
the little group.
Woodruff. tell us a story" said Bllly
suddenly.
Eyes, do"-"About South America
IAN adventure"-"No "A love story.
chorused the others. The girl In the
shadowy corner said nothing. but
woodrun's eyes turned to her FOR one
brief instant before he spoke
"well-it isn't really a story; there
isn't enough Of IT," he began. There
was a fellow down there knew him
pretty well. better than any one else
did, / think lie lived I'm South Amer
lca-had been there FOR a long time
aud when we began on the bridge he