Carolina watchman. [volume] (Salisbury, N.C.) 1871-1937, 1905-01-03

g ~ G staring out OF the Wlloo"
@72 = with unseeing eyes-nef
>Rgessg' thoughts far away. Be
hiEt! her the room was almost dark'
but a rosy glow slanted through the
low easement and touched her bright
brown hair into threads of gold. \
man coming swiftly into the room
lesitated for Il moment i'll the door
Way. then. with Il whimsical express
sion of amusement in his eyes. went
forward softly. and. putting Il hand
under her chin. kissed her upturned
face. But. as his lips touched hers. he
rer03ad with Il start: her face was I'M
known 10 hil.?. and al the same mo
ment the girl sprans from her seat.
tnru>ling him from her with both
hands. The color swept from her
tlroat to ler forehead. her blue eyes
blazed, her slender figure was tense
With indignation.
how dare YOU she said, passion
a1ely: and he. for 4 moment had no
reply ready. He was completely taken
ahlrii. but managed at last to Stammer
out:
I'm Very sorry. I'm afraid I've
made a mistaken
THAT YOU certainly have. was the
emphatic rctort. and then. with a fash
OF se0rn from the blue eyes, she was
gone.
Fast my bad lnck.." Val Varying
murvered. 1t certainly seemed unlucky
that. after five years absence. he
should manage to make a fauzpas on
the of arriving home.
Va, my dear boy" a voice said
from the doorway. and his mother
came toward him with outstretched
hands. He took her in his arms and
she drew his head down and kissed
him on both cheeks. Then She held
him away from her and scrutinized
his face. you've grown a beard. Vail"
she said. reproachfully. 1t makes you
lock ~dreadfully old"
H. laughed.
u knew YOU wouldn't like it. and l
meant to take it off before seeing you.
but We reached port sooner than We
expected, and l rushed to catch the
midday express"
Al that is how YOU came to-day
instead OF Tomorrow. when we eX-
pected YOU. You are Very welcome.
my dear boy. but it's so dark l cannot
See YOU properly: We'll have a light
As the match fired. he noticed that
her face was thinner and more trans
parent in its fair deiicacy OF complex
ion tNan when he went away: so small
and fragile Il being. and vet possessed
of great strength OF will. as be knew to
his cost-witness his Punishment to a
far land when the heaGstronG follies
OF his youth had threatened his future
career.
Il am sorry TO tell you there IS a
disappointment in store for YOU. Nal.'
she said, when the gas was lighted.
"Gladys has gone away: she left here
Yesterday to stay with some reIations.-
She gave me this note for you. | think
she might really have postponed her
visit when she heard YOU were coming
home. but Gladys is so different from
other girls"
Yes, Gladys is quite different from
other girls he repeated. With a slight
~ cynical infection in his voice. Ee
was turning the letter round and round
III his hands absently: then he addAl:
"NL0 was the girl | found sitting
here? I thought for a she
was Gladys when l came in"
The girl? Oh. you mean Francie.
Why. surely 0 could not mistake her
for Gladys: they are utterly unlike?
| io3l you all about her long ago. Val
don't YOU r~emember? She was be-
queathed TO my care by my cousin.
Miriam Nane. when she died two years
ago. and Francie has lived With me
ever since"
oh. but YOU said Z child. l mag
ined quite a little girl. not Il tall, young
woman like this. I'm afraid l offended
her when | arrived
Did she I'll away? She is rather
shy. but a dear girl. She has been a
great comfort to me in my loneliness:
nut YOU want to e your letter, Val!''
He tore open the envelope. and, going
over to the light. stood there reading.
The expression on his face Geepened
suddenly to gravity, and a line aD-
peared between his eyebrows which
maze him look strangely like his
mother. She "a watching him anx-
1ously while he tore the paper into
small pieces and threw them into the
CRATE Meeting her eyes. he gave a
low laugh.
5 that is over!." he said.
ION, Val. you don't mean-"
1eS-she has politely, but firmly,
ended our engagement. It is only Visit
nave peen expecting for a long time.
Don't worry yourself. mother-I shall
survive this. as l have survived other
di>appointments!"
She might have waited a little-to
spoil your homecoming wes most crue,