Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1906-01-25

regiment had been ordered west, and
the child, who had hitherto been his
companion, was placed in madame's
care during his absence. She was
child-it was not possible
This is ours, Miss Man."
Mai Whitaker stood before me-
large, pompous and good natured. AS
I placed my fingers on his arm-the
major always liked to go ION pa
rade" before he began his gyrations-
1 mentally compared the two men, and
wondered again how Loo's engagement
had come about.
Il see Breyet is back again" ,"~he re-
marked. "Clever fellow, and rat
ting good soldier Deserves all the
honors he has got, indeed he does!"
"Yes?" acquiesced, readily, seeing
that he alluded to the stranger. "You
know him, then?"
ooh, yes; he was at one time in my
regiment. know his people well. Now
that he's home safe and sound, sup
mcse he'll be taking wife, but
d6ubt whether he'll fall in with the
arrangements very fead1iy:'' Tho ma
pr chuckled.
Il arrangements" queried. "He is
engaged?"
"His wife was chosen for him long
ago. returned the major; "she was
! mis- mothers ward; but the young fel-
! low suddenly developed will Of his
own and announced his intention of
| choosing his own bride.
"It must have been six years ago,
should think-perhaps more" contin
ued the major. Ellis mother was anx
ious for the engagement to be brought
abQl and there was a scene, re
meNfber. The young man came to me
| afterward.
! Look here, major he said, hotly
I'm not boy, and | can choose my
own wife. In fact'-and he colore6
like a girl-I've chosen her already
don't mind telling you I've seen the
only girl I'll ever marry, and she ISM
my mothers choice!
Right you are, my boy said I
| Choose your girl and stick to her
Where did you meet her?"
. "Then II came out that he hadn'
ever been introduced to her. Hex
saved her from something-r'm sure
forget what--he knew that she wal
small and dark, and had pair O
honest eyes that had gone straigh
to his heart; but her name-well, b,
only knew her Christian name, and h,
didn't tell me that! But conclude,
ooio }riY, = S1oosc ~,
his guns, and he's in 1--we with hi
dark-eyed mystery still. There's
twentieth century romance for you
let me get you some refreshments
I let him go in silence. I had lis
tened to his story in breathless e1
element. OF course, Loo was tn
| heroine, and he had found his "darl
eyed mystery! recalled the scraps G
their conversation: "You have tn
mark still" remember how tha
mark had excited our schoolgirl curio!
| ity, and Loo had been raised to til
rank of heroine as she related hov
she had narrowly escaped crue
death in the street and handsom
! unknown had been her salvation.
pieced it all together, and felt a
| though l were traitor to the kindl
major to leave him in ignorance; ye
, how could I tell him?
; The supper room was crowded, an
; after much skillful maneuvering b
piIoted me to distant window whic
. opened on to small balcony. AS "
( gained this desirable, and, as we b.
lieved, deserted haven, the murmur {
voices showed the balcony was occ
, pied, and the next moment man
words came through the open windo1
Impossible, Loo? Why? Becaus
] you do not knew me-"
No. Oh, say no more. II" ht
voice ended in a sob.
/. have startled you, dear. But if yo
! knew how have searched for yo
(, and now to find you here
$ Don't! Dont!" she cried. II ma
9 not listen-I am-engaged!"
q Then there was silence, silence
dared not break. The major stood {