Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1906-05-08
IcUNTrNUED.1

rcONTINuED.1
The procession halted for moment
! In the street, and the music ceased
Then, with jubilant flourish of brass
and the roll Of drums, the band struck
UP "The Star Spangled Banner" and
jefferson Bareaud proudly led the way
| through the gates and down the drive
way, the bright silk streaming over.
head. Behind him briskly marched the
volunteers, with heads erect and cheer.
| full faces, as they knew Corporal Gray
wished to see them, their captain -four.
ishing his sword In the air.
Here they come! Do you see, Fan.
chon?" cried Crailey excitedly. "They
are all there-Jeff and Tappingham and
the two Madrillons and Will, the dear
old fellow-he'l never write a decent
paragraph as long as he lives, God
bless him!-and young Frank-what
deviltries I've led the boy into!-and
there's the old general, forgetting all
the tiffs we've had. God bless them all
and grant them all safe return! What
on earth are they taking off their hats
for? All, goodby. boys, goodby"
.ney saw the white face ut the win
dow and the slender hand fluttering its
farewell, and Tappingham halted his
men.
"Three times three for Corporal
Gray!' he shouted, managing some
how to keep the smile upon his lips.
Three times three, and may he rejoin
his company before We enter the Mex.
ican capital"
He beat the time for the thunderous
cheers that they gave. The procession
described a circle on the lawn and
then. with the band playing and colors
flying. passed out of the gates and took
up the march to the wharf.
"The flag. the flagw whispered Graf
ley, following it with his eyes. ut
shows you helped make 1t, Fanchon,
it's so beautiful. All, Tom, they've
said we abused it sometimes. 1t was
only that We loved it so well we didn't
like to see any one make 1t look silly
or mean. But, after all; no man can
do that-no. nor no group Of men or
party! His voice grew louder as the
last strains of the music came more
family from the street. They'll take
your banner across the Rio Grande,
Fanchon, but that is not all-some day
its stars must spread over the world!
Don't you all see that they will?"
After little while he closed his eyes
with sigh. The doctor bent over him
quickly, and Miss Betty started for
ward unconsciously and cried out.
But the bright eyes opened again and
fixed themselves upon her with all their
old gay inscrutabiIty.
"Not yet" said Crailey. Miss Ca
rewe, may tell you that am sorry I
could not have known you sooner? Per-
haps you might have liked me for Fan
chon's sake. know you care for her."
II dol dor she faltered. ~ love
her, and-ah-I do like you, Mr.. Gray,
for I know you. though I never-met
you untll-last eight. God bless you
God bless you!
She vavered moment, like lily in
the wind, and put out hand blindly.
"Not your she said sharply as Tom
Vanrevel started toward her. Mrs.
Tanberry came quickly and put an arm
about her, and together they went out
of the room.
"You must be good to her, Tom,"
said Crailcy then in very low voice.
"I?" answered Tom gently. "There
was never chance of that, lad"
Listen" whispered Crailey. Lean
down-no-closer." He cast a quick
glance at Fanchon. kneeling at the 9TH
er side Of the bed. her golden head on
the white coverlet, her outstretched
hand clutching his, and he spoke so
close to Toms ear and in SO low q
tone that only Tom could hear.
"She never cared for me. She felt
that she ought to, but that was only
because | masqucraded in your his
tory. She wanted to tell me before l
went away that there was no chance
for Inc. She WAS telling me that when
he called from the window. 1t was
ut the dance. the night before, that she
knew. think there has been some one
else from the tirst-God send it's you!
Did you speak to her that night or she
to you?"
".Ah, no." said Tom vanrevel. "All
the others"
Mrs. Tanberry and Betty and Mr..
Bareaud waited in the library, the two
women huddled together on a sofa,
with their arms round each other, and
all the house was very still. BY and
by they heard a prolonged, faraway
cheering and the steamers whistle
and knew that the boat was of. Half
an hour later Will Cummings came
back alone, entered the room on tiptoe
and silently sank into chair near Mr..
Bareaud, with his face away from
Miss Betty. He was to remain in Rou-
en- another week and Join his regiment
with Tom. None Of the three appeared
to notice his coming more than dimly,
and he sat with his face bowed In bis
hands and did not move.
Thus perhaps an hour passed, with
only sound Of footsteps on the gravel
of the driveway now and then and
low murmur of voices In the rear Of
the house, where people came to ask
after Crailey. And when the door of
the room whore he Law was opened the