Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1906-04-10
THE TWO
VANREVELS
BY BOOTH HARRINGTON.
Author of THE Gentleman From Indiana
and Monsieur Beaucaile"
Copyright, 1908. by S. S. Mcclure Co.
Copyright, 1908, by S. s. Mcclure Co.
CHAPTER Xxx.

houses Wnere children are, when rustic
lovers stroll with slow and quiet steps
down country lanes and old bachelors
are loneliest and dream Of the things
that might have been. Through the
silence of the clear dusk came the
whistle Of the evening boat that was
to bear Tom Vanrevel through the first
stage of his long journey to the front
Of war, and the sound fell cheerlessly
upon Miss Betty's ear as she stood
leaning against the sundial among the
lilac bushes. Her attitude was not
one of reverie, yet she stood very still
so still that in the wan simmer of the
faded afterglow one might have passed
close by her and not have seen her.
The long, dark folds of her gown show
ed family against the gray stone, and
her arms, bare from the elbow, lay
across the face Of the dial with unre-
Taxed fingers clinching the cornice; her
head dropping not languidly, but with
tension, her eyes half closed, showing
the lashes against pale cheek; and
| thus motionlesS, leaning on the stone in
| the dusk she might have been Sorrows
self.
She did not move; there was not even
flicker of the eyelashes, when a step
sounded on the gravel Of the driveway,
and Vanrevel came slowly from the
house. He stopped at little distance
from her, hat in hand. He was very
thin, worn and old looking, and in the
failing light might have been taken for
a tall, gentle ghost, yet his shoulders
We're squared and he held himself as
| straight as he had the first time she
had ever seen him.
Mrs. Tanberry told me should find
you here" he said hesitatingly. 81 have
come to say goodby."
She did not turn toward him nor did
more than her lips move as she an
swered, "Goodby," and her tone was
neither kind nor cold, but held no
meaning whatever, not even indiffer-
ence.
There was an interval of silence.
Then, without surprise he walked sad
ly to the gate paused, wheeled about
suddenly and returned with q quick,
| firm step.
Il will not go until know that l do
not misunderstood you," he said, mot
even if there is only the slightest
chance that do. want to say some
thing to you if you will let me, though
naturally 1 remember you once asked
me never to speak to you again 1t is
only that 1 have thought you did that
under misconception or else should
still obey you. If you
"What is it that you wish to sayr'
Her tone was unchanged
"Only that I think the hardest time
for you has passed, and that
"Do your she interrupted.
eyes," he returned, 1.-THE saddest Of
your life. think it has gone forever.
And I think that what will come to
you will be all you wish for. There
will be little time Of waiting
Waiting for what"
He drew step nearer, and his voice
became very gentle. Cummings and
l reach our regiment tomorrow night,
and there in the camp is group Of
men on the way to the war, and they
all go the more bravely because each
one Of them has you In his heart
|
cause Of you. I want you to believe
that If all Of them don't come back, yet
the one whose safety you think of and
fear for will return. For. you see,
Crailey told me what you said to him
when-when he met you here the last
time. have no way to know which Of
them you meant; but-he Will come
back to you'll I am sure of it, because
believe you are to be happy All,
you've had your allotment of pain!
"After all, there Is 80 little to regret.
The town seems empty without its
young men, yet you may rejoice, re-
Numbering how bravely thay went and
how gayly. They will sing half the
way to Vera Crus. You think it strange
should say there is so little to regret
when I've just laid away my best
friend. 1t was his own doctrine, and
the selfish personal grief and soreness
grow less when I think of the gallant
end he made, for it was he who went
away most bravely and jauntily Of all.
Crailey was no failure unless I let
what he taught me go to no effect.
<AAo 10 oulC A0 WOulp AoNO SO10 SSo
what tell you now, that all is well
with all in the world"
"Please!" she cried, with quick In
take Of breath through closed teeth.
II will do anything in the world to
please you," he answered sorrowfully.
do you mean that
She turned at last and faced him, but
; without lifting her eyes. "Why did
you come to say goodby to me?"
| II don't understand"
II think you do" Her voice was cold
and steady, but it was suddenly given
to him to perceive that she was trem.
bling from head to heel.
An exclamation of remorse broke
from him.
"Ah, you came here to be alonel r.
STOP" she said. you said goodby
to me once before. Did you come tc
see-what you saw them"
He fell back in utter amazement but
she advanced upon him swiftly. "What
is that?" she cried.
The unfortunate young man could
make no reply and remained unable tt
defend himself from her inexplicable
attack.
\ "You have not forgotten" she went
/ on tmpetuously. ut was in the Grove
4 just before they gave you the flag
l