The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1907-01-30
CHAPTER XIX.
Continued

eyes. Lena was at his side, and
therefore could not see his face. She
was smiling bravely at some cheer
full remark of Vineyards. Strange to
say, Charles Mistley did not raise his
calm eyes to his brothers face after
having read the message; he looked
past the pink paper, sideways, down
at Lena's hand, which rested on the
table close to him. The small. white
wrist was trembling as if from ex-
IRENE cold; and as the sailor saw this
a momentary contraction passed be-
fore his eyes.
The colonel laid down his knife
and fork. One brown hand lay on
the table-cloth in striking contrast to
its w%hiteness, with fingers slightly
apart, as if in readiness to grasp
something. His solemn eyes, beneath
their heavy brows, were fixed upon
his secretary's face with an old mans
deep and silent expectation.
Only when the door had closed be-
hind the servant who bore the un-
hesitating answer did VINEYARD speak
CT the telegram.
you might let the colonel see it,
Charlie" he said, coolly.
"Business?" inquired Mrs. Mistley,
with well-suppressed anxiety, as the
. folded telegram was passed from
hand to hand.
"Yes," answered the younger son,
with his ever-ready smile; my valu-
able services are once more required
by a grateful country"
What" exclaimed Mrs. Wright,
with sudden indignation, which
might have been partly assumed;
latter a fortnight's holiday? I
should refuse if I were you!" The
good little lady was desperately anx-
ious to keep the conversation going,
for she had seen her husband change
color, and look up gravely at Win
yard. She also knew that Lena had
seen this, too.
"He that has put his hand to the
pillow should not look back, as Shakes
peare or some one has observed"
said VINEYARD, readily.
Il think" said Lena, with a clear,
brave laugh, that it is in the Bible"
This was precisely what VINEYARD
wanted, and he laughed promptly by
way of encouraging others.
May I have half a cup, mother
only half?" he said, presently, hand
ing his cup, but without raising his
ovac fromtho IA 1p
Il suppose" said Colonel Wright,
handing back the telegram, that you
said yes?"
81 did," replied the young fellow,
cheerfully.
and" observed his mother, pleas
antly, ARE you going to tell us where
you are going, what you + going
to do, and when you are going to do
it,"
Certainly" he replied, looking at
his chief, whereat the old soldier
smiled, the meaning of which was
that the elder mans simple diplomacy
consisted chiefly Of a discreet silence;
while, in contention, VINEYARD advo-
Gated a seemingly rash straightfor-
;wardness. Certainly. I am dis
patched to Central Asia on a mission
Of some sort; but having no details
yet, I am specially warned against
disclosing them"
No n spoke, and no one made a
pretense Of continuing the morning
meal for some minutes. Outside, the
rattle of a horses hoofs on the hard
road broke the silence of the quiet
valley. Mrs. Mistley looked toward
the window, and listened to the dying
sound. Central Asia again! That
dim, unknown land was destined to
haunt her life. She knew only too
well its dangers and manifold hor-
rors. The sound of the horses hoofs
upon the road seemed to resolve it.
self into a weary repetition of the
words Central ASIA" Central
ASIA" Central Asia!" until it grad
TALLY died away in the low hum of the
Broomwater. All at that table were
mor or less connected with the East
all felt the presence Of that lower
ing cloud which grows and subsidies
again from time to time, like the
clouds Of heaven; and all knew that
one day it will swell and gather dark
ness until the storm bursts at last.
The meaning of that brave word
Eyes" was patent to them all.
But Mrs. Mistley was a brave woL
man; also she was born-as could be
seen from her soft, inscrutable eyes
on the sunny side of the barren
Cheviots, where folks do not hold
much by an undue display of feeling.
So she smiled upon her son, and
asked: "When?"
II must be in town." he replied,
studiously looking out Of the window,
ION Friday afternoon"
Lena it was who broke the silence
that followed this announcement.
Then" she said, very quietly, 1--WE
must have the theatricals a day ear
lier."
This remark, uttered in a most
matter-of-fact voice, had the effect
desired by its utterer. 1t relieved the
tension, and gave VINEYARD something
to chatter about. Charlie also, in his
slow way. took advantage Of it to
create a diversion with the toast
rack, which terminated in a resump-
ton of breakfast. 1t was rather
strange that, with two clever women
of the world at the table, these
young people should thus have to
take matters into their own hands.
81 have a better idea than that"