Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1909-01-21
CHAPTER XIX.
Continued.

Continued.
In the meantime Charlie had read
the telegram; and his face had re-
mained inscrutable beneath the quick
gaze of two pairs of undesirable
eyes. Lena was at his side, and
therefore could not see his face. She
was smiling bravely at some cheer
ful 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-
treme cold; and as the sailor saw this
q 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
It's whiteness, 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
of 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 grateful country"
What" exclaimed Mrs. Wright,
with sudden indignation, which
might have been partly assumed;
"after fortnights holiday? !
should refuse II 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
plow should not look back, as Shakes
peare or some one has observed"
said VINEYARD, readily.
II think" said Lena, with clear,
brave laugh, that 1t is In the Bible. "
This was precisely what Winyard
wanted. and he laughed promptly by
way Of encouraging others.
May I have half cup, mother
only half" he said, presently, hand
ing his cup, but without raising his
eyes fromthe table.
81 suppose" said Colonel Wright,
handing back the telegram. that you
said yes?"
Il did" replied the young fellow.
cheerfully.
And" observed his mother, pleas.
antly. "are you going to tell us where
you are going. what you are 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 wac
that the elder mans simple diplomacy
consisted chiefly of 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. l am specially warned against
disclosing them .......
No one spoke, and no one made a
pretense Of continuing the morning
meal for some minutes. Outside, the
rattle of 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.
ually died away in the low hum of the
Broomwater. All at that table were
more 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 1t will swell and gather dark.
ness until the storm bursts at last.
The meaning of that brave word
"Yes" was patent to them all.
But Mrs. Mistley was brave wo-
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,
"on Friday afternoon"
Lena 1t was who broke the silence
that followed this announcement.
"Then." she said, very quietly, 1--WE
must have the theatricals day ear
lier."
This remark. uttered In a most
matter-of-fact voice, had the effect
desired by its utterer. It relieved the
tension, and gave VINEYARD something