Okolona messenger. (Okolona, Miss.) 1900-current, 1909-01-20
ZLRIZnN sc IIWNQLL2,

2 zsEE II. '1ar'5ss ,S'zS.4ss "A iazEs -s s'
when their nests are in peril We've
rinted the house to a good man with
grown-up children, and Haley can get
Job ii you won't want him"
"Yis. sor, mumbled Haley. He was
standing at attention, as was his wife,
the toddling Nora being held in the
posture Of respect on the plush seat
"hnd suppose you took the furnl
ture n 7o, to bug tic6ets2"
"Ys. sor.'
"And you're bound 10 go with me?'
"Yfs, sor," said Haley.
you ought to be ashamed Of your
self, sergeant" said the colonel; but
he was siad at the heart of him for
this mEtinous loyalty
Yes. sor. said Haley
"Wol, since you are here, I engage
you from to-day you understand"
'Yis. sor," said Haley. Mrs Haley
whimpared a blessing; but the only
change in the soldier was that his mill
tary stolidity became natural and real
instead of forced.
sit down on this seat over here with
re and I'll tell you what ! want
You fraud. letting me say good-by to
you
Il didn't want to take the liberty,
sor, but you made me shake hands. !
was afraid you'd catch on, sor. It's
a weight off me .moind, sor."
q dare say. You always have your
way with me, you old mule Now lis
ten; | want you TO be en- the watch
fer two, en"--t.igra,.pon the colonel
described his men, laying special
stress on tho moles on the face Of one,
and the Others dimple.
Having set Haley his tasks, he went
back to his car in better spirits.
BY this time the train was moving.
He had seen his kinswoman and her
party enter; and he found the object
of Mrs. Melville's darksome warnings
sitting with a slender lad in the main
body of the car Aunt Rebecca was in
the drawing-roon, her maid with her
Mrs. Melville, who had already re-
vealed her presence, sat across the
aisle. She presented the colonel at
once.
Miss Smith did not look formidable;
she looked nice" thought the colonel.
She was of medium height; she was
obviously plump, although well pro
portioned her presence had an effect
of radiant cleanliness, her eyes were
so luminous and her teeth so fine and
her white shirt waist so immaculate.
There was about her a certain soft IL
Illumination of cheerfulness, and at the
same time a restful repoSe; she moved
in a leisurely fashion and she sat per-
fectly still. Il never saw any one who
looked less Of an adventures" Win
ter was thinking, as he bowed. Then
swiftly his glance went to the lad,
pale young fellow with hazel eyes and
long. slim hand which felt cold
The boy made a little inarticulate
sound in his throat and blushed when
Gel Winter addressed him. But he
looked the brighter for the blush. It
was not a plain face; rather an in
teresting one in spite of its listlessness
and its sicky pallor; its oval was
purely cut, tre delicate mouth was
closed firmly enough, and the hazf
eyes with their long lashes would be
beautiful were they not SO yelled
"He has the Winter mouth, at least"
noted the colonel He felt throb at
his heart. Had his own boy lived, the
baby that died when it was born, he
would be only year older than Archie.
At least, this boy was Ct his own blood.
without father or mother, but not
alonesin the world; and, If any danger
menaaed, not without defenders. The
depression which had enyeloped him
lifted as mist before the sun, burned
'aR@w BY the mere thought Of possible
elf, culties. 1--WE will see if any one
swindles you out of your share said
Rupert Winter, compressing the Win
ter mouth more firmly, "or if those
gentlemanly kidnapers mean you"
His ebbing suspicion of the boys
companion revived; he would be on his
| guard. all right,
Aunt Rebecca wants to see you,"
Mrs Melville suggested. she is in
the drawing-room with her solitaire"
Still playing Penelope's sWeb?'
"Oh, she always comes tack to II.
But she plays bridge, too; Rupert. !
hear your game is a wonder Arches
been learning, SO he could play wi,a
you"
Good for Archiel"-he shot a
glance and smile at the lads redden-
| ing face-'we'll have game"
Lord, wish he didn't look quite so
ladylilxe," he was grumbling within,
as he dutifully made his way to his