The Elbert County tribune., 1909-08-12
CHAPTER III.-continued.

Not more than l." sadly.
Nothing like. is there, girl?"
81 hate automobiles" she answered.
irrelevantly
The old, old sea quarreled murmur-
ously at their feet. and the white gulls
sailed hither and thither, sometimes
breasting the rollers just as they were
about to topple over into running
creamy foam. The man and the girl
seemed perfectly content to remain
voiceess. There was no sound but
the song of the sea; the girl dreamed.
and the man wondered what her
dream was. Presently he glanced at
his watch. He stood up. brushing the
sand from his clothes.
Half an hour between us and break
fast, Kate. All aboard"
The night before might have been
only an idle dream.
So they took the road back. Only
the sea and the gulls saw the tender
kiss.
The pariah sauntereu In at two
o'clock that afternoon, just as the
family were sitting down to luncheon.
He was revelation. There was moth
ing shabby about him now. He wore
. new suit, spats. new straw hat,
and twirled a light bamboo. There
was something jaunty and confident in
his air. bubbling In his eyes: alto
gether, he was in fine fettle about
something. He cast aside his hat and
cane with flourish.
Aha! just In time" he said. "An-
other chair, William"
The butler sent dubious glance at
his master; there was the usual curt
nod and the frown. So grandpa sat
down beside Norah. whose usual effer-
vescence had strangely subsidized; he
pinched her cheek, and deliberated be-
tween the cold ham and chicken.
"A fine day! A beautiful day! A
day Of days!" he cried. surrendering
to the appetitious lure Of both meats.
Nobody replied to this outburst of
exuberance; nobody had the power to-
A strange calm settled over every
one. This was altogether new kind
Of grandpa. There was nothing timid
or hesitant here, nothing meek and
humble; neither was there that insult
ferable self-assurance and arrogance
of disagreeable man. Grandpa's at
titude was simply that. of an equal, of
q man OF the world, of one who is con-
fident of the power he holds In re-
serve; that was all. But for all that,
he was sensation Of some magni-
tude. Darlington was seized with a
wild desire to laugh. The truth came
to him like an Illumination; but he
wisely held his peace.
There is something in the air to-
day that renews youth in old age; eh,
my SOM" with a sly wink at Cave
naugh.
Cavenaugh's expression of wonder
began to freeze and remained frozen
to the end of the meal. So all the
honors OF conversation fell to grand
pa. who seemed to relish this new
privilege.
Father" said Cavenaugh. holding
back his accumulated wrath, II want
to see you in my study"
Immediately, my son. was just
about to make that same request"
Grandpa looked at Kate. then at Car
rington. Il suppose you young per-
sons will invite poor old grandpa to
the wedding?"
Father" This was altogether too
much for patrician blood. Cavenaugh's s
face Redeemed and his fists closed
ominously. You will do me the hon
or. father. not to meddle with my
private affairs. Kate is my daughter,
and she shall marry the man 1t
pleases me to accept"
Darlington felt this cut dart over
grandpa's shoulder. He stirred un-
easily.
"Oh, II that's the way you look at
it," with a comical deprecatory shrug.
Grandpa touched Darlington on the
arm. Young man, do you love this
girl? No false modesty, now; the
truth. and nothing but the truth. Do
Jon love herr"