The Tupelo journal. (Tupelo, Miss.) 1876-1924, 1909-03-19
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ter was thinking, as he bowed. Then
swiftly his glance went to the lad, q
pale young fellow with hazel eyes and
long, slim hand which felt cold
The hoy made little inarticulate
sound ~ his throat and blushed when
Col. Winter addressed him. But he
looked the brighter for the blush. 1t
was not plain face: rather an in
teresting one in spite of its listlessness
and its sickly pallor; its oval was
purely cut. the delicate mouth was
| closed firmly enough, and the hazel
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 a 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 Of his own blood.
Without father or mother, but not
alone in the world; and, if any danger
menaced, not without defenders. The
depression which had enveloped him
lifted as mist before the sun, burned
away by the mere thought Of possible
| difficulties 1--WE will see if any one
swindles you out of your share" said
Rupert Winter, COMPRISING 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 WEBB"
ooh, she always comes back to It,
But she plays bridge, too; Rupert. I
hear your game is wonder Arches
been learning, so he could play with
you"
Good for Archie."-he shot
glance and a smile at the lads REDEEM
ing face-"well have a game"
Lord. wish he didn't look quite so
ladylike,' he was grumbling within.
as he dutifully made his way to his
aunt's presence.
The electric lights flooded the
fiimsy railway table on which were
spread rows of small-sized cards. An
elderly lady of quality was musing
over the pasteboard rows. A lady of
quality-that was distinctly the phrase
to catch ones fancy at the first
glimpse of Mrs. Winter. Not an aged
lady, either, for even at 80, that ele-
gantly nodded, slim figure, that abun-
dance of silvery hair-parted in the
middle and growing thickly on each
side in natures own fashion, which art
can not counterfeit, as well as softly
pulled and massed above-that ex-
quisitely colored and textured skin,
strangely smooth for her years, with
tiny wrinkles of humor, to be sure,
about the eyes, but with cheeks and
skin unmarried; that fine, firmly carved
profile, those black eyebrows and
lashes and still brilliant dark eyes;
most of all that erect, alert, dainty
carriage, gave no impression of age;
but they ALL and their accessories of
toilet and manner, and a little prim
touch of an older, more reticent day
in both dress and bearing, recalled the
last century phrase.
A soft gray bunch of chinchilla fur
lay where she had slipped 1t on her
the fur-her left hand-and on the
third finger were the only rings which
she wore, a band of gold, worn by go
years, and wonderful ruby, wherein
Cat least such was Rupert's phantasy)
a writhing flame was held captive by
same rings admired by her nephew
ever since he was a cadet-just the
same smiling, inscrutable, high-bred,
unchanging old dame!
Good evening, Aunt Rebecca; not
a day older!" said the colonel.
Good evening, BERTHE" returned the
lady, extending hand over the cards;
excuse my not rising to greet you;
I might joggle the cards. OF course
I'm not day older; l don't dare to
grow older at my age! Sit down. I'm
extremely glad to see you; I've heap
u.
run this game through first?"
The colonel didn't mind. He raised
the proffered hand to his lips; such
homage seemed quite the most natural
act in the world with Mrs. Winter.
And he unobtrusively edged his own
lean and wiry person into the vacant |
seat opposite her.
How far are you going?" said she,
after few moves of the cards.
MY ticket says Los Angeles; but |
it had to say something, so l chose |
Los Angeles for luck; I'm an ire |
sponsible tramp now, you know; and |
may drop off almost anywhere You |
are for southern California, aren't |
your"
Eventually; but we shall step at
San Francisco for two or three
weeks"
do you mind if stop off with you? |
want to get acquainted with my
ward" said the colonel.
That's good idea, BERTHE.
'He seems rather out of sorts; you
aren't worried about-well, tubercu-
losis or that sort of thing?"
Il am worried about just that sort |
of thing; although the doctor says
nothing organic at all is the matter
with him; but he is too melancholy
for a boy; he needs rousing; losing
his father and mother in one year, you |
know, and he was devoted to them. /
can't quite make him out BERTHE: he |
hasn't the Winter temperament /