Graham guardian., 1909-08-27

sorbing passions In life-his love fol
cards and his love for his daughtel
That's.
1t was wonderful how many young
men were willing to pass their even
ings at the captains house playing
with him. He was wary old oppo
nent and all but invincible.
The young men came by twos anC
threes In their best tailor made suits
with posies in their buttonholes. Otter
they brought offerings to the captains
daughter.
That's accepted the gifts and the toe
evident good will indifferently. Some
times when o fourth hand was needed
at whist she lent her aid. Otherwise
she betook herself to the par:or and
practiced as diligently as II there was
not man In the house.
Aunt Lefty, Captain Blanding's Wild
owed sister, kept house for him and
mothered his otherwise motherless
daughter She was gentle soul
large hearted and small minded, who
made the best doughnuts In town. By
che aid of her smiles and her cakes
she encouraged eligible men to fire.
quent the captains house, hoping that
some one of them would prove ac-
ceptable to That's.
That's name had been given her be-
cause Of an early fondness Of her IA
ther for Greek literature. That's, de-
spite her name, did not lean toward
scholarly achievement. She was a
butterfly, very beautiful to look at
and very difficult to catch.
She had read a little poetry and very
many romances where the heroines
were all beautiful like herself and the
heroes proved their devotion by as
founding deeds of valor. These men,
who sat evening after evening with
bits Of red and black pasteboard be-
tween them, evidently lacked every
heroic quality.
When one by one these timid adorers
laid his heart at her feet she promptly
trampled upon 1t and sent him away
smarting
When after a few evenings he did
not again appear the old captain would
wonder mildly what kept him away.
Sometimes he asked the victim and re-
ceived stammered excuse.
By the time the young mans place
at the card table was filed the captain
had ceased to remember him.
1t was Sheldon King who brought
Billy Smith to the house for the first
time. Billy was newcomer In Ken
sington and wholly unacquainted. He
was a little fellow with hair of no
particular shade of brown, square,
plain face and blue eyes behind
glasses. He had no stories to tell no
jokes to raise laugh, and he had
never handled cards before In his life.
:. 1t took him the entire evening to
learn to play pedro, but he applied his
mind to It with will, and when he
went away the captain slapped him
on the shoulder and told him he would
make a player If he kept at 1t. The
captain always said that to the de-
feated, who sometimes chewed their
lips over 1t bitterly.
The captain conceived a great liking
for Billy, and they spent many even
ings together. BY spring Billy had
learned all the games the captain knew
and could even beat him at some Of
them.
He came obviously for the captains
sake alone, for he brought no offer
ings to That's. He had his own way
to make and an invalid sister to main
tain at an expensive sanitarium. This
much ne told the captain and was for
ever after silent about his affairs.
Sheldon King presently, having had
his wings badly singed at the candle
Of That's Indifference, ceased to be
seen at the captains card table. But
Billy came untailingly. The captain
was delighted with him.
Here at last was man who did not
play to ones humor, who beat one un-
If he could or was beaten
without showing the white feather.
The second winter Billy's sister died.
he stayed away two months, and the
captain openly fretted for him. Then
one evening Billy appeared with box
Of tho captains favorlte cigars. The
captain fairly wept for JOY at sight Of
him and shook bis hand twenty times.
He called That's to see who had come.
ThIs came, startled by the clamor and
q little disgusted when she found only
Billy. She gave him cool little hand
and q cool little smile and cool little
phrase of welcome, then returned to
the piano and Chaminade. She did not
Billy, who brought cigars
to her father instead Of bonbons to her.
Two years went by, The circle about
the captains card table had changed
many times and had dwindled to an
occasional widower, silly Tom Pike
and Billy. One by one the other young
men had mended their hearts and Of
fered them good as new elsewhere.
The votive offerings that now came
to That's shrine were far less frequent.
Billy brought her nothing at all, but 1t
was wonderful how many little things
he found to present the captain with.
He even gave Aunt Lefty beautiful
crochet hook with chased gold ham
die.
More years passed and more slowly
for That's. Chaminade had ceased to
charm her. and she missed the excite
ment Of past alteration. Mr.. Sweet
had gone away, and Tom Pike, In de-
spair of winning That's, had married a
woman easier to WOO. There were no
new lovers Forthcoming, for That's was
DDr00- TIT