Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1910-10-19

the adjoining side of the PARALLEL.
gram, back toward her, the redoubt.
able Kerr was standing. She recog.
nized him on the instant, as If he
were the most familiar figure in her
life. Yet she was more surprised to
see him here than she had been to see
Harry. She felt inclined to rub her
eyes. 1t took a moment for her to
realize that his companion was indeed
Maj. Purdie.
The major had recognized his wife's
signaling umbrella. Now he turned
toward 1t, but Kerr. with quick mo.
ton of hand toward hat, turned In the
opposite direction. In her mind Flora
was with the major who ran after
him. The two men stood for little,
expostulating. Then both walked to-
ward the landau and the linen UNI.
brella.
The carriage group waited, watch
ing with tagging conversation, which
finally fell into silence. But the two
approaching strolled easily and talked.
Even in cold daylight Kerr still gave
Flora the impression that the open
was not big enough to hold him, but
she saw difference IN his mood, a
graver eye. a colder mouth, and when
he finally greeted them, a manner that
was brusk. 1t showed uncivil beside
the majors urbanity.
The major was glad, very glad, to
see them all. He was evidently also a
little furried. He seemed to know
they had all met Kerr before. Had it
been at the moment of his attempted
departure that Kerr had told him,
Flora wondered? And had he given
them as his excuse for going away?
1t hurt her; though why should she be
hurt because stranger had not
wanted to cross the parade-ground to
shake hands with her? He was less
interested in her than he was in Har-
ry, at whom he had looked keenly.
But Harry's nervousness had left
him, now that Purdie was within his
reach. He returned the glance indif-
ferently. He stood close to the major
his hand on his shoulder. The ma
jor, with his bland blue eyes twin
king from Clara to Flora, seemed the
only man ready to devote himself to
the service Of the ladies.
And what's the news from the
front?" said Clara gayly. Kerr gave
gave her rapid glance; but the ma
jor blinked as If the allusion had got
by him.
II mean the mystery-the Chat
worth ring" she explained.
mo news whatever. my dear Mrs.
Britton."
She smiled. We're all rather in
terested in the mystery. Flora has
made dozen romances about it"
ooh, yes, yes" said the major indul-
gently. 1T will do for young ladies'
to make romances about. It'll be a
two days wonder, and then you'll sud
denly find out it's something very
tame indeed"
"Why, have they fixed the suspic-
ion?" said Clara.
There was a restless movement
from Kerr.
mo, no, nothing Of that Sort" aaid
the major quickly.
Harry passed his hand through lbs
arm. May I see you for five min
utes, major?"
The excellent major looked har-
assed.
Suppose we all step up to the
house," he suggested. why, you're
not going, MANI" he objected, for
Kerr had fallen back a step, and, with
lifted hat and balanced cane, was sig
mailing his farewells.
do let us go up to the house." said
Clara. "And Mrs. Purdie, won't you
drive up with me? Flora wants to
walk"
Flora stood up. She had confused
impression that she had expressed no
such desire, and that there was room
for three in the landau; but the men
tai shove that Clara had administered
gave her an impetus that carried her
out of the carriage before she realized
what she was about.
Harry was already moving off up
the board walk with the major. The