Iron County register., 1910-08-25

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.
"I 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 a dozen romances about it."
= "Oh, yes, yes" said the major indul-
gently. "It 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
'No, no, nothing of that Sort" said
the major quickly.
Harry passed his hand through his
arm. "May l see you for five min
utes, major?"
q, The excellent major looked. har-
assed.
Suppose we all step up to the
house." he suggested "Why, you're
not going, man." 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 a 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
carriage was turning. Kerr looked
at the backs of the two women being
? driven away, and then at Flora. VERY
good" he said, raising her parasol;
you are the deposed heir, and l am
/ your faithful servant"
J "But indeed / do want to walk" she
/ protested, little shy at the way he
> read her case.
5 But you didn't think of it until she
Y gave you the suggestion, eh?" he
9 quizzed.
Y Her cheeks were hot behind hel
thin veil. They were strolling slowly
l up the board walk, and for moment
/ she could not look at him. She could
| only listen to the flutter Of the fringes
of the parasol carried above her head
D She felt herself small and stupid. She
| could not understand what he coulG
:, see in her to come back to. Then she
/ gave side glance at him. She saw
an unsmiling profile. The lines in his
J., face were indeed extraordinary, bu'
!. none was hard. She liked that won
i derful mobility that had survived the
4 gatherings of experience.
e AS if he were conscious of her eyes
/, he looked down and smiled; bu
C vaguely. He did not speak; and sh'
was aware that 1t was at her appear
S ance he had smiled, as if that onl.
f reached him through his preoccupa
l. tion and pleased him.
y But what was he thinking about 81
d seriously between those smiling
|, glances? Not her problem, she wa
7, sure.
They had almost reached the ma
r jor's gate, and it was now or never t
l. find out what he thought of her. Sh
looked up at him suddenly, with iI
n quiring eyes.
, do you think I am weak?" she dc
t. manded.
= The lines Of his face broke up int
@ laughter. mo-" he said, II think yo
If are misplaced"
O She knitted her brows in perplexity
e but his hand was on the white pickle
n gate, and she had to walk through
% ahead of him as he set it open fo
ID her.
Of their party only the two wome
s were in sight waiting on the diminl
ID tive veranda. Clara had mild d,
o. mestic appearance, rocking there b.
le hind the potted geraniums. All th
"a windows were open into the littl
,r shell of house. Trunks still stoo
e, in the hall, though the Purdies ha
o. been quartered at the Preside fc
a. nine months.
In this easy atmosphere, how wa
b. it that the thread of restraint ran 6
h sharply defined? Clara and Mrs. Pu
70 die were matching crewels; and, 81
d. ting on the top step Flora instructe
70 kKerr as to the composition Of th
IN tropical glacier they we're drinking
ut Ten girls had probably so instructe
a him before, but 1t would do to fill u
IN the gap
at Like a stone pumped into po,
lie the major and Harry re-entered tn
stagnation. They were brisk ar
to buoyant. Harry, especially, had Il
q air Of man who sees stimulatir
W business before him. Immediately a
it talkes 1T once.
ID IL