The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1910-10-19

his hand on his shoulder. The ma
jor, with his bland blue eyes twin
Killing 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
1or blinked as II the allusion had got
by him.
Il mean the mystery-the Chat
worth ring" she explained
No news whatever, my dear Mrs.
Britton."
She smiled. Were all rather in.
terested In the mystery. Flora has
made dozen romances about It,"
"Oh, yes, yes said the major indul-
gently. TT 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 restless movement
| from Kerr.
mo, no. nothing of that sort" said
the major quickly.
Harry passed his hand through his
arm. May | 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, man." he objected, for
Kerr had fallen back 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
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 / am
your faithful servant"
But indeed | do want to walk" she
protested, little shy at the way he
read her case.
But you didn't think of 1t until she
gave you the suggestion, eh?" he
quizzed.
Her cheeks were hot behind her
thin veil. They were strollng slowly
up the board walk, and for moment
she could not look at him. She could
only listen to the 1utter of the fringes
of the parasol carried above her head.
She felt herself small and stupid. She
could not understand what he could
see in her to come back to. Then she
gave side glance at him. She saw
an unsmiling profile. The lines in his
face were indeed extraordinary, but
none was hard. She liked that won
derful mobility that had survived the
gatherings of experience.
AS If he were conscious of her eyes,
he looked down and smiled; but
vaguely. He did not speak; and she
was aware that 1t was at her appear
ance he had smiled, as If that only
reached him through his preoccupa-
tion and pleased him.
But what was he thinking about so
seriously between those smiling
glances? Not her problem, she was
sure.
They had almost reached the ma
jor's gate, and 1t was now or never to
find out what he thought of her. She
looked up at him suddenly, with in
quiring eyes.
do you think I am weak" she de-
manded.
The lines of his face broke up into
laughter NO" he said, 81 think you
are misplaced"
She knitted her brows in perplexity,
but his hand was on the white picket
gate, anu SHe Hdu W Walk LuTOuSu IL
ahead of him as he set 1t open for
her.
OF their party only the two women
were in sight waiting on the diminu-
tive veranda. Clara had a mild do
mestic appearance, rocking there be-
hind the potted geraniums. All the
windows were open into the little
shell of a house. Trunks still stood
in the hall, though the Purdies had
been quartered at the PresidiO for
nine months.
In this easy atmosphere, how was
it that the thread of restraint ran so
sharply defined? Clara and Mrs. Pur-
die were matching crewels; and, sit
ting on the top step Flora instructed
Kerr as to the composition of the
tropical glacier they were drinking.
Ten girls had probably SO instructed
him before, but it would do to fill up
the gap.
Like a stone pumped into pool
the major and Harry re-entered this