The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1910-08-26
CHAPTER VII.

Jaded and surfeited, ready to cry
Vanity Of vanities, all Is vanity"
Wilfrid Stennis returned to his native
land after two years OF Kaleidoscope
experiences in the chief capitals OF
the Old World. He had plunged into
the vortex of ''life," only 10 be flung
out of the worry and whirl rs
spent swimmer Is spewed out on the
sand by some mad.rushing breaker.
Into those two years he sreedily
crowded together enough vicissitudes
to last another and better-seasoned
mind and body a decade at least. Per-
haps his almost total lack Of previous
social training. and preparation led the
sooner to inevitable safety: 1t was
like starveiing gorging himself on
12-course dinner Of highly spiced
and seasoned viands.
Certain II is that his one over.
mastering desire at last took the form
of an acute Nostalgia longing to
get away from glittering generalities
and sybaritic luxury and settle down
somewhere to life Of plain and pol
ished ease.
So he left the Kestrel to follow at
leisure-the original yachting party
was disbanded long since-and came
home by the Oregon on one of the
last trips OF that doomed greyhound
of the ocean.
In appearance Stennis was not
much changed. save for a little more
fullness of face and figure, rather
| tired look about the eyes, and-what
| was more noticeable-just a suspicion
of grayness in the hair around the
temples. And this at 30! In manner
he had certainly improved; you would
have at once set him down as a we'll
trained and well-groomed man OF the
world.
An intense and overweening craving
| for simpler manners and homelier
fare led his steps straight from the
pier to the little house in Macdougal
street. around which were clustered
by far the pleasantest memories he
had ever known.
Eunice was at home. and herself
opened the door. so no retreat. nc
denial. was possible.
"Why.-Mr. Stennis!" she cried In
genuinely astonished accents. In the
total surprise of the moment II was
all she could and to say.
As he stepped across the threshold
his gaze sought hers. but in the acl
of shaking hands-apparently mere
ly perfunctory ceremony on the girls
PARTNER eyes were yelled. and the
sole token OF emotion she betrayed
was a little tell-tale red signal.fiag II
her usually olivep pale cheeks.
"Haye you no word Of welcome fol
me. Eunics?" said wflfrid reproach
fully.
"Surely!" was the answer. We
lam glad to see you back safe ant
sound and looking SO we'll WheI
did you arriye?"
Scarcely an hour ago. cam,
straight here"
| During the voyage across Wilfri,
had In divers ways pictured to him
| self this meeting. There was to b,
a sort OF killing Of the fatted cali
, although in no sense did he regar,
, | himself as enacting the role OF tn
prOdlgai-ne hau peen maue 100 uucl
I of while abroad for that. And thougl
: he knsw In his heart of hearts that h
Q had probably forfeited all right there
I to. In fancy he had dwelt with an In
l. ward glow over the glad greetin
a which Eunice was to extend: he ha
I even pictured to himself in haz
way her hinging herself into his arm
d and ~ith tear-wet cheeks taking hiI
l. to herself again. But this common
d place. everyday "How-de-do. NJ
d Stennis?" and the total absence {
Q emotion. grave or gay. cool or arden
Q was like passing at one step from III
r hot sunshine Of the plains Of Lon
y hardy to the ice-crowned sleeps OF Ii
IS Alpine submits beyond
CTo BE CoNTINUED1