Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1910-09-02

them as his excuse for going away?
1t hurt her; though why should she be
hurt because a stranger had not
wanted to cross the parade-ground to
shake hands with her? He was less
interested in her than ne was in Har-
ry, at whom he had looked keenly.
But Harry's nervousness had left
him, now hat Purdie was within his
reach. He returned the glance indif-
f%erently. He stood close to the major
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 gayIy. Kerr gave
gave her a rapid glance; but the ma
jOr blinked as if the allusion had got
by. him.
Il mean the mystery-the Chat
worth ring" she explained.
mo news whatever, my ear Mrs.
Britton.'
She smiled. We're all rather in
terested in the mystery. Flora has
made a dozen about it."
"Oh, yes, yes" said the major indul-
gently. ct 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" said
the major quickly.
Harry passed his hand through his
arm. May l 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 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 hat 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
Iri1,o~ ox-ory a-I &I~- - TN~-1 w.
good" he said, raising her parasoI;
you are the deposed heir, and 1 nm
your faithful servant"
"Sut indeed I do want to walk she
protested, a little shy at the way he
read her case.
But you didn't think of it until she
gave you the suggestion, eh?" he
quizzed.
Her cheeks were hot behind her
thin veil. They were strolling slowly
up the board walk, and for a moment
she could not look at him. She could
only listen to the f1utter 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 10 come back to. Then she
gave a 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 hat had survived the
gatherings of experience.
AS if he we're conscious of her eyes,
he looked down and smiled; but
vaguely. He did not speak; and she
was aware that it was at her appear
ance he had smiled, as if that only
reached him through his preoccupa-
ton 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, n it was now or never to
find out what he thought Of her. She
looked up at him suddenly, with in
curing eyes.
do you think I am weak?" she de-
manded.
The lines of his face broke up into
laughter. NO" he said, g" think you
are misplaced"
She knitted her brows in perplexity,
but his hand was on the white picket
gate, and she had to walk through it
ahead of him as he set it oren for
her.
Of their party only the two women
were in sight waiting on the diminu-
tive veranda. Clara had a mild do
nestle appearance, rocking there be-
hind the ported geraniums. All the
windows were open into the little
shell of a house. Trunks still stood
in the hall, though the PurGies had
been quartered at the Preside for
nine months.
In this easy atmosphere, how was
it that the thread of restraint ran so