The Topeka state journal., 1911-09-21
THE EVENING STORY
Grin,s Loyalty.
Rv Louise MerriAeld.l


(By Louise Merriheld.)
Burton left the train at Sound
Beach. line of motor cars faced
him across the depot platform, and he
hesitated. speculating which one might
belong to the Hamptons.
About him moved the Saturday
crowd of week -enders," hosts and
guests greeting each other and MAX
ing quick departure.
His gaze fingered on them casually,
with a general impersonal apprecia-
ton of the pretty, well gowned women
Then he saw the dog.
1t had lost it's bearings, and was
running about, shifting at wheels and
whining anxiously, when 1t suddenly
stopped short, ears cooked, one paw
up, at sight of Burton.
And for Burton, trained cosmopoh-
tan and globe trotter, the Sound Beach
environme faded, leaving only him
self and a stray fox terrier to race the
past. As the dog sprang toward him
he stopped.
s'Hello. boy" he said huskily. Hello
there. How's the world treating you %
A voice behind him broke the spell.
beg pardon, sir. The owner sent
me after him"
who is the owner?' Burton asked
giving up the delighted. struggling fox
TERROR reluctantly.
"Guest at Grey Towers, sir
"Oh-er-stay, one moment That's
nv place, too I am Mrs. Hampton's
brother Where's the car? ?"
Grimly Burton followed, his eyes
watching the TERROR that yelped and
strained to get with him. Had fate
shaken her dicebox, and tossed him
on the same green baize with Cres-
sida? Or was it one of Isabelle's
pleasant little sisterly surprises Yet.
he told himself, how could it be, when
she knew nothing of the affair. 1t had
happened year ago, at Honolulu. he
had been sent to look after the gov
ernment's interests in the new cable
concession, and had found her there,
a guest on the Faxton yacht.
And that was all that the world
knew Burton was sure the rest lay
between Cressida and himself. He had
forgotten the dog.
1--WE have a splendid crowd this
week. Stanley" Mrs. Hampton told
him. She had come to his room for
chat before dinner, the same buoyant,
arrogant plump little sister he re-
years before. ''I do wish you had
time to come to the nursery and see
Peter Stanley Hampton, but Cress is
with him and she wouldn't like it If l
intruded."
Burton stood before the window
looking down at the sound
''Cress who p he asked.
"Cressida Langhorne, a southern
girl. She's a dear friend of Tommy's
and mine. She married Phil Lang
horne on his deathbed. Horrible,
wasn't it? I always thought it was so
sweet of him to die, anyway. Family
affair Cressida's awfully close on
personal details. He adored her, and
was hurt hunting. and she pitied him.
and so on. So Cress has all the priv
ileges of widowhood, and is still darl-
ing girl"
weren't they?'' Burton inquired. II
remember the affair"
around the world in the Faxton yacht, |
and tried to make him forget her, but
he held her.
'sThe pupil" Burton could not help
it. Too keenly he recalled those nights
on the bay when he had tried to make
Cress break her troth with a lad she
could not love.
ssWen. he died anyway. 1t was all
he could do in mercy I know you'H
like her"
specu1ated on the imminent meeting. |
She had sent him from her after that |
one night He was never to seek her. !
never to make her remember by word, |
deed, or letter, that one night in their |
lives. Burton wondered if he could
meet her now as a stranger. Speech |
he could control, and manner, but
what of eyes meeting eyes and pulses
that would not be Stilled p
1--WE are out here, Stanley" Isabelle
called "The sunset is gorgeous
He stepped out on the broad stone
terrace that faced the sea. She was
sitting at some distance from him, eyes
watching the water. with Grip, the ter
rior. curled asleep beside her.
"Cress. dear" Mrs. Hampton said, |
ssI want YOU to know my brother, Col |
one1 Burton"
Burton stood before her, waiting for
her to set the pace, wondering even
then. with a curious tingle of excite |
ment. whether she. too, were thinking |
of a boat that drifted in the wake of !
the moon on Honolulu bay
But she was game, true to her own
code. and to the memory of the dead /
man who had held first claim on her. /
She glanced up and smiled.
Colonel Burton, so pleased to meet /
you" she said
Grip lifted one ear, opened ten
tative eye, and played traitor. Before