The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1912-05-04

tA0 WAuOOWb WuoI0 tQey 08t.
As they neither called for their &C
count nor to have the tea things taken
away. after q while the woman stealth
lily opened the door and. unknown,
looked at one Of the prettiest pictures
ever within her walls. Lefty Lane
sat on the window seat. her golden
head. her white form against the
glow. and the boy by her side had his
arms around her. and her head was
on his breast. They were both young
They might have been white birds
blown In there. nesting In the humble
Inn. and the woman Of tho house. who
had not heard the waters Of the
Thames how softly for nothing,
Judged them gently and sighed with
pleasure a. she shut the door.
Here at Maidenhead Dan had left
his boat and the motor took them
back. Nothing spoiled his bliss that
day, and he. said her name q thou
sand times that night in his dreams
Jealousies-and. when he would le,
himself think. they were not one. they
were many-faded away. The duties
that life with her would involve did
not disturb him. For many q Ions
year. come what might, be what
would, he would recall the glowing OF
that sunset reflected under the inr
windows. the singing of the thrushes
and the flash Of the white dress and
the fine little white shoes which he
had held In the palm OF his ardent
hand. which he had kissed. as he tol6
her with all his heart that she should
rest her tired feet forever.
There grew in him that day q rever-
ence for her. determined as he was to
bring into her life by hts wealth and
devotion everything Of good. His Low.
Ing plans for her forming In his brain
somewhat chaotic and very much fe-
vered. brought him nearer than he
had ever been before to the picture OF
his mother. His father It wasn't easy
for Dan to think Of in connection with
the actress. He didn't dare to dwell
on the subject. but he had never
known his mother. and that pale ideal
he could create as he would. In think.
Ing OF her he saw only tenderness for
Lefty Lane-only love: and In his
room the night after the row ON the
river, the night after the long idyl
In. the sunset room Of the inn. some.
thing like a prayer came to his young
lips. and. when its short form was fin.
ished. a smile brought 1t to an end
as he remembered the line In Lefty
Lanes own opera:
"she will teach you how to pray in an
Eastern form Of prayer"
The ring he had given the duchess
OF Breakwater had been her own
choice, a ruby. He had asked her,
through Gslorey. to keep 1t and to
wear II later. when she could think of
MIN kindly. In an ornament or B6me
kind or another. The duchess had
not refused. The ring he bought for
Lefty Lane. although there was no
engagement announced between them.
was the largest. purest diamond he
could with decency ask her to put
on her hand! 1t sparkled like a great
drop OF clear water from some foun.
tain on a magic continent. In an.
other shop strands Of pink coral. set
through with diamonds. caught his
fancy and he bought her yards OF
them. ropes Of them. smiling to think
how his boyhood's dreams were come
true.
He never saw Ruggles except at
meals. hardly spoke to the poor man
at all. and the boys absorbed face,
his state OF mind. made the older man
feel like death. He repeated to him.
self that he was too late--too late,
and usually wound up his reflections
by calculating:
Gosh almighty. I'm glad havenr
got soni"