The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-03-06

-- SAe<ea
 "But tell L. ne wedding | be?" This last with obvious effort
 You have not advised me-"
 ''Oh. I beg your pardon. I mean your marriage with Ellen Meriwethel I supposed. of course, you had quite forgotten mer'
 "Ellen Meriwether is already mar ried." said to her. with a calmnes which surprised myself. But what surprised me most was the change which came upon her face at the words the fiush-the gleam of triumph, of satisfaction. guessed this much and no more-that she had had certain plans. and that now she had other plans, changed with lightning swift ness, and by reason of. my words.
 "Lieutenant Lawrence Belknap and Miss Ellen Meriwether were married I presume, some time after I started for the east" I went on. "But they were never engaged before our return to the settlements. It was all very suddenly arranged"
 "How like a story book! So he for got her little incidents with you-all summer-side by side-day and night! How romantic! I don't know that could have done so much, had I been q man. and myself not guilty of the same incidents. At least, he kept his promise"
 ''There had never been any promise at all between them"
 'Then Captain Orme was quite mis- taken?"
 Captain Orme does not trouble him. self always to be accurate"
 At least, then, you are unmarried. Jack?"
 "Yes. and likely to be for some years"
 Now her face changed once more. Whether by plan of her own or not cannot say, but it softened to a more gentle-shal: I say a more beseechine look? Was 1t that I again was at hei side, that old associations awakened: Or was 1t because she was keen, shrewd and in control of herself, able to make plans to her own advantage. cannot tell as to that. But saw hel face soften. and her voice was gentle when she spoke.
 What do you mean, Jack?' shs asked.
 If there was not love and caress il her tones then I could not detect tht counterfeit. reiterate, if I should iv. a thousand years I should know noth ing of women, nothing. We men are but toys with them.
 Had it been left to my judgment tt pronounce I should have called her emotion now a genuine one. Mocking cynical. contemptuous she might have been, and it would have suited my own mood. But what was it now on the face of Grace Sheraton. girl of proud family, woman once had kissed here at this very place until she blushed- kissed until she warmed, until she
 But now I know she changed once again, and I know that this time read her look alright. It was pathos on her face. and terror. Her eye was that of the stricken antelope in dread of the pursuer.
 "Jack." she whispered. "don't leave me. Jack. 1 shall need you"'
 Before I could resolve any questions in my mind I heard behind us the sound of approaching hoofs and there rode up to the gate her brother. Harry Sheraton. who dismounted and hitched his horse near mine. saluting me as he H<1 fa the first time had seen him since my return.
 "Am I intruding?' he asked. "I'r awfully glad to see you. Cowles. heard below you were home. You've had long journey"
 "Yes." I answered. longer than. had planned by many weeks. And now I am glad to be back once more. No.' in answer to his turning toward his horse as though he would leave us "You are looking well. Harry. Indeed everything in old Virginia Is good to zee again.
 "Wish could be as polite with you. Have you been sick? And, I say, you lid meet the savages. didn't youT'
 knew he meant the scar on the side of my neck. which still was rather evil dent, but I did not care to repeat the old story again. "Yes." I answered a bit shortly. rather a near thing of it. I presume Captain Orme told you" I turned to Miss Grace, who then admit ted that she had heard something of the surgery which had thus left its mark. Harry seemed puzzled, so saw it was news to him. Miss Grace relieved the situation somewhat by turning toward the house.
 "l am sure you will want to talk with Jack" she said to him. And lis- ten. Harry; you must have him and Mrs. Cowles over here this very even- ing. We cannot think of her living alone at the old place."
 I was still an engaged man. Evi- dently nothing otherwise had been dis cussed in the Sheraton family coun- cils, if any such had been held. If never suisor in Old Virginia rode up in sor