Gloucester County Democrat., 1912-06-27

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/ Jack r.
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 more
gentle shall / say a more beseeching
look? Was it that | again was at her
side. that old associations awakened?
Or was it because she was keen,
| shrewd and III control of herself, able
to make plans to her own advantage?
| l cannot tell as to that. But saw her
| face soften, and her voice was gentle
when she spoke.
What do you mean. Jack?" she
asked
| If there was not love and caress in
her tones then / could not detect the
counterfeit. reiterate, if should live
a thousand years / should know moth
ing of women, nothing. We men are
but toys with them.
Had it been left to my Judgment to
pronounce should have called her
emotion now 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
ut this very place until she blushed-
| Gissed until she warmed. until She
But now | know she changed once
| again. and ! know that this time
read her look Alright. 1t 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. | shall need your
Before could resolve any questions
in my mind | 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
pushed open the Efeat gate. 1t was
the first time b1d seen him since my
return
"Am ! intrudingY he asked. I'm
awfully glad to see you. Cowles.
heard below you were home. You've
had long journey
Yes / answered. 'longer than
had planned by many weeks. And
now | 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
see again"
Wish / could be as polite with you.
Have you been sick? And, say, you
did meet the savages, didn't you?''
+ l knew he meant the scar on the side
of my neck, which still was rather evi-
dent, but did not care to repeat the
old story again YES" / answered a
bit shortly. rather a near thing of it.
presume Captain Orme told your
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.
IL 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"
l was still an engaged man. Eyi-
IDENTIFY nothing otherwise had been dis
cussed in the Sheraton family coun-
1 ellis, If any such had been held. II never
| suitor in Old Virginia rode up in sor-
! rier case than mine that morning as l
came to call upon my fancee certainly
did never one depart in more uncertain
frame of mind than mine at this very
moment / presume that young Shera-
ton felt something Of this, for he began
awkwardly to speak of matters related
/ thereto.
Its awfully hard,' he began, ito see
strangers there in your own house.
know it must be hard But / say, your
father must have plunged heavily on
those lands over west in the noun
tains.. I've heard they're very rich in
coal and that all that was necessary
was simply cash or credit enough to
tide the deal over till next years
crops"
my father always said there was a
great fortune in the lands" ! replied.
Yes, think another year would have
seen him through, but that year was
not to come for him."
"But couldn't funds be raised some
how, even YETI" l shook my head
"Well, I'm not so sure" he went on,
embarrassed. my father and l have
been talking over these matters, and
we concluded to ask you if we might
not take a hand in this. At least, we
have agreed all along that-in this case
you know you and my sister-we have
planned definitely that you should live
in your old place We're going to take
that over. The redemption time has