The Washington herald., 1913-10-15
The Majors Last Charge.
BY LOUISE MERRIBIELD.

1
"A ridiculous proposition on the face of
it," said the major, his blue eyes fiery,
and his imperial lifted until its tip barely
touched his shirt front. Etoile never
moved. Perched comfortably on the arm
of his chair, with one slender arm barri-
cading him, she held him prisoner.
But dear, what difference does it all
make now?"
aren't you? You have no idea of the
deadly struggle which took place some
years back before your birth"
| And / don't want to, dad I hate the
very sound OF il. I don's even like to
see veterans parading. The poor old fell
lows. I'm sure II IL had happened today
in our time, we would have found de-
cent, well-bred way out OF it instead Of
peppering each other the way You did.
It's awfully bad form for members OF
the same family to fight publicly with
each other"
The major stared, and then slowly a
broad smile overspread his features.
Does Harry Granger care to I'LL your
head with his piffiing nonsense after I
chased his father from one end of the
wilderness to the other. and cut on his
last retreat?"
He laid you up in the army hospital
for four months after it, lad. Now, don't
deny it. for it's the proudest achievement
of the coloners whole war career, and IL
you take that away from him I don't
know what he would live on"
The major fumed and fretted.
You boss me shamefully. Positively
bullyrag me. You 'coaxed me INTO winter
ing here in New York instead Of South in
comfort You coaxed me into an apart
ment hotel instead Of my own comfort
ahla hopaa sfudy with good fire
to cheer me. And now you oring out my
worst wartime enemy ana ask me to 90
and call on him because he is crippled and
cannot very well call on me. As though
any mortal power could make Tad
Granger call on me-"
"oh, he would, really and truly. dad"
Etoile insisted. "He's the dearest, -jol-
liest old gentleman
Since when have you had the pleasure
Of his acquaintance"
Harvey wanted me to meet him so
much, and know Harvey well, dad. You
don't realize that I've been running up
here for three whole years, visiting Aunt
winifred and meeting great many peo-
ple.'
.How old is the SUBJ The majors
eyebrows looked as shaggy and ferocious
as some old lions.
''Twenty-four. He's in his last year at
wants to go down to Peru afterward; in
fact. we had planned stopped short.
a quick flush sweeping over her face-'to
give him a sort of send-ofr, you know"
II the major suspected any Interior mo-
tive in her demands. he feigned disre-
gard of any ambuscade But neither
coaxing nor pouting availed. He would
not call upon Col. Granger In his suite at
the Andorra; neither would he leave his
e.. 49, rnVrr 0w,1
to Harvey's cordial bow with a reluctant
lifting of one forefnger to his hat brim
when they passed him sometimes on the
drive. There would be a swift glance in
serchanged between Etoile and the
colonel's son, but that was ALL Some of
her mothers splendidly vivacious Lor-
raine spirit must have kept Etoile's heart
light those days. She had been born in
France and brought up there during the
majors diplomatic services abroad. The
career that lay before Harvey, with its
promise of adventure and achievement,
had appealed to her from the first of their
acquaintance.
It had not been chance at all that
had led them TO the Andorra Her aunt
had engaged their suite before their ar
rival, and in New York one is most
liable to run across friends and acquaint-
ances in apartment hotels, SO the major
had not suspected anything.
Etoile's birthday was the following
week. She had told the major she was
planning quiet little home party in the
roof garden of the hotel
''only Aunt Winifred and a few others.
dear, very small and informal, and I
shall wear something very simple, and
you shall sit at my right hand and be
toastmaster."
The major never suspected. Their
table was in the southwest corner,
shielded by palms on three sides from
public gaze.
''You guests are delayed, Etoile," said
the major, after they had waited a few
minutes in the foyer reception hail at
the elevators. Etoiles cheeks were
flushed and her eyes very bright. She
slipped one hand through his arm and
led him toward their table with its rose
shaded lights and pink and white rose
buds,
'Dearie. don't get a bit fused. now."