Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1914-09-07
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fered his hand to assist Marta. But
she seemed not to see it. Her aspect
was that of downright sntagonism.
However absurd! Yes. 1t is absurd
to think that you can mako me party
to any Of your plans, for She broke
off abruptly with staring eyes, as If she
had seen an apparition.
| Lanstron turned and through the
door of the tco!roon saw Feller enter
| ing the sftting-roor. He was not the
bent. deferential gardener. His fea-
lures were hsrdset, lighting rage
| burning in his eyes, his sinews taut
as II about to spring upon an adver-
sary. When he recognized the IN
| truders he turned limp, his head
dropped, hiding his face with his hat
brim, and he steadied himself by rest
ing hand on the table edge.
"Oh, it's you, Lanny-Colonel Lam
stron!" he exclaimed thickly. "I saw
that some one had come in here and
naturally I was alarmed, as nobody
but myself ever enters. And Miss Gal
landl" He removed his hat deferential-
ly and bowed; his stoop returned and
the lines OF his face dropped 81 was
SO stupid; it did not occur to me that
you might be showing the tower TO
Colonel Lanstron."
I'VE are sorry to have given you a
fright" said Marta very gently.
"Eh? Eh!" queried Feller, again
deaf. Fright? Oh, no, no fright 1t
might have been some boys from the
town marauding."
He was about to withdraw, in keep
ing with his circumspoct adherence
to his part, which he played with a
sincerity that half-convinced even him
self at times that. he was really deaf,
when the fire flickered back suddenly
to his eyes and he glanced from Lam
stron to the stairway in desperate in
quiry.
wait. Fellerl Three of us share
the secret now. These are Miss Gal
lands premises. I thought best that
she should know everything" said Ian
stron.
"Everything!" exclaimed Feller.
Everything" the word caught in his
throat. You mean my story too?" He
was neither young nor old now. She
knows who l am ?" he asked
His story!" exclaimed Marta, with
puzzled look to Lanstron before she
turned to Feller with look of warm
sympathy. why, there is no storyI
You came with excellent recommends
tions. You are our very efficient gar
dener. That is all we need to know.
Isn't that the way you wish it, Mr..
Feller?"
"Yes, just thatl" he said softly. rails
ing his eyes to her. Thank you, Miss
Galland!"
He was going after another Thank
you!" and bow; going with the slow
step and stoop of his part, when Lam
stron, with a masculine roughness of
impulse which may be sublime gentle.
ness, swung him around and seized his
hands in firm caress.
Forgive me, Gustave!" he begged.
Forgive the most brutal of all in.
juries-that which wounds a friends
sensibilities."
why, there is nothing could ever
have to forgive you, Lanny," he said.
returning Lanstron's pressure while
for an instant his quickening muscles
gave him a soldierly erectness. Then
his attitude changed to one of doubt
and inquiry. And you found out that
was not deaf when you had that fall
on the terracc?" he asked, turning to
Marta. THAT is how you happened to
get the whole story7 Tell me, hon.
estly!"
yes"
You saw so much more OF me than
the others, Miss Galland," he said with
q charming bow, "and you are so quick
to observe. am sorry"-hc paused
with head down for al instant-"very
sorry to have deceived you"
But you are still a deaf gardener
to me-" said Marta, finding consolation
in pleasing him.
"Eh? Eh?" He put his hand to his
ear as he resumed his stoop. Yes
yes" he added, as a deaf man will
when understanding of remark which
he failed at first to catch comes to him
in an echo. "Yes. the gardener has nc
! past" he declared in the gentle ole
] gardeners voice, when all the flow
ers die every year ccd he thinks only
Of next years blossoms-of the fu
ture!"
Now the air of the room seemed tt
be sitting him, that Of the roofiess
world of the garden calling him. The
bent figure disappeared around turr
in the path and they listened without
, moving until the sound Of his slow
/ dragging footballs had died away.
+ when he is serving those of hi.
l own social station l can see how 4
would be easier for him not to have
$ me know" said Marta. Sensitive
! proud and intense" and look o
g horror appeared in her eyes. "As h,
r came across the room his face wa!
transformed. l imagine It was lik,
that of man giving no quarter in /
bayonet charged"
4 Feller had won the day for himsel
where a friends pleas might hav,
$ failed. This was as 1t should be, Ian
:, stron thought.
THE right view-the view that 20,