The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1914-10-24
CHAPTER TX.
Dick Courtlandt's Boy.


Sikh. with his fierce curling whiskers.
his flashing eyes, the semi-military,
semi-oriental garb, topped by an enor-
nous brown turban, claimed Court
landts attention; and it may be added
that he was glad to have something
to look at unembarrassedly. He want
ed to catch the Indians eye, but Rao
had no glances to waste; he was con-
cerned with the immediate business of
experimenting the service.
"Oh, yes; l am very fond of Como"
he found himself replying mechanical
ly to Mrs. Harrigan. He gave up Rao
as hopeless SO far as coming to his
rescue was concerned. He began,
despite his repugnance, to watch Nora.
And all the while Mrs. Harrigan was
talking and he was replying; and she
thought him charming, whereas he
had not formed any opinion Of her at
ALL nor later could remember a word
of the conversation.
Teal" bawled the colonel. The verb
had its distinct uses, and one general
ly applied it to the colonel's outbursts
without being depressed by the feel
ing of inelegance.
There Is invariably some slight hes
itation in the selection OF chairs
around tea table in the open. Nora
scored the first point Of this singular
battle by selling the padre on one
side and her father on the other and
pulling them down on the bench. 1t
was adroit in two ways: it put Court
landt at a safe distance and In nowise
offended the younger men, who could
find no cause for alarm In the close
proximity of her two fathers, the spir-
itual and the physical. A few mo-
ments later Courtlandt saw a smile
of malice part her lips, for he founo
himself between Celeste and the In
evitable trump.
"Touched!" he murmured, for ne
was a thorough sportsman and appre-
ciated a good point even when taken
by his opponent.
Il never saw anything like It," wh1s-
pered Mrs. Harrigan into the colonels
ear
Saw what?" he asked.
Mr.. Courtlandt can't keep his eyes
off OF Nora"
Il say!" The colonel adjusted his
eye-glass, not that he expected to see
more clearly by doing SO, but because
habit had long since turned an a1ecta-
ton into a movement wholly mechan-
ical. well, who can blame him!
Cad! II l were only twenty-five or
whereabouts"
Mrs. Harrigan did not encourage
this regret. The colonel had never
been a rich man. On the other hand,
this Edward Courtlandt was very rich;
he was young; and he had the entree
to the best families in Europe, which
was greater in her eyes than either
youth or riches. Between sips of tea
she builded a fine castle in Spain.
Abbott and the Barone carried their
cups and cakes over to the bench and
sat down on the grass, Turkish-wise
Both simultaneously offered their
cakes, and Nora took lady finger
from each. Abbott laughed and the
Barone smiled.
"Oh, daddy mine!" sighed Nora
drolly.
"Huh?"
Don't let mother see those shoes"
Whats the matter with EN-? Ev.
erybody's wearing the same"
YES. But don't see how you man
age to do it. One shoe string Is vir-
gin white and the other is pagan
brown"
i've got nine pairs Of shoes. and
yet there's always something the mat
ter" ruefully. Il never noticed when
l put them on. Besides, l wasn't
coming"
That's no defense. But rest easy.
I'll be as secret as the grave"
Now. l for one would never have
noticed il you hadn't called my atten-
tion," said the padre. stealing q glance
at his own immaculate patent feathers.
"Ah, padre, that wife of mine has
eyes like q pilot-fsh. I'm in for It
Borrow one from the colonel before
you 60 home" suggested Abbott