The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1914-10-24
"Thats not half bad" gratefully

OF forgetfulness.
SlyIy from the corner of her eye
Nora looked at Courtlandt, who was
at that moment staring thoughtfully
into his tea cup and stirring the con-
tents industriously. His face was a
little thinner, but aside from that he
had changed scarcely at all; and then,
because these two years had left so
little mark upon his face, tinge of
unreasonable anger ran over her. Men
have died and worms have eaten
them,' she thought cynically. Perhaps
the air between them was suffi Gent
ly charged with electricity to convey
the impression across the intervening
space; for his eyes came up quickly,
but not quickly enough to catch her.
She dropped her glance to Abbott,
transferred 1t to the Barone, and final
ly let it rest on her father face. Four
handsomer men she had never seen.
You never told me you knew Court
landt." said Harrigan, speaking to
Abbott
Just happened that way. We went
to school together When | was little
they used to make me wear curls and
wide collars. Many's the time Court
landt walloped the school DULLES for
mussing me up. l don't see him much
these days. Once in while he walks
in. That's all. Always seems to know
where his friends are, but none ever
knows where he is"
Abbott proceeded to elaborate some
of his friends exploits. Nora heard,
as if from affair." Vaguely she caught
a glimmer of what the contest was
going to be. She could see only lit
tie way; ;still, she was enthusiastically
confident of the result. She was ready.
Indeed. now that the shock of the
meeting was past, she found herself
not at all averse to conflict. 1t would
be something to let go the pent-up
wrath Of two years. Never would she
speak to him directly; never would
she permit him to be alone with her;
never would she miss a chance to
twist his heart, to humiliate him, to
snub him.
so, l have heard" she was dimly
conscious Of saying.
Didn't know you knew" said Alb
bolt.
Knew what?" rousing herself.
That Courtlandt nearly lost his life
in the eighties"
In the eighties!" dismayed at her
slip.
"Latitudes. Polar expedition"
Heavens! l was miles away"
The padre took her hand in his own
and began to pat it softly. 1t was the
nearest he dared approach in the way
of suggesting caution. He alone Of
them all knew.
"Oh, l believe l read something
about it In the newspapers"
Five years ago." Abbott set down
his tea cup. He's the bravest man
know. He's rather a friendless man,
besides. Horror of money. Thinks
every one is after him for that. Tries
to throw it away; but the income piles
up too quickly. See that Indian, pass
ing the cakes? Wouldn't think it,
would you, that Courtlandt carried
him on his back for five miles! The
Indian had fallen afoul wounded
tiger, and the beaters were miles OIL.
I've been watching. They haven't even
spoken to each other. Courtlandt's
probably forgotten all about the Incl
dent, and the Indian would die rather
than embarrass his savior before
strangers"
Your friend, then, Is quite hero?'
What was the matter with NoAa's
voice? Abbott looked at her wonder
ingly. The tone was hard and I'M
musical.
He couldn't be anything else. be-
ing Dick Courtlandt's boy" volun-
teered Harrigan, with enthusiasm. 1T
runs in the family"
1T seems strange" observed Nora.
that never heard you mention that
you knew Mr. Courtlandt."
why, Nora. theSe's lot Of things
nobody mentions unless chance brings
them up. Courtlandt-theo one knew
has been dead these sixteen years.
II l knew he had had son, I'd for
gotten all about 1t. The only grave
yard isn't on the hillside; there's one
under everybody's thatch."
The padre nodded approvingly.
Nora was not particularly pleased
with this phase in the play. Court
landt would find valiant champion
in her father, who would blunder in
when some fine passes were being ex-
changed, And she could not tell him;
she would have cut out her tongue
rather.
viii you forgive me?" asked Co
leste of Courtlandt. Never had she
felt more i'll at ease. For full ten
minutes he chatted pleasantly. with