The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1915-10-21
A BROKEN LANCE
BY STELLA AVERY.

49, go 1&C - y 1ANAA 49,
Frank Edgarton on the verge of the
Cliff at Roselea. Frank had pressed
Lorry to the edge OF the cliff. the
earth had given way and young Ora
ham had fallen 80 feet to the beach
below. Frank mad reeled home, still
intoxicated, to give a garhled account
of the affair. He had disappeared for
awhile, but 10Y gossip said he had
returned to lay siege to Naney's heart
while Lorry Graham was blind!
After Edith Vantine had impaired
the news to Nancy she moved along
over the putting green; Nancy watched
her with wide-open, smarting eyes
How she missed Lorry's tall, white
clad figure swinging across the field,
his deep voice, the fire in his glance
when their eyes met. And now that
glance was dead-forever.
With a choking sob Nancy brushed
away the tears and swung a club to
her shoulder. She grounded it clum-
silly as Frank Ed%garton's voice sound
ed close beside her.
Good morning, Nancy. Waiting for
me?"
No" said Nancy carelessly. I'm
just thinking about Lorry Graham.
They say he is blind"
Edgarton paled under his tan. He
was a dark, lean-jawed man with
onyx-black eyes and hair. His brown
hands fumbled ~nervously with his
clubs.
His own fault" he muttered sui
lenly.
What did you quarrel about"
asked Nancy quickly.
"Youl" he flashed back.
rs that the truth. Frank Edgar
tom" Nancy looked him full in the
eyes.
ON my honor," he detained trag-
ically. his glance shifting.
The girl laughed CONTEMPORARY.
Don't swear by something you
haven't got" she retorted, and turned
her back upon him. Il pity youi"
They say pity is akin to-a tenderer
feelingi" he inslnuated.
It's sometimes close TO contempt"
was Nancy's last retort. as she saun-
tered back to the clubhouse.
She sank down in a corner where a
h~igh-backed settle hid her from chat
ting groups Of people. Voices reached
her now and then. Once the clear
tones of Mrs. Amory came to her, hold
ing her captive in her seat, an unwil-
ling ea~yesdropper.
"Lorry Graham is NOT only blind. but
he is poor as we'll" said Mrs. Amory
Its hard lucki"
"poori" echoed a mans voice.
What has happened TO him?
thought he was as safe as Gibraltar
My husband told me this morning
that Lorry was bankrupt; that's all
know about II. Isn't it dreadful, on
top of his blindness? Certainly
troubles never do come singly."
Nancy slipped out of the nearest
door. her heart in a tumult. Lorry
Graham not only blind. but poor as
Welt
She crossed the lawn and entered
the estate owned by the Grahams.
Under a wide-spreading maple she dis
covered Lorry reclining in a ham
mock chair and leaning over its back
was his sister Mabel.
Mabel saw Nancy coming. put a FIN.
ger to her lips and tiptoed out OF ear
shot Of the man under the maple tree
Go to him, dear" whispered Mabel
He's aWfully down and he would
rather see you than anyone else.
Nancy squeezed Mabel's hand, and
the latter went toward the house
Nancy approached the lone figure un
der the tree. her heart In a tumult OF
fear and pity.
THAT you. Mab?" asked Lorry's deeT
voice as she eame up to the back oil
his chair. Before her voice was steady
enough 10 risk an answer he went on;
AS | was telling you NAB, Edgarton
was drunk-plain drunk, and he made
a sneering remark about Nancy. re
scented IL, of course, and he threw him
self against me and bowled me over
Rather humiliating when a chap was
trying to break a lance for the lady
of his heart!"
Nancy's hands slipped down unit
Au03 AOfCACu 1OIAf , OAd4N9NN 80
Who is It? Where is Mabel?" he
demanded sharply.
1T is Nancy" she whispered
TREMENDOUSLY.
Then you heard what | said-yol
know"
Il know-everything, my brave
knight" ~quavered Nancy. kneeling be
side him. you were breaking a Lance
for me. oh, Lerry, you can see-yo'
are not blind at ALL" she cried in
panic.
For he snatched of the d~isfgurinl
ban6age and his wide-open and lowell
eyes were beaming upon her with al
their old-time alteration. only multi
piled a hundredfold.
why, of course l can see" h'
laughed tenderly. Who said | has
gone blind?" 4