The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1915-03-13
CHAPTER Vl-Continued.

S''SF ! IN Ni"SS''"tSe.
"Oh. it's you. Lanny-Colonel Ian
stron," he exclaimed thickly 81 saw
that some one had come in here and
naturally | was alarmed. as nobody
but myself ever enters. And Miss Gal
land!" He removed his hat deferential-
ly and bowed. his stoop returned and
the lines of his face dropped. Il was
SO stupid; 1t did not occur to me that
you might be showing the tower to
Colonel Lanstron."
we are sorry to have given you a
fright" said Marta very gently.
"Eh2 Eh." queried Feller. again
deaf Fright? Oh. no. no fright. 1t
town marauding."
He was about to withdraw, in keep
ing with his circumspect adherence
TO his part. which he played with
sincerity that halfconvinced even him
self at times that he was really deaf.
when the fire fickered back suddenly
to his eyes and he glanced from Lam
stron to the stairway in desperate In
Quiry.
Wait. Feller! Three OF us share
the secret now. These are Miss Gal
lands premises. 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 ann" he asked.
His storyi" exclaimed Marta. with
a puzzled look to Lanstron before she
turned to Feller with look Of warm
sympathy. why, there is no story!
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 that" he said softly, rails
ing his eyes to her. Thank you. Miss
Galland!"
He WAS going after another Thank
you!" and a bow: going with the slow
step and stoop OF his part, when Ian
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 friends
sensibilities."
Why. there is nothing l 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 dou Dt
and inquiry. And you found out that
was not deaf when you had that fall
on the terrace?" he asked, turning TO
Marta .fhat is how you happened to
get the whole story Tell me, hon.
estly."
Yes"
You saw SO much more OF me than
the others, Miss Galland." he said with
a charming bow. "and you are SO quick
to observe, | am sorry"-he paused
with head down for an instant-"very
sorry to have deceived you
But you are still deaf gardener
to me-" said Marta nndiug 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 a remark which
he failed at first to catch comes to him
IN an echo. Yes. the gardener has no
past" he declared in the gentle old
gardeners voice, when all the flow
ers die every year and he thinks only
OF next years blossoms--of the fu-
ture!"
Now the air OF the room seemed to
be sitting him, that of the roofless
world ofsthe garden calling him. The
bent figure disappeared around turn
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 his
own social station l can see how it
would be easier for him not to have
me know" said Marta Sensitive,
proud and intense" and a look Of
horror appeared In her eyes. las he
came across the room his face was
transformed. l imagine 1t was like
that OF a man giving no quarter in a
bayopet charge"
Feller had won the day for himself
where a friends pleas might have
tailed This, was ~ 1t should be, Ian
!etron thought. asL
The right view-the view that you
Usge Oand to tAkei" he said.