The Fayette falcon. (Somerville, Tenn.) 190?-current, 1916-10-20
A BROKEN LANCE
BY STELLA AVERY.


Blind-and all due to a quarrel with
Frank Edgarton on the verge of the
clin at Roselea. Frank had pressed
LorTy to the edge Of the cliff, the
earth had given way and young Ora
ham had fallen 40 feet to the beach
below. Frank had reeled home, still
intoxicated, to give q garbled account
Of the affair. He had disappeared for
awhile, but now gossip said he had
returned to lay siege to Nancy'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 choking sob Nancy brushed
away the tears and swung q club to
her shoulder She grounded 1t clum-
silly as Frank Edgarton's voice sound
ed close beside her.
Good morning, Nancy Waiting for
mel"
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.
"You!" he flashed back.
us that the truth, Frank Edgar
toni" 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 you'll"
"They say pity is akin to-a tenderer
feeling!" he insinuated.
IT'S sometimes close to contempt"
was Nancy's last retort, as she saun-
tered back to the clubhouse.
She sank down in corner where
high-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 eavesdropper.
"Iorry Graham is not only blind, but
he is poor as WE'LL" said Mrs. Amory.
IT'S hard luckl"
"Poor!" echoed q 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 I
know about 1t. 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
well
She crossed the lawn and entered
the estate owned by the Gfahams.
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 fin
ger to her lips and tiptoed out OF ear.
shot Of the man under the maple tree.
go to him, dear" whispered Mabel.
Hes 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 deep
voice as she came up to the back of
his chair. Before her voice was steady
enough to risk an answer he went on:
"As l was telling you, Nab, Edgarton
was drunk-plain drunk, and he made
sneering remark about Nancy. l re-
sented 1t, of course, and he threw him
self against me and bowled me over.
Rather humlliating when a chan was
sAlrSssSs -.