Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1917-01-25
CHAPTER VII.
Drama Of the War Mute.

into the life Of every person
there comes one night which he
is never to forget until death and
perhaps even after do not know,
but am sure that shall always keep
the memory of the night upon which
Mr.. Robert Carruthers OF Greg and
Bye was introduced to the friends OF
his ancestors. 1t is my jewel that
seems a drop Of hearts blood that |
will wear forever hid in my breast.
At dinner / sat beside the Gouver-
neur Williamson Faulkner, and tears
came INTO my eyes as he rose from be
side me at the head of the table and
said:
Ladies and gentlemen, ask you to
drink to the homecoming OF Robert
Carruthers, my friend, your friend and
everybody his friends
"And now what have you to say to
me, boy, the oldest friend you've got
in America who hasn't seen you for
days that have been too long?' said
that Madam WhltwOrth. who was seat
ed at my side, and as she spoke she
turned one lovely bare shoulder I'm the
direction Of my uncle, the General Rob
ert, and the beautiful Mile. Sue and
also Buzz, as If to shut them away
from her and me In little space Of
world just for two people.
Il can say with truth, madam, that
your loneliness tonight is but the flow
ering of my suspicious of It that morn
Ing upon the railroad train" answer
ed her in words that were ve'y nice
translation of what that fine young
Cossack had once said to me at the
Chateau de Gree of my own lowering
into rose chiffon after an afternoons
hunting with him in corduroys. And
IN truth ] spoke no fasehood to that
Madam Whitworth, for she was of a
very great beauty Of body very much
of which was in view from scantl-
ness of bodice that I had never seen
excelled I'm any ballroom In France.
Il knew you for poet from that
adorable black mop which | see you
have very nicely plastered In an exact
imitation of Buzz Clendenning's red |
one" she answered me. with laugh.
Follow me from the ballroom Just
after supper ut midnight for half |
hours chat alone IN place | know.
and don't let either the general or the
governor see you" she then said In an
undertone as the Gouverneur Faulkner
bent forward and began a laughing |
conversation with her.
II WILL" ! answered her under my |
breath, and leaned back in my chair
so that the Gouverneur Faulkner could
more conveniently converse with her
And TO that end he placed his arm
across the back OF my chair, and thus
/ sat In his embrace with my shoulder
pressed into his.
AT midnight" | whispered while
bent for second to kiss the hand of |
the beautiful Madam Whitworth as
she left the room. AS | raised my head
from the salutatlon | encountered the
eyes OF the Gouverneur Faulkner,
which looked into mine with an express
sion Of calm question. And for a mo
ment let the woman rise superior to
the raven attire. and looked back into
those eyes. in which | saw the mys
terry OF the daw" star. as would have
gazed Roberta. marquise Of Gree and
Bye, had she been attired in the white
tulle and lace abandoned In that New
York Then beat her back down into
my heart and gave him the smile OF
fealty that was his due from Robert
Carruthers. his friend
The hours that followed my entry
into the ballroom In the mansion of
the exalted Gouverneur Faulkner were
Ike minutes Of time that dropped from
a golden clock OF Joy danced on
feet that were strong wings to glide
over a door that was a many cOiored
cloud from the reflection Of the soft
lights and the sllken skirts which ruff
fed over H. And. what was most en-
joyable to me in this case. I glided In
whatever direction pleased me and
took with me the armful OF cloud.
which was the girl with whom 1 was
dancing, on long sweeps OF my own
will instead Of being led IA my dishts
BY another. as had always before been
ne case nth ny dancing. Il waa the
nost Of 1og hat { had ever eKberf !