Courier Democrat., 1917-02-15
CHAPTER VII.
Drama Of the War Mule.

is never W 1OfScL ulltll ucatn ana
! perhaps even after. I do not know,
but am sure that l shall always keep
the memory of the night upon which
MIR. Robert Curruth~rs of Gree and
Bye was introduced 20 the friends of
his ancestors. il is my jewel that
seems drop of hearts blood that
VIII wear f"r'vcr 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 Wlitworth, who was seut
ed at my side, and as she spoke she
turned one lovely bare shoulder in 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 a little space of
world just for two people,
Il can say with truth, madam that
your loNeliness tonight is but the flow
erln% Of my suspicious of it that morn
ing upon the railroad train" | answer
cd her in words that We're a very nice
translation of what that fine Young
Nossack had once said to me at the
Nhatcal de Gree of my own Towering
INTO rose chiffon after an afternoons
hunting With him in cortiuroys. And
III truth | spoke no falSehood to that
Madam Whitworth. for she was of n
very great beauty of body. very much
or winch was in view from Il scanti-
ness OF bodice that had never sccn
eScellrd in any ballroom in France.
l knew you for Il poet from that
adorable black mop which see YOU
nave very nicely plaStered in an exact
imitation Of Buzz Ciendennings red
one, she answered me. with a laugh,
folloW me from the ballroom lust
after supper at midnight for Il half
nourS cnat alone in Il place | know.
and don't let either the general or the
governor SEQ you" she then said in an
undert"le as the Gouverneur Faulkner
bent forward and began Il laughing
conversation with her,
Il Will | answered her under my
breath, and I leaned back in nv chair
so that the Gouverncur 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 Il second to kiss the hand Of
the beautiful Madam Whitworth as
she left the room. AS raised my head
from the Salutation | encountered the
eyes Of the Gouverneur Faulkner,
which looked into mine with an express
sion of calm question. And for 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 dawn 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 I 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 Gouvcrncur Faulkner were
like minutes Of time that dropped from
4 golden clock Of joy. l danced on
feet that were strong wings to glide
over a floor that was q many colored
cloud from the reflection of the soft
lights and the silken skirts which ruff
fled over it. And, what was most en-
joyable to me in this case, | glded III
| whatever direction pleased me and
took with me the armful of cloud,
which was the girl with whom I was
dancing. on long swool's of my own
will instead of being led in my flights
by another, as had always before been
the case with my dancing. 1t was the
most of 4 JOY that | had ever expert
enced, and as l so enjoyed that free
dom | did not know how it was that
l should have such Il feeling Of dissat-
isfaction when / beheld that beautiful
Madam Whitworth dancing within the
arms of the Gouverneur Williamson
Faulkner. I blushed that | should be
! so unworthy, with such an unreasOn-
able fury in my heart. and l looked
away so that l seemed not to see the
smile that he sent to me over the head
of the very sweet Belle girl in blue
ruf1les and silver slippers l was guild
ing past him in the trot of fox.
1t is with burning of countenance
that arises from hot shame, which |
do not even to this moment exactly
understand, that l recall to my mind
that half hour which Mr.. Robert Car
ruthers of Gree and Bye spent with
the beautiful Madam Patricia Whit
worth In one of the deep windows that
looked from the private study Of his
excellency Of the state of Harpeth