The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1917-02-01
CHAPTER WI.
Drama Of the War Mule.

IA into the life Of every person
"a there comes one night which he
is never TO forget until death and
perhaps even after. l do not know.
but l am sure that I shall always keep
the memory of the night upon which
Mr.. Robert Carruthers Of Gree 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 l sat beside the Gouver-
neur Williamson Faulkner. and tears
came into my eyes as he rose from lie
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 Iung?" said
that Madam Whltworth, who was seat.
ed at my side, and as She spoke she
turned one lovely bare shoulder in tie
direction Of my uncle. the General Rob
ert, and the beautiful Nile Sue and
also Buzz, is 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 loveliness tonight is but the flow.
ering of my suspicious Of it tl.ar morn
ing upon the railroad train" | answer
el her in words that were a very nice
translation Of what that fine yomc
CosSack had once said to Inc at the
Chateau de Cree Of my own Towering
into rose chiffon after an afternoons
hunting with him in corduroys. And
in truth | spoke no falseLood to that
Madam WlitWorth, for she was Of a
very great beauty of body, very much
Of which was IN view from a scanti
ness Of bodice that l had never. seen
eXcelled in any ballroom in France.
i knew you for poet from that
adorable black mop which l see YOU
have very nicely plastered in an exact
imitation of Buzz Clendenning's red
one" she answered me. with a laugh
Follow me from the ballroom Just
after supper at midnight for a half
hours chat alone in n 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 laughing
conversation with her.
Il will" I answered her under ny
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" l whispered, while |
bent for a second to kiss the hand of
the beautiful Madam Whitworth as
she left the room. As l raised my head
from the salutation l encountered the
eyes of the Gouverneur Faulkner.
which looked into mine with an expires
sion of calm question. And for a mo
ment let the woman rise superior to
the raven attire, and l 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 l 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
like minutes Of time that dropped from
a golden clock of Joy. l danced on
feet that were strong wings to glide
over a floor that was n many colored
cloud from the reflection of the soft
lights and the siken skirts which ruff
fed over it. And, what was most en-
joyable to me in this case, glided in
whatever direction pleased me and
took with me the armful of cloud.
which was the girl with whom | was
dancing, on long swoops 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 JOY that | had ever expert
enced. and as | so enioved that free.