Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1918-04-26

"Oh, Steve" she exclaimed, "he's
gOnel"
"GOne? Who?"
Captain Warren. He's gone"
Gone? Gone where7 Caro-. you don't
mean he's-dead?"
mo; he's gone-gone and left u.s."
Her brothers expression changed to
incredulous Joy.
"Whatf" he shouted. "You mean he's
quit, cleared out, left here for gOod7'
"Yes."
"Hurrah! Excuse me while ! gloat
Hurrah We got 1t through his skull
Mt last Is 1t posslble2 But-but hold
on! Perhaps it's too good to be true.
Are you sure7 How do you known
"He says so. See.'
She handed him the letter. 1t was
addressed to my Dear Caroline" and
in 1t Captain Elisha stated his inten-
lions succinctly. After the plain speak
Ing of the previous evening he should
not, OF course, burden them with his
society any longer. He was leaving
that morning, and as soon as he 30
Gated permanent moorings somewhere
else' would notify his niece and neph.
ew Of his whereabouts:
For. as / told you. although I shall not
Impose my company on you. ] am your
guardian same as ever. will see that
your allowance comes to you regular, In
Guiding enough for all household bills and
pay for the hired help. and SO On. II you
need any extras at any time let me know,
and II they seem to me right and proper
! will send money for them. You will
stay where you are. Caroline, and Stevie
must go back to college right away. Tell
him l say so, and II he does not I shall
begin reducing his allowance according as
I wrote him. He will understand what I
mean. And. Caroline. I want you and
Stevie to feel that l am your anchor to
windward. and when you get in a tight
place. II you ever do. you can depend on
me. Last nights talk has no bearing on
that whatever. Goodby. then. until my
next. ELISHA WARREN.
Stephen read this screed to the end,
then crumpled 1t in his fist and threw
1t angrily IN the floor.
1.-The nerve!" he exclaimed. He
seems to think I'm a sailor on one Of
his ships, to be ordered around as he
sees at. I'll so back to college when
I'm good and ready, not before"
Caroline shook her head. "Oh. nor
she said. "You must 60 today. Hes
right, Steve; it's the thing for you to
do. He and l were agreed as to that.
And you wouldn't stay and make It
harder for me, would you, dearT
He growled a reluctant assent. II
suppose l shall have to 60" he said
~sullenly. my allowance Is too beastly
small to have him cutting 1t, and the
old shark would do that very thing.
He'd take delight in doing 1t, confound
him, Well, he knows what we think
Of him. That's some comfort"
She did not answer. He looked al
her curiously.
"Why, hang 1t all. Caro-" he exclaim.
cd In disgust, what ails you? Bless.
ed II I shan't begin to believe you're
sorry he's gone. You act as If you
were.'
mo, I'm not. OF course I'm not
I'm-I'm glad. He couldn't stay, Of
course. But I'm afraid-I can't hell
feeling that you and I were too harsh
last night, We said things-dreadfu
things
"Be hanged! We didn't say hall
enough. Oh, don't be a fool, Caro-! ]
was just beginning to be proud Of YOU
grit. And now you want to take it al
back. Answer me, now, Are you sorry
he's gone"
mo. No, I'm not, really. But L
feel somehow as if-as If everythint
was on my shoulders. You're goin,
away and he's gone ~and-what is 1t
Edwards?"
The butler entered with n small par
eel in his hand.
Il beg your pardon, Miss Caroline,
he said. Il should have given you thi
last evening, 1t was by your place a
the table. l think Captain Warren pu
it there, miss"
He bowed and retired. The girl sa
turning the little white box in he
hands.
"He left it for me-" she said. "Wha
can it be?'
Her brother snatched it impatiently,
why don't you open it and find Quit