Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1918-11-28
CHAPTER ".

CHAPTER ".
When at last he alighted at the
door, and was shown into the recep-
ton room, he felt that he was almost
trembling with eagerness.
He looked uncertainty about him, at
the group Of young officers. the ladies.
at Mrs. Howard, and then at the styl-
ishly dressed young woman at her side.
And, forgetting his manners, he ap-
preached her in stupefaction, ignoring
his hostess for the moment.
''Eleanori"
"Uncle Marki It's never you, Uncle
Mark p. cried the girl. "Why, 1 should
never, never have known you'll"
But would he have known her, had
he not looked closely into the clear
eyes to discern the face of the little
waif beneath the beauty of the woman?
He had often and often imagined her,
grown to womanhood, and dressed as
he would have dressed her. but some
how she had always had the look and
aspect of the child. blended with the
schoolgirl. A sudden chill went through
his heart at her self-mastery, the we'll
bred welcome that had in it little of
real eagerness. And he realized that,
though he had always looked on her as
lost, at the bottom of his heart he
must have hoped to find her again
He stood, a graying-haired. uncOm-
Portable, almost middle-aged man. try
ing to feel at home. He saw Keller
man looking at him across the room, as
If there was some message in his eyes,
81 hope haven't changed SO much
as all that" said Mark, trying to
smile.
NO." she answered, looking at him
with a searching. direct gaze. Mot
really-only at first appearance. Why,
Uncle Mark, your hair is turning gray.
What have you been doing with your
seHf
He felt that the unconscious shaft
had gone well home. He only answer
ed vaguely. There was . little in
formal dancing. and, as he felt befitted
his 4ge, he wastzed few turns with
Eleanor and sat back with Mrs. How
ard, surveying tie gay crowd, and re-
calling memorieS-aboutt the most dis
heartening thing that he could have
done.
"WRnt do you think of Eleanor?"
asked Mrs. Howard. you didn't ex-
pect to find the liafle schoolgirl grown
up like this, did you?"
"Nor she me-4kke this" answered
Mark mmbly. But the ColoneRs wife
missed abe allusion
"She has been. crazy to see you"
Mrs. Edward contfnued. "Slle gave
the ColSnel no rest after he ts2d us
that he. was trying to get you for the
war offffe. I believe she had always
had sort of romnntic recolleatton of
you, and looked upon you as a sort of
guardian. although. of course. Id was a
fortunate thing for her and us-and
you, too-that Colonel Howard did
succeed in inducing you to let uS take
her. She has been everything to u.s."
"Of course" said Mark meeAanic-
ally.
ut would have. Keen a terrible life
for her out in the desert" sighed Mrs.
Howard ST think that you were very
wise, Captain Wallace. And what
dreadful burden and responsibility you
you would have had!"
This time Mark did not attempt to
answer.
"She has been a daughter b both Of
u.s." pursued his hostess. And now
I'm afraid-we'pe both afraid. Captain
Wallace, that we cannot hope to have
her far long. she was quite the rage
in New York last season"
Wallace followed the gsK1 with his
eyes She had just been dAncing with
a yeung officer: 1t had been a two
stem. and as the band OF three pieces
broke into the widest aid merrAAA
part of the piece he saw her, win
flushed face and laughing eyes. accept
Ke3lerman's arm and surrender herself
10 the dance.
KeIlerm1n caught Marks eyes across
the room. He looked straight back
With a meaning challenge which was
! unmistak1ble. Mar knew at that
moment that his 4ntipathy to Keller
man haa returned. although he was In
clined to believe the ether was not
aware It had ever existed.
Kelfezman was q splendid figure,
| even In his Civilian evening clothes
Fully six feet tall, with the chest and
limbs of an athlete. ford. with crisp
black hair and a sense of the posses
1 SION of power. he looked Mt least hve
| years Marks junior. though they had
| been born In the same year. Hand
some Kellerman" bad been his sobEi-