The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-01-30
CHAPTER v.


door. and was shown into the recep-
tion room. he felt that he was almost
trembling with eagerness.
He looked uncertainty about him, al
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-
proacEed her in stupefaction. ignoring
his hostess for the moment.
Eleanor I"
"Uncle Mark It's never you. Uncle
Mark !" cried the girl. "Why, should
never, never have known your
But would he have known her. had
he not looked closely into the clear
eyes to discern the face Of the little
walf beneath the beauty Of the woman2
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 II 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 ind her again.
He stood. 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
II there was some message In his eyes.
II hope haven't changed 80 much
as all that" said Mark. trying to
smile.
NO." she answered. looking at him
with searching. direct gaze. "Not
really--Only at first appearance. Why,
Uncle Mark. your hair Is turning gray.
What have you been doing with your.
self"
He felt that the unconscious shaft
had gone well home. He only answer
ed vaguely. There was q little In
formal dancing. and. as he felt befitted
his age. he waltzed few turns with
Eleanor and sat back with Mrs. How
ard. surveying the gay crowd, and re.
calling memories-about the most dis.
heartening thing that he could have
done. .-5 ,tS
"What do you think Of Eleanori''
asked Mrs. Howard. "You didn't ex-
pect to find the little schoolgirl grown
up IKE this. did your
"Nor she me-like this" answered
Mark humbly. But the Colonel's wife
missed the allusi0n. 4f#
"She has been crazy to zee you.'
Mrs. Howard continued. "She gave
ne Colonel no rest after he told III
tAat he was trying to get you for the
war Office. I believe she had always
had sort of romantic recollection OF
you. and looked upon you as a sort Of
guardian. although. of course, It was q
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 us. .
"Of course" said Mark mechanic
ally.
ut would have been a terrible life
for her out In the DESERT" sighed Mrs
Howard. II think that you were very
wise, Captain Wallace. And what q
dreadful burden and responsibility you
you would have had!"
This time Mark did not attempt u
answer.
"She has been daughter to both oi
u.s." pursued his hostess. "And now
Tn afraid-we're both afraid. Captain
Wallace, that we cannot hope to have
her for long. She was quite the rage
In New York last season"
Wallace followed the girl with hi,
eyes. She iiad just been dancing with
young officer; II had been two
step, and as the band Of three pieces
broke into the widest and merries
part of the piece he saw her. with
flushed face and laughing eyes. accep
Kellerman's arm and surrender herself
to the dance.
xellerman caught Marks eyes across
the room. He looked straight bacl
with a meaning challenge which wal
unmIstakable. Mar. knew At thai
moment that his antIpathy to Keller
man had returned. although he was In
clined to believe the v:her was mol
aware It had ever existed.
Kellerman was . splendid figure
even In bis civilian evening clothes
Fully six feet tall, with the chest and
limbs Of an athlete. norid. with crisE
black hair and = sense Of the pOrees
don OF power. he looked at least ~
years Marks Junior, though they hat