The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1924-02-09

II answer fOg l. tlII she'll have a
warm welcome for you on your re-
turn, whether you've conquered the
world or not. So shall we all. my
boy. You go to serve in a great
cause. God bring you safely home
again"
But Randall took no comfort, and
parted from Mr.. Sylvester vowing in
his heart that he would retur no
more betide what might.
Very early next morning. before the
village was astir. Randall rode forth
upon the conquest of the world, for
lied by a tolerably heavy purse, and
-a3@ brand-new sword-the gifts
which had accompanied his fathers
blessing. As he rode along the wall
above which the cherry blossoms
Haunted, toward the gray rectory that
fronted Immediately upon the road,
a lattice was pushed open overhead,
and the dead and shoulders Of Nancy
were protruded.
Randall she softly called him. as
he came abreast.
He refined in his horse and looked
up His rancoUr melted instantly.
Nam" His whole soul was in his
uttcrance Of the name.
Il l am sorry | laughed. Randall.
dear. 1 wasn't really gay. / have
cried since. 1 have stayed awake all
night not to miss you now This was
hardly true. but it is very likely she
believed it. 81 wanted to say good-by
and God bless you. Randall, dear, and
and come back to me soon
again."
Nam he cried again. It was all
that he could say; but he said it with
singular ~eloquence.
Something slapped softly dow upon
the withers of his horse. His hand
shot out to clutch it ere it fell thence.
and he found himself holding a little
tasselled glove.
There was a little scream from
above. My glove,' she cried. I've
dropped it. Randall. please" She was
leaning far out, reaching down a
beseeching hand. But she was still too
far above him to render possible the
gloves return. Besides, this time she
did not deceive him with her comedy.
IN e it as a favor till l come
TO claim h hand it has covered" he
old her IN a sort of eXaltation. He
kissed the glove. bowed low. covered
himself with a flourish. and touched
the horse with his spurs.
As he rode way her voice foated
after him. family mock.ng, yet with
a choking quaver that betrayed her
secret tears.
Don't forget to bring the world
back with you
And that vas the last OF her voice
that he had ever heard.
Five years passed before the day
when next he came to Potheridge.
Again the cherry trees were in bios
som; again he saw them. tossed by
the breeze. above the gray wall of
the rectory orchard, as he rode for
ward with high beating heart, a lackey
trotting at his heels.
The elder Holes. who had removed
himself permanently TO London short
ly after his sons going to Monk. had
been dead these two years. II Ran
dial had not accomplished his proud
boast of c%onquering the world. at least
he had won himself an important
place in it. a'fine position in the army.
that should be a stepping-stone to
greater things. He was the
colonel in the service, thanks to his
own talents as well as to Monks IA
vor-for Monk could never had so
favored him had he not beer worthy
and so proved himsef-a man of mark
of whom a deal was expected by all
who knew him. All this he now bore
written plainly upon him; his air of
authority; his rich dress; the hand
some furniture Of his splendid horse:
the servant following: all advertised
the man Of consequence. And he was
proud of It all for the sake of her who
had been his inspiration. From his
heart he thanked God for these things.
since he might offer them to her.
What would she look like, he won
dered, as he rode aTnain, his face
alight and eager. 1t was three years
since last he had heard from her;
but that was natural enough, for the
constant movements demanded by his
soldiers life made it impossible that
letters should reach him often. To
her he had written frequently. But
one letter only had he received in all
those years, and that was long ago.,
written to him after Dunbar in an
swer to his announcement that he had
o himself a c~aptaincy and so i'd
vanced &C stage in his conquest of the
world.
How would she greet him now?
How would she look at him? What
would be her first word? He thought
that it would be his name. He hoped
1t might be; for in her utterance of
it he would read all he sought to
know.
They came to a Gathering halt at
the rectory door He flung down from
the saddle without waiting for his
groom's assistance. and creaked and
clanked across the cobbles to rattle
on the oak with the putt OF his nd
fng-whip.
The door swung inwards. Before
him, startled Of glance, stood a lean
old crone who in nothing resembled
the corpulent Matilda who had kept
the rector's house of old. He stared
at her. some of the glad eagerness
perishing In his face.
1.-THE the rector, uuoth
he. faltering. "Is he at homer"
AYE. he be in" she mumbled, mis-
trustfully cycling his imposing figure.
do zee bide a moment, whites 1 calls
him" She vanished into the gloom
of the hall, whence her voice reached
him. calling: Master! MasterI Here
be a stranger