Newspaper Page Text
Monthly Magazine Section
OF THE BLIND
s Oppenheim
BY A.B. WENZELL
1
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friends find me a perfect nuisance, for I am always
wanting to give parties. You have the still, cold
face of a surgeon—and the hands, too,” she added,
glancing at them.
*“You are very observant,” he remarked laconically.
“I am also curious,” she laughed, “as you are
about todiscover. Tell me why you are so interested
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Prain Gramet sprang 1o his fowt. oo hesvens! The follow «i o 507 he onclasmed
in Ronnie Granet? You hadn't met him before, had
you?"
Almost for the first time he turned and looked
directly at his neighbor. She was a woman whose
fair hair was turning gray, well-dressed, sprightly,
agreeable. She had a humorous mouth and an
understanding face.
“Captain Granet was a stranger to me,” he as
sented. “One is naturally interested in soldiers,
however.”
“You must have met thousands like him,” she
remarked, —“good-looking, very British, keen sports
man, lots of pluck, just a little careless, hating to
far more interesting than you,” He smiled. “I 1
can assure you,” he protested, “it isn't my fault.
You can’t imagine how fed up one gets with things
out there, and the newspapers can tell you ever
so much more than we can. One soldier only
sees a littlg bit of his own corner of the fight,
mmtl
“But can’t you tell me some of your own per
sonal experiences?” she persisted. “They are so
much more interesting than what one reads in print.”
“I never had any,” he assured her. “Fearfully
slow time we had for months.”
“Of course, 1 don't believe a word you say,”
she declared, laughing.
“You're not taking me for a war correspondent,
by any chance, are you?" he asked.
She shook her head. “Your language isn't suf
:::?flym Tell me, when are you going
“As soon as I can pass the doctors—in a few
days, 1 hope.”
“You hope?” she repeated. “Do you really
mean that, or do you say it because it is the proper
thing to say?"”
He appeared for the moment to somewhat resent
her question, “The fact that 1 hope to soon get
back,” he remarked coldly, “has nothing whatever to
do with my liking my job when I get there. As a
matter of fact, 1 hate it. At the same time, you
can surcly understand that there isn't any place
for a man of my age and profession.”
“Of course not,” she agreed witly. “I really am
sorry that | bothered you. There is one thing 1
should like to know, though, and that is how you
managed to escape?
He shook bis head but his amiability seemed
to have wholly returned. His eyes twinkled as he
looked at her, “There we're up against a solid wall
of impossibility,” he replied. “You see, some of our
other chaps may try the dodge. 1 gave them the
tip and I don't want to spoil their chances. By-
Ikby.bywlmlhmmfluadna
on your left?” he added, dropping his voice a
litde. “looks almost lie a waswork figure,
docsn't he? ™
“You mean Major Thomson? Yes, | know him,”
‘hmm .hl“fllm'cu‘h “He Is
very today but he is really most interesting.”
Mhflummwulhdh
her end of the table. “We have decided,” she an
nounced, “to take our coflee out in the kunge.”
HE litthe party trooged out of the restaurant
and made their way 1o a comer of the
M‘Mul‘abd.b-bhum
pared with coffec and Bgueurs. Geraldine Conyers
and Captain Granet, who had Bogered behind, found
a table to themselves. lLady Anselman laid her
fingers upon Major Thomson's arm.
“Ploase talk for a for more minutes to Sdarne,”
she begged. “ Your French is such & relief to her.”
He oheyed immediate!s | although b eyes strayed
more than once towards the table at which Captain
Coranet and bis companbon were seated. Madame
Sélarne was in 2 gonelpy meosel and they found many
et ual soquaintanoes
“To speak a forcien lainguage as you do.” she told
B, “is wonderful. Is it in French alone, monsdeur,
that yos excel, or are you, perhaps, & great Buguls?
“1 can scarcely call myself that.” he replied, “but
1o sqgwak wveral ather hingoages. In my younger
days | traveled & good deal
“German, perhage, too? ” she foguired with o Buke
Erimacr
8 was ot & hospital in Berlin, ™be confesd
Lady Amelman's party was saddenly incrensed
by the advent of wene scpuaintance: from an ol
oining tabde all of whom desited 1o he presented 10
Madame Sflarne. Major Thomeon, wt st Fhenty,
made M way ot once towands the small table at
which Captabn Gramet and Gerabline Conyers were
seated. She weboomed him with & smile
“ Ate yomn comming to have coffee with e’ dhe sk
S may.” be anewered. 1 hall have to be off
in 2 sow minutes”
A waiter pusserd before their table and offerd &
wabiet om whis b sere wveral cupe of coffee and Bgurar
hases. Captain Granet beaned forward in bis place
aved treicheed ot bic hand 1o wrve e compumion
Retore b combd take the cup hovmeser the whole tray
Dt <Biggued froom the w siter = Bmprrs, caught the cormet
of the tabde, and fallen with e contents ot the
carpet. The wabter Mmall o wmall, undersiond
pevam with black otarthod eyes wt ot that mvement o
# froedd anl ennatorsl dare made e degrrate of
bt b cave bl sool then fell backwande Fyery
come Lot meed wpomened atlßa teed by the mvaer o 4 the Lalling
cupn wd the sharp, bl difled groan which hooke
fromn the masm s Bgee
€ aphain Cramet cg@ang 1o bis fort, ~ Cannl heavens!
L T T T
The mastre 4 hitel and svers! woiter: came bur
rring wp Lowards the grocteate fupare, by the side of
nfith‘h—-m“m The
et whe sggeate] pee the seve as thongh by
maghe, and spon whow lue wis a 8 exprosion of
talk about himself and
serious things. 1 have
known him since he
was a boy.”
Major Thomson con
tinued to be gravely
interested. “Granet,”
he said to Hud:
thoughtfully. “Do
know any of his people,
1 wonder?”
“You know some
of his connections, of
course,” Mrs. Cunning
ham replied briskly.
“Sir Alfred Anselman,
for instance, is his
e
“His father and
mother? ”
“They are both
dead. There is a large
family place in War
wickshire, and a cha
teay, just now, | am
afraid, in the hands of
the Germans. It was
wmewhere quite chose
to the frontier. Lady
Granet wasan Alsatian.
He was to have gone
out with the polo team,
you know, 1o America,
but broke a rib just as
they were making the
sloction. He played
oricket for Middiesex
once of twice, too, and
be was Captinn of Ox
ford the yoar they did
w well”
“An Admirable
Crichton,” Major
Thomeon murmured.
“In sport, st any
rate,” bs neighbor
amented. “He has
always boen one of the
Mot pogelar young
men about town, but
of course the women
will gl Bl now
“Is it my fancy,” he
adked, “or was he nt
reported & prisoner? ™
“Me was missing
twike, once for over &
week,” Mrs. Cunning
ham reglied “There
are all wrts of dorbes
o to how be pot hack
16 the limes. A perfect
young daredenil, |
should think. 1 mas
ol 1o Mr. Dasiell for
& few minutes o he
will mever guhih my
temminieences
She beanet fowands
bher nelghler on the
other side and Major
Thomeon was able to
tesgmme the rile of
sttettive oberver, a
tile whikh seemed
wnehrm Wi by e
tiny. M Botened with.
it agguaten® inteted to
the comversation be
toeen Geraldine
Comyers annd the yrowng
man whom they had
ewns sy vasadog
=1 think.” Gevabline
complaioed, ~ that you
e rathet ovendoing
youer Mighomatic feti
orvne, Cagadn Cramet
\-hu-‘lw:n‘;
woghe thing A
wume of the Tommies
1 Bhave bown to we in
the husegit abe have buwn
horror that his clients should have been so disturbed,
quickly gave his orders. The man was picked up and
carried away. Major Thomson followed &
Two or three waiters in a few seconds succeeded in
removing the débris of the accident, the orchestra
commenced a favorite waltz. The maitre d’hétel
apologized to the little groups of people for the com
motion-—they were perhaps to blame for having em
ployed a young man so delicate —he was scarcely fit
for service.
“He seemed to be a foreigner,” Lady Anselman
whc , as the man addressed his explanations
to 3
“He was a Belgian, madam. He was seriously
wounded at the commencement of the war. We took
melm..c"m'“'e cllwvfll Lady
" the poor fi soon recover,” La
Anselman declared. “Please do not think anything
more of the affair so far as we are concerned. You
must let me know later on how he is.”
The maitre d'hdtel retreated with a little bow.
Geraldine turned to Captain Granet. “1 think,”
ulullfl.“dutmmutbemykhdwb
a soldier.”
He turned and looked at her. “Why?"”
“Ywnuhwm»myhflr&w
so many dead people, and yet—"
“Well?"” he persisted.
“There was something in your face when the man
staggered back, a kind of horror almost. lam sure
you felt it quite as much as any of us.”
He was silent for a moment. “In a battlefickd,”
he observed slowly, “one naturally becomes a little
callous, but here i* is different. The fellow did look
ghastly ill, didn't he? I wonder what was really the
matter with him.”
“We shall know when Major Thomson returns,”
she said,
Granet seemed scarcely to hear her words, A curi
ous fit of abstraction had seized him. His head was
lumilwafluthmm.kmdhhnm
“Queer sort of stick, Thomson,” he remarked pres.
ently. she a great friend of yours, Miss Conyers? ™
She hesitated for 2 moment. “1 have known him
for some time.”
Something in her tone seemed 1o disturh him. He
leaned towards her quickly. His face had lost fts
good humored indifference. He was evidently very
much in camest. “Please don’t think me imperti
nent,” he begged, “but —is he & very great friend?”
She did not answer. She was booking over his
shoubder towards where Major Thomson, who had
jumu-d.mw.lmknmdm
tions. “The man is in a shockingly weak state,”
he announced. “He is 2 Belgian, has boen wounded
and evidently subjocted 1o grest privations. His
heart is very much weakened He had a bad faint
ing Ht, but with a kg rest he may recover.”
T\rh:kmyhflrupu-rmu»"
(M.tfiahflhflnh.mmfi
seemed 1o be adjusting the knots of his ding. Yurned
to Thomson. “Has be recoversd consclousness
yet? ™ e adked,
“Barely,” was the terse regly
“There was no special cause for bis going off ke
that, | supgume?
Surgeon-major Thomson's silence was scarcely
& bedtation. He was standing perfoctly aill, s
eyes fived upon the young sobdier. At prosent,”
be said, “1 am not quite chear sbout that. U you
are ready, Gerabdine: ™
She abded, and they made their (arewells to Lady
\isedman Goramet kasked after them with a slight frown
He drew his sunt on one side for & moeent. “Why i
Miss Conyers bere without a chaperon?” he asked.
“And why did she go away with Thomwn?
Lady Ansetman Laughed “Didn’t she tell you? "
“Tell me what* ™ be indsted engerly.
Lady ‘\—hahtdnhnmm
“Evidently.” she remarked, © your progres with the
young lady was ot o rapd as it seomed, or dhe
wonkl have tobd you her seoret —which, by the by,
bt @ secret ot all. She and Major Thomeon are
engaped 1o be marvied
FEW rays of fugitive wonshine were brighten
Aun;-wy-h«un&uhm
left the Rite. As they pansed 10 cross the
road, she ghanced ac though involuntarily st hey
companton. Wis dark morning dothes and s
dracted air created an stmseghere of sombernes:
slumst N of which she was saddenly comaimge
“Hugh, why dan't you wesr uniform in town’
ahe asherd
“Why should 177 be replied. “ Alter all, | am
wot really o fghting man, you we.”
IS w 0 becomsing ” she sghed
A shadon of fortunling cowded bie mind ~ Yo
fommd Caglain Cranet interesting’ e ashed
“Very,” dhe ssented heartily. 1 think b b
delighiful, domt you’
“That's the type of young sobdier who's poing 1o
curry ws theough, i any one can,” Major Thoomen
agreed
She sddonly chotched ot Me arm. ~ Hagh,” e
exnchuinmed. gednting 1o 3 placand which 4 eRy
was carvying, “that be the one thing | connot lwae,
the one thing which | think # | were & man would
tarn me ot & svape’
They btk puasernd awd dend the buatiions
Faommeer Stvamer 1 owpodond Wotons W arming
e Trich Ses. Tuomtyduw Lives Lo
(10 BE CoNTINURDY
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