But as
the morning hours grew the manner of the older people became slightly
feverish and unnatural. They were pursuing pleasure and forgetfulness
with so much zeal and energy that it bore the aspect of force rather than
spontaneity. Harry noticed it and divined the cause. Beneath his high
spirits he now felt it himself. It was that looming shadow in the North
and that other in that far Southwest hovering over lost Vicksburg.
Serious men and serious women could not keep these shadows from their
eyes long.
The incident of the smoking-room and the missing map came back to him
with renewed force. It could not have walked away. They had searched
the room and the court so thoroughly that they would have found it,
had it been there. The disappearance of a document, which men of
authority and knowledge had built up almost unconsciously, puzzled and
alarmed him.
It was almost day when he and Dalton left. They paid their respects
to Mr. and Mrs. Curtis, and said many good-bys to "the girls they left
behind them." Then they went out into the street, and inhaled great
draughts of the cool night air.
"A splendid night," said Dalton.
"Yes, truly," said Harry.
"I hope you didn't propose to more than six girls.
Pages:
229
230
231
232
233
234
235
236
237
238
239
240
241
242
243
244
245
246
247
248
249
250
251
252
253