The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1876-10-24

guess why it is to ask permission
to visit you that am now writing. Ii
receive no answer 10 this note, | shall
know that you grant me leave, and shall
| therefore be at your house this evening.
"As of yore-and we'll you know how
that was Yours,
"GEoRGE SoMERs."
That was the letter which had slightly
discomposed the pretty relicps usual
calm demeanor, and during the slow
hours of that day had she been turning
leaves in the long-closed book OF her
past.
Strange to say, she thought OF her old
| lover only as he was when they parted
"a tall, straight, graceful youth, with
perhaps six hairs in his mustache-and
such figure as she quite expected to
see now. 80
Many times during every hour did she
glance at the clock, and marVeled that
'the wheels of time worked heavily"
At last it beat right. Suddenly the
ldoor was flung open-a tall. erect man,
his air decidedly military, was ushereu
lunaunounced into the ROOM
The widow started up. She had not
. heard the door-bell, and, expecting no
visitor but her former flame, was natur-
ally astonished at the apparition which
seemed to share her feelings OF surprise
and embarrassment, and bowed without
|. speaking in return TO her slight gesture
OF courtesy. s..-.
II beg pardon" he said, still stand
ling in the center of the room, "Dut ex-
Ipected to see Mrs. Derwent."
That voice how natural it sounded
could it be? Oh, mpossible-her name
less guest was fortytve, at least.
~ am Mrs. Derwent," she said, in a
, rather laltering tone.
z "You? don't wish to seem rude, but
it can't be-" 80 20 ....... ..... ....,
) "Perhaps you know BEST" returned
/ she, with a slight acerbity; "pray, may
| L take the liberty OF inquiring youl
nameW .... q .-..
i Certainly-Colonel somers."
/ The lady sank back in her chair per-
t tectly aghast; the officer stood regar ding
1 her with q very puzzled expression OF
: his countenance. The silence lastet
# several moments; then the WIDOWS
natural love of fun oVerpowered every
e other emotion, and screaming out
e 'sBless my soul, the man is baldV
e laughed until the tears ran down he
t cheeks, and then she wiped them OIL
j, and laughed again-the gentleman al
the while standing erect as one of the
t pillars to her mantel.
d "You are very merry, mSam! SCI
= nothing SO amusingV ... ....
= ooh, you don'tl Well, there isn't
only-I am Mrs. Derwentl Ha! hal!
l Ii was too much for human nature
e there was no use to De sentimental, AM
II the Colonel just sat down and Laughed
= as hard as she did. Between them boil
y they made such an uproar that the pu
/. was reused from his slumber, and addet
II his shriIl bark to the general tumult
l. By the time he was quieLed their nerve
- became more composed, and all embar
e rassment having been rubbed of durin
their cachinnaLory trial, they seate
r. themselves to look things in the face O
II they really were. ....
d Il expected to see young GIRL" b
- said.
u "And lieutenant Of twenty-two,' ;
3 returned she.
e "Only a SCARED Colonel of forty-tive =
n sighed the officer
l. "And tat woman Of thirty seven,
e whispered the widow. Then sbe smiled
y was she thinking that "Mrs. Col. Som
+ ers" would look well ON a wedding
card? There's much in name, Mis-
l. Julia Capulet to the contrary notWith
II standing.
ii OF course, the gentleman contra1ictet
,h her assertion; and when she looked a
e him again, he didn't seem SO very ole
1t after all. They plunged at once into oil
u recollectlons-tne hours flew unheede
by-and when tue prim maid entere
y with the supper things unhidden, Mrs
/; Derwent was just snatching her plum
H. hand from the military gentleman
Ss grasp. The cheek nearest HIM wore to
N deep color for shadow from th
IN lamp-proDably he had been commun
a eating some important army secret. [
I'd course he stayed to supper; and th
er long and short OF it was, that hencefort
if poor pug was forced TO divide his kisst
ct and caresses with the epauletted stral
sn ger-a state OF things by no means plea
rug to his dogship's feelings.
he .s.43. =. = !. - .-..-.-ss
Ii