The Sunday herald. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1866-1887, 1882-09-24
A CLOSE SHAVE.


swer to his wordless song. The scene, lovely
in itself, had gained, at the moment we be
held IL, the completing touch which artists
call ga human interest,"" without which
few scenes are worth n painters while TO
copv, or a story-teller's while TO write about.
Round n corner of the lane came two figures
a well.sct-up handsome youth of Ave sand
twenty and a girl of seventeen or so. Tho
girl, MS became the heroine Of a love-story,
was pretty, and borrowed an additional charm
from the chastened smile of humor which
lurked in the eyes which shot an occasional
glance at her companion, who seemed per
turbed in spirit, and pluckcd at his mus
taohe with nervous hand.
al thought you had something to say"
said the young Lady demurely.
GO So have" answered the young man.
" am going away"
" For long 2"
al don't know yet. 1t may he only day
or two, IT may he a month, or even more"
The smile faded from the girls eyes, aud
left them grave, and her lips quivcred a
little. BY some keen feminine instinct, in
comprehensive to us of the other sex, she
knew that her compartments glance was
turned on her, although her own had
dropped to the dusty road.
ats too bad Mr. Eyton,' she said petu
lantly. "When you had promised for the
twenty fourth, and the rehearsals were going
so nicely II will spoil everything"
/" You don't suppose want to gol" asked
the young man.
"You are going,n said the girl I" It's too
bad. who is TO play the Marquis If you
aren't back in time 7"
There are plenty of fellows to pick
FROM" answered her companion. "Try
Tom Courtenay," he suggested, with the air
of one who launches conversational shaft
of unusual point.
"why are you going ~ inquired the
young lady with sudden assumption of
ease.
The young mans face, which had
frightened little, cloudcd again.
" got letter this morning from West,
my unces lawyer" He took the letter
from his pocket as he spoke, but restored ii
again, unopened. My uncle is very i'll SO
i'll, West says, that he can't last much
longer: So i'll that he could not write hm-
self lie wants me TO so and see him"
az am very SORRY" said the girl. "oI
course, You must 60"
Yes" he answered, q" must 20"
at was very thoughtful of you to re
member the thca ricals at all at such n time,
and to give me warning Pm sorry was so e.
so cross about it. 1t must be very sad tc
lose any one you love-"
I" I'm afraid I'm not so sorry for that as
ought to be-, answered the young fellow,
"Wrst saws ''--he made motion of his hand
toward his pocket but withdrew it again
90 West says that the will is in my favor
You see -
He stopped short at the sudden look u
panied amazement in the girls face.
"No, | didn't mean that - he broke out
90 Nelly, don't go away. Stay! You can
think me such cad as to be glad of man
death because it brings me money Hang
the money Can't you guess why Pm glad 2
The girls eyes dropped again, aud sh
stood trembling. Mr.. Eyton bit his lip
with vexation, and made two distinct at
tpmpts to speak, with no comprehensive re
suit. The girl was the first to recover her
self.
"Will you kindly explain - she asked,
trine cily, though her cheeks We're burning
and her eyes less steady than she wished t
make them.
81 don't know where to begin" said tn
young man.
Begin responded the young lady lucid
ly, at the beginning"
81 will" he said, with an aspect of DIES
perate determination. -" love you. | shoul
never have had the cheek TO tell you so if
hadn't got this letter. But now | can ole
YOU such life as you have right TO expect
couldn't go away in uncertainty. hav
really been trying to feel sorry for poor oil
uncle all day, and | couldn't think of any
thing but you. rve thought of nothing els
for-for ages, since met you first. It's III
grateful, perhaps-in fact, Pm sure it is
but | can't help feeling glad that have tn
right to speak"
The girls icness melted before this sudde
warmth, and face and neck and ears WEI
rosy red.
% If you say Yes,' | shall be sorry sal
the young man.
There is Il certain school of philosopher
which declares that the female sex is void
humor. If that doctrine be true of women i
general, Miss Helen Boswell must be take
as an exception.
Then think ! had better say MOI
she said, in answer to the young mans 1,
markable declaration.
Young men in love are VIGOROUSLY stupi,
but even Mr.. Eyton, who was as much
love as any young man in the British Island
penetrated the meaning of this utterance.
Say Yes " he answered boldly, po
sessng himself Of her passive hand. ST.
made a feeble motion to Withdraw it, where;
he passed his arm about her waist and too
the other. She raised her eyes in one swi
glance at his face, and dropped them agai'
The pressure of the arm about her tightene
as he renewed his bidding, and her lii
moved " Yes" although no sound was aud
boldness overran all restraint and, overcor
ing the slightest possible resistance, he DIRE
the lips to his and kissed them.
why do men fall in love ?" inquir,
Miss Boswell some half hour later, with q
air of philosophical research.
" Judging from my own case" auswere
Mr.. Eyton, because they can't help it,"
Now, see what you've brought on you
self" continued the young lady. "You
have to tell Aunt Eliza, and thon she's su
to tell you the history of her own courtshi
which you must have heard fifty times q
ready"
81 don't mind. Pm rather fond of a
cient history"
"Don't interrupt and don't laugh
Aunt Eliza, if you please. Then you
have to face papa and tell him all about
when he comes home. And then Us
paused to give full weight to this announc
ment-"then you'll have to marry me-"
Mr.. Eyton boldly announced himself II
touched by the terrors of this programme.
"Ah," said Nelly, "you don't know
YETI
"What kind of a man is tho General
asked her companion.
haven't seen him for twelve years
answered Nelly. " was only five when
took me on board the ship Madras, and Ii
never been to England since. lie was
ways very kind, and cried awlully when
left him. And he writes me such nice
tiers, and sends me things by~pretty neaI
every ship that comes home. And Al
Eliza says he's the best man she ever kne
| don't think you need lie very much afr
of him."
"Witll such an ally, answered her low
81 should not he afraid of dozen q
erals"
"Do he quiet, George" said Mel
"There's Aunt Eliza on the lawn"
"Asleep, as usual" said George. :"
us wake her mp and ask for some tea. A
then | must away and catch the 400"
Pm awake, young people, said Al
Eliza. Good afternoon, Mr.. Eyton Mel
what are you looking so guilty aoout p