Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-02-02
were when she felt herself squeezing

uc I1Sb titlt SIT ever 1tlI nc1 III
her life, Phil was saying under her
breath, but Miss Asia had put King
away again with litle laugh.
You can go, girls, if you like! 1t is
all right" she said.
And the Shade of pink that flushed
into Kings checks this time sent her
hurrying ont Of the room. She must
see about Kings trunks, at once. She
hoped the keys would prove to be safe
in their locks.
-Four monthsr exclaimed Phil.
when the trunks were packed. They II
be only wink
'.Such wink rs those dry old crea-
lures in the Pyramids take for their
maps thought Miss Asia, as they saw
the party off and came back to the
empty rooms, the first time she had sat
there alone in twenty years.
But the Pyramids themselves began
to look small compared to the piling up
Of the days while King was gone the
very summer seemed to have turned
mummy, and promise never to pass
away. But its dust scattered at last,
and a cool autumn breeze rustled the
last itAACl MIX " 10 " hAlNNs tte AiAaf1D
Asia sat holding it in her hand.
ITO think that the Syrea and we are
to follow in two days. it said. 81 hope
the vine-leayes haven't fallen yet;
want to paint their shadows on the floor
of the porch. And then followed post
script from Phil.
"You wont know Kings cheeks from
the October naples when she gets
home" it said ''They have put our
Nile trip entirely out of sight. Papa
saws there not one of us who needs il,
and he can't get another day to such
stalwart souls. Thursday, you know,
we're to come"
But what if that Thursday never
should happen to dawn! The elements
were to melt with fervcnt heat, and the
heavens to roll together us scroll,
some day Miss Asia faith was firm
as a rock on that point, and her heart
stood still as she asked what assurance
she had Of their waiting to let her have
King once more. But, when Wednes-
day night came at last, she went reso-
lutely to sleep.
That is the quickest way to see how
it viii prove, she said, and not even a
dream had disturbed her before the
skies were ruby with dawn, and car
riage rolled into the yard, with one long
curl iluttering from the window, alive
with those sparkling glints the sun
always flashes out of King hair
And So You are quite well?" asked
Miss Asia. holding King off for look.
'tOh. so well! The old house can't
offer me enough to do! just four O'Clock
YOU remember, when the shadows make
that picture at the south end" and
when the hour struck, King was there
with her paint-boX, fastening them to the
gray old floor.
Pictures of all sorts thickened above
the house as the autumn went on, but
Kings smile was the brightest Of all,
Miss Asia thought, and as for music,
Beethoven and Chopin were well
enough, but her low, rich laugh was
worth all they ever wrote. Miss Asia
did not even know when winter set in
ii seemed all spring-time yet. But
spring-days are tickle, alas, after all,
and by the time the real outdoor sea-
son had set in, something seemed wrong
inside. An indeiinable sense of chill
began to creep through the house, that
Miss Asia felt but could not under
stand.
What was the matter with King?
Was there anything the matter, at all?
There certainly was very sh ange look
in her eyes, and one by one the gay do
iugs about the house were dropped, and
the reclining chair came out of its cor
ner and into more and more frequent
use.
If King should prove to be losing
all She has gainedn' said Miss Asia,
and at last as spring opened, she
caught up her pen and dispatched a
vigorous note:
Dear Philomela Can you come over
and stay with us while 1t you can
persuade King to do better than this,
shall have to send you both off again to
stay twice as long rs before. =
.'Why, what can the matter be?'
asked Phil, in mysterious consolation
with Miss Asia, when she arrived but
rs soon as the door of her own room
was closed, she laughed.
The little gooser' she said. Il told
her she ought to have let him write.
wish the SYreB would ever come in
again.
There was no immediate prospect OF
that, however; but ut last. one day,
there came 4 sudden cry from Phil, as
She sat, newspaper in hand.
Here the SYreH come in, after all
this ridiculous time. And gone into
dry dock for repairs A barnacle grow
ing on her knee, OF something of the
sort. | ought to 90 home and ask the
Captdn to the house. He was so kind
to us all. though King, of course, as the
invalid, got the lions share. That was
half the secret Of getting her well so
fast"
The Captain was kind to King
Why didn't you tell me before? You
ucedn 90 home, then. He can be ask
ed to come here
Phil sent Il swift shot from under her
evelashes, and net look of entreaty
on Kings face, but Miss Asia had van
ished from the room, and before she re-
turned, the letter was written and dis
patched. The Captain must have the
compliment, atleast, and how else could
Miss Asia prove whether he would
come?
Didn't tell you he would?" wills.
pered Phil, as she slipped in from the
porch the next evening, leaving a man.
il figure just visible in the moonlight, 4
triile removed from King chair
Il hope he wont find it prove I'M
bearably duh, answered Miss Asia,
with peep through the sash, and draw
ing Pills arm into her own, she went
ont 10 make sure that the Captain was
entertained.
4 masculine visitor was n strange
and rather curious innovation under
Miss Asia roof. and aside from Eu.
rope, Africa, and Ncspucius. a booted
step was rarely heard in her halls, r
never in the upper one since King :
memory could recall and when the Cap
tain had said goodnight. at last, and
his footsteps had died away in his
room. Miss Asia sat down in the parlol
40 gather herself UP. The state o.
things was 50 entirely new, and perhaps
the most bewilde~ing part of it wa,
that the evening had been SO eXtraordi
narilv pleasant on the old porch.
Didn't tel YOU how it would be p
asked Phil again, after a while. And
didn't say he was handsome, and :
gentleman every inch9"
Miss Asia did not reply. The plum,
wore the daintiest peach-bloom of pink
Tonight. though not even King woulC
base ycntured to ask whether it limited
4 maiden blush and it waved just per.
cepdbly rs she went on With hel
thoughts aloud
!. i. ~.