Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-07-26

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how often, and in that familiar twf-
light ghosts from the past began
TO float before me and drift away
like the smoke Of the cigar which Mrs.
Wilkinson had kindly permitted me to
light. was in soft and sentimental
mood, and so. ! imagine, was she. We
bad remained silent for some time when
she said in that low. gentle voice Of
hers, which always sounded to me as
if it could only belong to well-bred
woman:
Colonel Walmisley, wonder whe-
iher you would give me little advice
if | ask your"
IL shall be delighted, answered I.
" Advice is emphatically one of the
things which it is more blessed to give
than TO receive. Never in my life have
] sent any one who has begged me for
it empty away" adopted this rather
t!ippant tone because the fact Of being
in sentimental mood always puts me
more than usual upon the alert against
surprises.
could see that she looked hurt. She
turned her head away, saying: " After
all, | don't know that will trouble
YOU. You would not be interested in
what l was going to ask you about 4; it
only referred TO myself.
"1hen," said ! more seriously.
"you may be sure that it will interest
NE very much indeed And this was
10 more than the truth. Could she, |
wondered, be going to consult me as to
Poles intentions? But it soon appear
cd that no such delicate question as
that was to he laid before me. What
Mrs. Wilkinson wanted to know was
whether ! should recommend her
to take up her residence in London per-
manently or not. She had thought
great deal about it, she said, and was
quite unable to arrive at n decision.
" 1t has SO happened that | have lived
almost entirely abroad until lately. and
Perhaps | should be happier in some
ways If ! were to 20 abroad again.
Iet-theIe would be objections to that,
would there not; Don't people often
say unkind things about women who
live out Of their own country"
She turned to me with one of her
halftimid, half-conGdiDg glances, and
replied People say unkind things
everywhere, and about every one, Mrs.
wilkinson hut it doesn't matter much,
SO long as they are not repeated to the
person of whom they are said. know
one humble individual who won't be
able to help saying unkind things Of
YOU if you 60 away and leave us. You
ought not to have consulted me about
this matter. How can you expect me
to give you a disinterested opinion: y
" did not expect you to answer me
in that way" she said, with more Of
sadness than reproach in her tone. Il
neutrality-suspicious. had no business to
think so-but thought your were in
clired to be my friend, and that if |
asked you what It would be best for
ne to DO you would tell me. You
have always been friendly until now
Certainly as she spoke these last
words she had les lQrmes dans Ia
roir. know that this effective sound
can be produced by a trick which
is easily learnt, and | also know that
when a woman desires to make a fool
of you she almost invariably begins
with a display Of helplessneSs; but
really suspicion must have limits, and
! do possess a heart-a somewhat
tough and battered one, it may be
still quite serviceable and ready to
beat with generous emotion upon cause
shown. did not believe that poor
little Mrs. Wilkinson was trying to
impose upon me; but in any case it
would have been impossible to reply to
her otherwise than as did reply. |
begged her pardon; assured her that
! was indeed her friend, and | added a
few pretty phrases, such as | take it
that any one. circumstance as | was,
would have uttered. She was easily
concilatcd. poor little soul. She told
ne all her doubts and fears, and very
natural they were. People in London
had been kind to her; but then she
had heard that people in London often
were kind to strangers for time, and
aitcrward dropped them. She did not
think She would be able to bear being
cropped. She confessed that she was
fond Of society, and perhaps she was
more dependent upon it than others,
because she was so lonely. Other
people had their relations to fall back
upon.
And have YOU none" ventured
to inquire.
She shook her head mournfully.
They are all dead. should think
no one is more utterly alone in the
world than ! am"
but at least you have friends J
urged. Miss Wardc, for instance
suppose you have known her long
time. have you not" Perhaps this
question was not in the best possible
taste, but never allowed such oppor-
tuuitics to slip; and not the least
pulling thing about Mrs. Wilkinson
was the perfectly easy and unconscious
manner in which she avoided giving a
direct reply.
Charlotte Warde is a great friend
of mine. of course" she answered
but Charlotte will marry some day
indeed, | should not wonder if she were
to marry very soon; and marriage an
nuls previous friendships, you know.
don't mean that she will drop me, but
shall certainly see less Of her.
And are there no others beside
Miss Warde;'
"None, | think. I don't make
friends easily. though get on quickly
enough with acquaintances." She
paused for moment, and then added,
with a rather trcmulOus little laugh,
" DO you know, | think you are the
only other friend that haye-and |
am not at all sure that you care to ac-
cept my friendship
q" Dear Mrs. Wilkinson" | exclaim-
ed. chow can you doubt me so ? Pray,
never doubt me again There is
nothing in the world that | prize more
L.. av1 M mi - totea