The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1885-08-15

This chance meeting had upset the wor-
thy man good deal. In the gray-haired
but vivacious Mrs Annesley who had
claimed acquaintance with him across the
table, he had scarcely recognized the heroine
of his buried romance, nor had he either
the wish or the power to resuscitate the
tender feelings with which he had once re-
garded her; but the sight Of her had stirred
up old memories within him, and these had
haunted him through the night, had pre-
vented the Papacy from rising satisfactorily
in the morning, and finally, as aforesaid,
had sent him out into the open air, prey
to vague regrets.
So that elderly lady was Julia Annesley
And she had grown-up sons and daughters,
about whom she talked a great deal; and
her husband was dead-the husband for
whom she had never cared and whom she
made little pretence of regretting. To all
appearance she regretted nothing. Why
should she, when she had all that woman
could wish to haye2 Perhaps, thought the
Professor, it might be better thing to be
the father of sons and daughters, when one
was growing old, than to be the author of
an unrivalled monograph on the merits and
dement's of Julian the Apostate. To be
sure, there was no reason why one shouldn't t
be both. And then he fell to wondering
whether that ambition which had been the
chief cause of Julia's infdelity could have
been satisfied with such fame and social
standing as an historian, professor and a
canon may lay claim to. Only, if he had
married Julia he would probably have be-
gun and ended as country parson. He
smiled at himself for indulging in such nom
sensical fancies at his time of life, but he
went on dreaming all the same until he was
startled by the opening of gale which
connected his house with the Precincts.
Somebody strode with brisk, ringing
step up the brick pathway to the front door,
singing loudly:
| 81 loved her and she might have been
| The happiest in the land;
But she faneied foreigner who played the Clarinet
In the middle of German band"
Then came vigorous pull at the bell,
followed by subdued whistling of the air of
this opposite but vulgar ditty. 1t was not
after SO indecorous fashion that the Pro
fessors visitors were wont to approach him,
and he could not resist the temptation to
steal softly across the turf past the library
windows and see who might be the author
of all this disturbance. His curiosity was
rewarded by a full-length view Of a hand
some, merry looking young fellow in un-
dress cavalry uniform, who himself hap
pened to be peeping round the corner at
that moment, and who at once advanced,
saying: "0h, how do you do? Canon
Stanwick, isn't it? My mother asked me
to leave this note for you as | passed
Mrs. Annesley, you know. She says you
and she are old friends.
II am much obliged to you, sir, said
the Professor, in his grave voice, taking
the note "Pray come in.
"Can't, thanks, answered the other; 81
must be off to the barracks. See you this
afternoon on the cricket ground, though, l
hope. We've got great match on-gar-
rison against the county. We shall be
awfully licked, of course; but everybody
will be up there, and it's something to do.
Very glad to see you if you'll come to our
tent. You'll find my mother there; the
notes to tell you all about it. Goodbye
for the present.
And with that this dnceremonious young
man clanked away, leaving the Professor,
who had not looked on at cricket match
for matter of thirty years, much amused.
The note ran as follows:
DEANERY, LIcHBURY, Thursday.
tsDEAR CANON STANwICK Il hope, if you
are disengaged this afternoon, you will join
our party on the cricket ground, and give me
the opportunity, which | sought in vain last
night, of having little talk with you. | am
obliged to leave tomorrow morning, and |
am so very anxious to have few words with
you before | go about my son, who is quar-
tered here. Do come, and believe me most
sincerely yours, JULIA ANNEsLEY."
"Oh, by all means, said the Professor,
who had solitary mans habit of thinking
aloud. II shall feel rather like a fish out
of water among all those people; but never
mind, I'll 60 Only can't think why you
should want to talk to me about your son. -
Perhaps the Professor was still little
in the dark as to this point, even after
long interview with Mrs. Annesley; though
he certainly could not complain Of any want
of candor upon the ladys part The Lich-
bury cricket ground is justly celebrated
both for lis extent and for the beauty of
its situation, and its numerous matches of
which it is the scene during the summer
season are always well attended. The Pro
fessor made his way through double line
of carriages and drags, feeling and looking
very much like man who had suddenly
emerged from dark room upon a crowded
thoroughfare The confused din raised by
a large concourse of people, mingled with
the strains of the military band which was
in attendance, and the shouts of eager par
tisans Of garrison or county, bewildered
him; and it was only after repeated enqui-
ries that he succeeded in reaching the en-
trance of the cavalry tent, where he stood
for minute blinking in the sunshine, and
trying with short-sighted eyes to distinguish
among the assemblage of gayly-dressed
ladies seated there the one of whom he was
in search But if he did not see her she
very soon saw him, and came forward,
holding out tiny pair of beautifully gloved
hands.
GLOW good of you to come, she ex
claimed. Suppose we take turn round
the ground; then we can talk quietly"
She was bright, alert little woman, her
gray hair, which was drawn straight up
from her forehead, contrasting oddly with
her still youthful complexion, and giving
her somewhat of the appearance of an
eighteenth-century marquise. The Pro
fessor was not quite sure whether to offer
his arm or not, but finally deciding that
this was unnecessary, made grab at his
shapeless felt hat, and muttered, delight
ed, | am sure" He was a little embar-
rassed in the presence of his former love,
whose first words showed that she, for her
part, had no such foolish feeling.
''Is it not strange that we should meet
again at Lichbury after all these years ?"
she began. II have often thought of you,
and often felt sorry" She paused and
sighed Gone does not expect men to take
things so generally, you know,
it is the men who forget, and the women
who suffer; but suppose you are different.
And l have spoilt your life?'
The Professor smiled. He was thinking
that most people would hardly describe his
life as having been spoilt one; he was