New-York tribune., 1885-07-12

grct ut this unfortunate OMISSION.
Awfuiiy stupid Of me p he said. What d1fter
ami But one can't think Of everything" ne
added, signing.
ter not think Of at all !" returned l, somewhat Sc
yerely for could not approve Of the babit into
which Pole had fallen to drawing long breaths and
fansfS an a ar,
What Is the use Of going on at fellow Ike tnati "
when he Is irving all he can to run stragnsId ldr
ously to Miss Warde after this because he felt that
the feast he could do to enaeavor to divert the
poor girl whom he had uninteDtionaly disappoint-
straight" or because Mrs. Wilkinson declined to
have anything to say to him; but whatever may
have been the motive of his conduct, the effect OF
left to entertain one another throughout
the evening. After dinner We went out on 70
the terrace and seating ourselves there while the
scape which is associated with the digestive pro-
cess IN the minds of so many hundreds oil persons.
For me it had other associations-a great many
Others. I am no longer young: have dined at
Richmond | should be sorry to say how often and
In that familiar twilight ghoets from tho past Pc
gan to float before me- ana DRIFT away ike tne
kindly permitted me to light was IN soft ard
sSs had "a nemasea silent for
gentle voice Of hers, which always sounded to me
as II it could only belong to well-bred woman
G9onsi WaimsIsya w9ndeT ssk wns'"e' wd% you
"I shall bo delighted,D answered l. advice is
cmpbatically one OF the things which It is more more
blessed to give than to receive. Never In my lfe
have sent any one who has begged me for 1t
empty away.D adopted this rather ilippant tone
because tho fact of beng in sentimental mood
always puts me more than usual upon the alert
j could see that she looked hurt She turned her
head away, saving: After all don't know that ;1
what was going to ask you about; 1t only re-
fsrrcd to myself"
Then said | more seriously, "you may be !,
SIRE that it will interest ME very much indeed. "
And this was no more than the truth. Could she,
as to Ss'i Puies inteniionsi Bnt it soon appeared
| 10 be laid before me. What Mrs. Wilkinson want
ed TO know was whether | should recommend her
TO take up her residence in London permanently OF
not. She had thought great deal about It. she
said, and was quite unable to arrive at decision.
1T has so happened that have lived almost en-
tircly abroad until lately, and perhaps should De
happier in some ways If were to go abroad again.
Yct-therc would be objections TO that would there
notf Don't people often say unklnd things ABOUT
women who live out OF their own country ,.,s
timid, half-confding gances, and 1 replied
People say unkind things everywhere, ana
about every one. Mrs. Wilkinson; but 1t doesn
matter much 80 long rs they are not repeated to
the person Of whom they arc said; know one
hninble individual who won't be able to help say
ing unknd things OF ySn you 90 AWAY nay ant ana h
matter. How can you expect me 10 give you o's'
| interested opinion r
she said with more of sadness than rcproach IN her
tone. II thoughtr-perhaps had no business to
think so-but 1 thought you were inclined
sk.a be my rhat ff'nG wU%d "nd 'Ss So best
me to do. you would tell me. You have al ways
been friendly until now" Certainly as she spoke
these last words she had lee larmes dams Ia roir
know that this effective sound can be produced by
trick which is easily learnt. and also know that
when a woman desires to make fool OF you, shc
almost invariably begins with n display OF help
lessness but really suspicion must have limits,
and do possess n hcart-a somewhat tough ana
battered one, it may be-sti quite seryiceaole aud
ready to beat with generous emotion upon cause
shown. l did not believe that poor httc Mrs.
Wilkinson YVES trying to impose upon me; but III
any case II would have been impossible to reply TO
her otherwise than as | did reply. i begged her
pardon assured her that was indeed her friend,
aud added few pretty phrases, snch as take II
that any one, circulnstanced as was would nave
uttered. She was easily conciliated. poor lutte
soul She told me all her doubts and fears, anu
very natural they were. People In London mad
been kind 10 her; but then she had heard that peo-
plo in London often were kisd 10 strangers for q
time, and aftsrward dropped them. She did not
think she would be able to bear being dropped:
She sonfe sed that she was fond OF society, an6
Others because she was so lonely. Otner people
bad their relations to fall back upon.
And have you monet" | veuturcd to inquire.
She shook her head mournfully. They are all
dead. should think no Is more utterly alone
But ar least Won have friends" urged. "Mss
MaTfg @ iIo ang s,ae have W not Pernaps this
question was not in the bcst possible taste, but
never allowed such opportunities to slip; and not
the least puzzIng thing about Mrs. Wilkinson was
the perfectly casv and unconscious manner IN
which she avoided giving n direct reply.
"Charl9ttc warde is great friend Of mine; OF
some dny-indecd. should not wonder II she were
10 marry very sson; and marriage annuls previous
friendships. you know. don't mean that she Will
II naIl rfa nj lCs4 Of ia
"And are there no Others beside Miss Nardef,
None. / think. don't make friends easily,
hGRss sSs paused od0k oI ma@Sn
and thea added, with a rather tremulous little
laugh. DO you know. | think you are the only
other friend that have-and | am not at all sure
that YOU care to accept my friendship"
Dear Mrs. Wilkinson" | exclaimed, how can
you doubt ne so Pray, never doubt me again
There ~ nothing in the world that prizemore than
your friendships and no privilege that should
consider greater than that OF being allowed 10
serve YOU" ! protest that said this with the
most perfect sincerity. was carried away by my
feelings. had entirely forgotten for the moment
that was engaged IN an intrigue which had for ITS
aim the defeat OF another intrigue. So completely,
indeed. had forgotten what was about, that
ended by taking her hand, which was resting upon
the arm Of her chair and raising II To my liDs.
She started and got up at once, Thank you.
Colonel Walmisley," she said. rather hurrlsdly
al am sure you mean what you say. Ought we
moi to be going home now y Our drive back tn
London was not enlivened by much dialogue.
Probably We all had our own thoughts, ana III the
case Of some Of us these may haye been more ell
crossing than exhiarating. Pole looked as solemn
ss a Judge. and hardly opened his lips the whole
time. When we had seen the ladies home, aud
were walking away arm in arm. lie began to remon-
sirate with me.
II say. old chap, aren't you rather overriding
thisp
Not in the least" I replied decisively; lyon
can't overdo a thing Of this kind. have an OBJ
ject before me and pursue that object. You ought
10 be adsirng my thoroughness instead Of per-
petually grumbling" And then, as did not wish
som and said Goodnight" The fact of the mat
ter was that Poles warning was only too justili-
able. was conscious that WAS indeed OVERRIDING
it-nay. that | had already overdone it, and had
committed myself t. line of conduct OF which
the possi consequences were too painful to con-
template.
4 prefer not dwell upon the truly wret chcd
| a - L. .l.anau hi L Ton QHd