The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1886-02-26

Here you are, doing all you know to
amuse mean undesired guest"
Certainly not that" be says, with
rather more earnestness than the occa-
sion demands.
well, at least, an unlimited one = she
corrects impatiently, the smile fading.
i am afraid you are growing tired 10
death says the young man. with some
pain IN hls voice, laying down his cue
and coming to her side. "Of course
you are; it is only natural. 1t is so
slow for you here, being locked up in a
place against your will, with nothing to
amuSe you. That is the worst of being
a bachelor. If now" he continues. de-
jectedly, Il had wife, you might be SO
much happier, and could talk about
dress, you know, and that
"Yes; and bonnets, and servants.
How well you understand womenl" saws
Miss Rivers, curtly, turning away.
Perhaps if you had wife should
hate her"
Then I'm downright glad 1 haven't,
as that would make your enforced stay
even more unpleasant to you than it is :
he returns, a little bitterly.
did | say l was bored, or found
things slow, or that I found anything
here unpleasant? she demands, SLOWLY.
Il don't remember making such re-
marks"
We'll, you looked it, you know" he
replies, still somewhat aggrieved.
AWhat, all that? Bored and slow
and unpleasant!"-softly. How rude
you are"
"You misunderstood" he begins.
warmly.
Nobody ever made me such an un-
complimentary speech before. l think
you needn't call me bad names, !" she in
terrupts, meekly, turning a red ball
round and round between her pretty
white hands.
you know 1 didn't mean that" he
exclaims, eagerly, and is probably going
to say good deal more. when she raises
her eyes, and he, seeing the mischief
lying in them, fOregOes further explaua-
ton and joins in her merry laugh.
Shall we finish this long suffering
game" she asks, lightly, "and put off
our discussion till another day? Go
on; it is your turn"
So he goes again to the table, and. by
the most fragrant bad play and an evi-
dent determination not TO hit anything
whatever, cOmpels her to win the game.
Shall we play another You should
give me my revenge" ne SAYS, seeing
her lay down her cue, and fearing leAt a
thought of Mrs. Richards NAV be again
possessing her.
NO, you play too badly" she an
sWerS, calmly
Now he is the best billiard-p1ayer at
his club, and is, moreover. rather proud
of the fact, yet he bears this aSpeTsiOn
on his skill with the most exemplary
patience, making not the smallest pro-
test.
Time may improve me-" he says,
with an lmpaSslve cOuntenance. Give
me one more chance"
What a hypOcTite you are" returns
Miss Cecil, with startling promptitude.
Don't you think l read your determi-
nation to give me that game? And 1
thought it so sillyl No, I shall not play
again with you until practice has made
me more perfect. VIII you come and
show me the china in the small draw
ing-rOom? Richards says it is lovely,
and that it is locked up in the ebony
cabinets"
81 am not very we'll up in china, but
they say my uncle'S collection is rather
fine" he replies, delighted at the pros
pect of having her with him for at least
another hour.
And together they go to the drawing
room and ransack the cabinets. Some
tiny tea-cups of the reign of Queen
Anne raise in Cissy's bosom feelings Of
the most intense admiration.
What darling!" she SAYS. taking
out cup and laying it on her palm.
such a little pet, and S5pretty."
They are both Rneeling before the
cabinet, and are, therefore, close to-
gether. In his heart Mr.. Craven thinks
every word of praise she hassuttered to
the cup might be applied to herself.
Keep it." he says, genially, alluding
to the cup. Take anything you like.
There's any number of them. And it's
a pity to leave them there, YOU know,
when 1 don't care about them"
"Oh, no, thank you!"-ColoTing hotly,
and putting back the tea-cup hastily.
Of Tho M for l,1v ,rrH
Then take the whole set, if youfaRcy
them" he entreats. Il really wish you
would. Nobody here ever looks at
them"
Not now. -mischievously-
that wife you spoke of so confidently
little while ago, she will like to look at
will lshe?"-thoughtfu He stares
intently for a moment or two at Miss
Rivers as she kneels beside him-peT-
haps the attitude suggests visions of a
possible altar; and then he says, rather
irrelevantly, You are very fond OF
china, are you notp"
well, yes, rather" she replies; and
then, ,conquering an inclination to laugh,
she rises to her feet and goes over to
the fireplace. 4 think you said this
morning your friend was much better"
she says, presently, more from desire
to make conversation than from any
he still growing toward peTfectionp
"Yes"-in a mournful tOne-'he is
decidedly better. There is no hope.
He is coming down to dinner. Moth
ing would prevent him, though L sent
several messages, beautifully worded,
to say l thought it foolish to make too
free Just at first, and that draughts
were dangerous"
Messages never succeed. Why did
you not go IN perSon?"
"He wouldn't let me in--wouldnt see
me at any price. 1 made one or two
noble efforts to carry his chamber by
assault when first he was laid up
thinking it inhuman not to show some
interest in him-but was repulsed with
great slaughter. No admittance to
strangers should be posted on his door,
as no one dares enter it but his own
man."
How mysterious! But whyY"
THAT is Just what I am not in posi-
tion to tell you, never having been
there. 1 suspect"-sOlemnly- that he
gets himself up-goes in heavily for
paint and powder, wigs and teeth, and
so on; and, when in bed without all
these attractive appliances, is COM
plete wreck-sans teeth, sans eyes,
sans taste, sans eyeryJhingE
What a glowing pictured" says Cissy;
and then again, What an unpleasant
old person"
"Oa, he's all that" assents Mr.. Crav-
en-, agreedbly, "and a good deal more!
When fellow IS pretty well on IN years,
and certain portions OF him have drop
pei away. such as hair and teeth. why
can't he confess it? The Major would
die first. He abhors wrinkles, and
thinks gray hair rude. When he shows
up in all his war paint, he is perfectly
CHASTITY"
Y ou make me long to know him.
Your description reminds me OF a
friend of my own" SAYS CiSsy, with an
amused laugh. May l ask this hero g
manner"
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