Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-08-19
CHAPTER Ill

OHAI LEN Ill
I didn't see the announcement OF
Balduin's marriage in the Times, though
/ believe it appeared in due form. with
the addition, Colonial papers please
copy" During the holidays had two
letters, but they we're very brief. He
aud his wife were both quito well, though
little fatigued with much travelling.
For they had altered their plans, they
were not visiting the lake Of Lucorne,
but weie making wider tour in fact,
carrying out the scheme be had sbsn-
doned the year before. He bad bought
my wood-carving at Brienz and would
attend TO the botanical specimens when
they got to Zermatt. The weather had
not been very good. I was little sur
prised that he Was not more ehusive in
his correspondence, but | attributed the
dry and curt tone OF these two letters to
haste, and-to tell the truth didn't
think very much about them. l had
other employment My own love affair
had righted itself; tho reported engage
ment was fabrication, and a real one
was substituted for it. Lucys father
yielded, and | vas as happy As Baldwin
had been when the important letter
came. | got back to Silcombe on the
day when the boys returned, and the next
day l saw Baldwin for moment in
our common room. he was much
sunburned and looking very well.
Still there was a manifest change in
him. His honeymoon had sobered him.
The gayety of the last term had gone.
He said bnt little, asked how | had spent
my holidays, was interested in my news
and then said as he went away: lyon
must come and dine with us one of these
EVENING"" The next day l met him
walking with lady. She was between
thirty and thirty-five, should think. OF
slightly horid complexion. Her eyes
were light blue, and she wore specta-
Giles. She was inclined to be stout, and
was very badly dressed. couldn't CON
ceiye who it was that Baldwin had
on his arm, and during the few
seconds which elapsed between my
first seeing him and getting into
speaking distance | had made and re-
iected half dozen different conjectures.
Then the lady was introduced to me as
Mrs. Baldwin. l hope l managed 10
conceal my astonishment; | know |
tried my hardest. For was completely
thuuderstruck-s startled out of all pres
ence OF mind. Was this the beautiful
being that Baldwin had raved about
Those pale-blue orbs, slightly protruding,
blinking through their spectacles. were
they the eyes of lustrous, liquid depth
that he had eulogized with such rapture {?
say | hope / disguised my astonish-
ment; hardly think can have done
However, murmured something about
being delighted to make her acquaint-
ance and hoping that she would like Sill
combe.
~ am sure | shall be charmed with
it," she replied with slight simper.
"Silcombe is delightful place, so diff
ferent from anything in New Zealand,
and am very pleased to know you. My
husband has spoken Of you several times.
am 60 anxious that he should not lose
bis bachelor friends nov that be is mar
ried. So many men do, they tell me.
l am so obliged 10 you for making out
that plan OF travel. 1t was SO well ar
ranged. We saw everything, and never
went on the same ground twice. And
will show you all the views We bought.
We bought . great many views, didn't
We, Frank 2"
Baldwin ssented grsvely-very grave
", / thought ve walked OH little
togsther Then / left them, wondering /
Is much ss ever st the difference there
sas between the poetic description Bald
win had INDUCED in aud the solid prose
Of the sctual fact. No effort OF imagina-
ton could transform Mrs. Baldwin into
ths graceful maiden be had depicted.
No allowance for lovers exsggeration
could bridge the gull. The most ardent /