The Wilmingtonian., 1888-01-14
She came in.


"Shall you return tomorrow,
Sr?n .ss. .ea
Involuntarily / turned and looked
at her, and the surprise which j had,;
thought to simulate WAS terribly
real. She was dressed as l had seen
her on the lawn, only she carried
her hat in her hand instead of on her.
head. She was not more than four
feet from me and the most delicate
of perfumes assailed me, like the soft
odor of some rare growth. And in
sooth what was she but a sweet
smelling flower all alive?
| / suppose / stared at her, for the
color came into her cheeks; then
she gave little toss Of her shspely
head, and said:
"What is it, Siri"
ooh, nothing, nothing only l
should scarcely have recognized you
at distance" 'es# -~s-' I. p
"Indeed, Sirl Did you not re- =
eognike me on the lawn, then 7" 'T a
She had seen me then, it seemed
one never knows what q woman sees
and what she does not see. -st4r O. IS
"No; had to examine the lady
with my field glass in order to iden-
tify her," .a.ze nos q. ! ss... 81
"Wss she altered SO very much, +,
Sirf" ir 7svlss 10 .s
"She had few hairs that were
turning gray originally" e,sa .sgls
81 think, Sir, you were mistaken.
She has done nothing to her hair
but give it good brushing, Though
I fancy she may have powdered it
little, Sir, until to-day"
"Oh / see. Then, she dressed her
hair with grave modesty over. her
temples, with quaint protuberance,
or swelling curve on either side, and
wore two small tortoise shell combs,
after the comely fashion Of an elder
generation"
Where upon Christine Csmpion
laughed in her light melodious way,
and answered softly ''a' t.ssN
"But she did not promise always
to wear them, Sir. If she had worn
false teeth, or a glass eye, or any
i ornament of false beauty-then-
perhaps 'ie y a'4' 4s'aa'
aBut where there is no temptation
how can there be much virtue 7
J Doubtless she knew--no one better
+ that there was no need of suv
mock beauty. Besides, after all, l
really engaged bousekeeper, and
j not a lady of fashion,"I said, and ]
) thought my voice had in it a
1 clearer note of sarcasm than ], had
intended; and for the same was
!, sorry. AS who would not. have
| been, had he seen the painful flush
s that died her face and throat?
"Hsve / not pleased you, Sir, as a
8 housekeeper?" she said with the
faintest tremor audible in her voice.
IS The sudden dropping Of the very
convenient third person had in it a
IS sharp thrust of pathos. Iremember
e, that l thought she was worth her
weight in gold that l was prepared
te to offer her almost any inducement
e. if need be, rather than lose her. ]
thought Of the wsspish Colonel on
n, board the Nimrod. / reflected that
lie after all, she was but woman, gent
'i- ly bred, young, full of charm, and o.
course lover of the pretty frivoli
he ties of attire. Her offense was {
ed very womanly one and then the
n. swift psthos of that appeal in the
W first personl Contound it, gentle
re reader, but 1 hope l have not le
d, yod to expect that. 1 could play th'
brute Thank you, thank you;
10. felt sure that we understood eacl
1g other.
/ To proceed: l looked at her stead
if ily-it was like looking on work o
er art-has l answered.:
I'D ain this line, have nothing bu
praise for you. l think you a pei
an feet housekeeper. II / could sa
ce' more would
This time was pleased with m
voice; it had ring in it that / liket
l think she liked it, too. Anywa,
IN her face lit up wondrously.
'ou "You are kind Sir, to say tina
n' And if you wish, Sir, will resun
" my black dress and powdered hal
and-the-two-small--tortoise she
combs, Sir" .,'
.eu @ For all the world / might hs'
.i'n been Sir Peter and she my Lac
Teazle. A prettier bit of fine plt
never saw.
,eu "Not for the worldl prefer u
- to be your own mistress and folio
'uei your own tastes" l answered.
'n She smiled divinely, made me
= gracious curtsy, and left the roo
noO When the door had closed and
'o' knew she was out of my hearing
sat down with feeling of exha,
Ains ton and relieved myself by exclai
10 ing aloud: