The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1888-12-21
AN UNEXPECTED VISIT

cesses, that Gerard Strickland, twitch-
ing his cuffs and stretching his arms,
before letting his hands fall into his
lap, sank back into the luxurious
armchair by his library fire, after
throwing on the table the letter that
announced his promotion to an en-
viable post in the civil service. AS he
thought of thepost, his advancement
seemed to him no subject for con-
CALCULATIONS, but only one of those
grim jets with which fortune delights
to mock disappointed men.
An old man-servant, one of a sort
growing rare, entered the room with
an evening paper. He laid it at his
masters side, and stood at a respectful
distance, waiting, Misunderstanding,
with some anxiety legible in his
-countenance.
"Well, Thomas?" asked Strickland,
81 beg your pardon, sir; but doyou
remember what day it is to-day?"
"No, Thomas"
"Your wedding-day, sirl"
St~rickland's face clouded.
81 did not know, sir, whether you
would wish for dinner the same wine
AS you used to have"
~No, Thomas shall probably dine
at the club"
81 ordered dinner as usual, sir; and
a bouquet, in case" -
"Quite right, Thomas, quite right
For an instant the heart of the
promoted official sank. The fidelity
of his old domestic was humiliating
How he would once have resented the
suggestion that Thomas would re-
member this university better than
himself! And that it should fall to
the old servant to order from the
florist the bouquet Gerard himself
had been formerly SO proud to bring
home, on this evening; to his wife.
But the slight sense OF annoyance
passed away quickly. 1t was with
absolute Indifference that, seeing the
man-servant still waiting, he asked
Anything else, Thomas?"
"This morning, when you had but
just gone, a younglady called. Hear
ing you were not at home, she said
she would call again this evening
about 6. She wished to see you on
important business"
"Her name?"
~She left none"
"Did you see herr"
emo, sir"
*sDid John say what she was like?"
"Rather tall, sir; a young lady,
dark, and fashionably dressed"
eff she calls 1 will see her. You
may 60, Thomas" the servantleft,
and Strickland continued to himself.
<"Fall, young, dark, welldressed,
business with me. Who can she be-"
"The lady is here sir, in the draw
lng-room," said Thomas, returning
to the library after about ten MIMI
ties.
Strickland went to the drawing
room. At the door he paused a mo-
ment to steal a look at his visitor.
She stood by one of the tables idly
turning the leaves of a photograph
album. Her back was toward him
and he could distinguish only the tall
and graceful figure of a woman, we'll
dressed andswearinge expensive laces.
"Madaml" he said, advancing.
The lady turned, Strickland
started as if he had received an cleo
Uric shock. To conceal, to the best
of his ability, his surprise and the
sudden pallor of his face, hemade her
"a profound bow.
II hope l am not mountaineering
you" she said, at the same time re-
turning his salute. Then, with a
-auiet ase she selected a chair and sat
down.
"Not in the least; / am at your
SERVICE" said Strickland.
"As | shall avail myselfof your con-
@descension, I hope that was not
merely a compliment"
"May l ask you how / can obEge
your"
The lady stroked the soft fur other
muff, and once or twice lifted her
searching eyes to his face. Apparent
~ she was hesitating to name the
purpose of her visit. Meanwhile,
Strickland gratified his eyes with a
good look at her, lovely, fascinating
-etill, as the firstday he had seen her,
Only her pure profile had gained
more decision, and her eyes had a
profounder meaning than when he
last looked into them, as those of al
woman who had lived and suffered. !
At length she said:
"Do you still correspond with my
father?"
"Yes. 1t is, however, a fortnight
since / last wrote to him."
81 received a letter from him
yesterday. He is coming to town
morrow"
Nhis time Strickland made no at
pt to conceal his surprise.
tomorrow! Your father, who
leaves home!"
smedical men order hin to the
cast, and he will, on his way,
town, to spend the night
sed.
ghter," said Strickland.
his son. And so we find