The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1889-02-02
ANUNEXPECTED VISIT


CALCULATIONS, but only one of those
grim jets with which fortune delights
to mock disappointed men.
An old man-servant, one of q 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!
II beg your pardon, sir; but do you
remember what day it is to-day?"
"No, Thomas"
"Your wedding-day, sir"
Strickland's face clouded.
II 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, young lady 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"
"No, SIR"
"Did John say what,she was like ?"
Rather tall, sir; q young lady,
dark, and fashionably dressed"
eff she calls I will see her. You
may go, Thomas. The servantleft,
and Strickland continued to himself.
"Tall, young, dark, well-dressed,
business with me. Who can she be?"
"The lady is here sir, in the draw
ing-room," said Thomas, returning
to the library after about ten ninu-
ties.
Strickland went to the drawing
room. At the door he paused a mo-
mont 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
und he could distinguish orally the tall
and graceful figure of a woman, we'll
dressed and wearing expensive laces.
"Madam!" he said, adva. icing.
The lady turned, Strickland
started as if he had received an cleo
trio shock. To conceal, to the best
of his ability, his surprise and the
sudden pallor of his face, he made her
u profound bow.
II hope l am not inconveniencing
you," she said, at the SHINE time re-
turning his salute. Then, with a
quiet ease she selected clair and sat
down.
"Not in the least; / am at your
SERVICE" said Strickland.
GAS shall avail myself of your con-
descension. / hope that was not
merely compliment"
MAY ask you how / can oblige
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
still, as the first DEFY 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
woman who had lived and suffered.
At length she said:
"Do you still correspond with my
father?''
eyes. 1t is, however, a fortnight
since last wrote to him"
al received letter from him
Yesterday. He is coming to town
tomorrow" =.
This time Strickland made no at
tempt to conceal his surprise.
Tomorrow! Your father, who
never leaves homel"
"The medical men order him to the
south coast, and he will, on his way,
stop In town, to spend the night
with"
She paused.
"His daughter" said Strickland.
"He says his son. And SO we find
ourselves in pleasant embarrass-
nent."
She leant back, and with a small
hand began drubbing waltz on the
table at her side.
"You call it pleasant" said Strick-
land.
81 did not come here to discuss
words, but to discover plan of ac-
ton"
81 see none"
"And you ore a politician, a man
OF reiiiusi Ifthose subtle arts, that
havs hseh 30 sueeessfully employed
la SEAf eva .NaSAnesinsat, eoAia .bet
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