The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1890-11-15
WHOSE FAULT WAS IT2

Long Brancn Jle sea SDlInmefluS anu spark
ling as If it were transformed into billows OF
liquid diamonds; the sands glittering in the
level light, and all the world tanning ITSELF
AS Colonel Chixley walked up, he gave an in
voluntary puff, like human porpoise in sea
of bed-clothes. Then James, his favorite wait
er, knocked at the door, with coffee and shay
ing-water.
"James," said he. II think heard child
cry in the next room to mine last night. They
never have put IA young family close to me,
James?"
VERY sorry Colonel" apologized James,
''but we're all took up, and there want no
other place to put 'em. Name, Mrs. Meredith,
sir-young lady, sir, in black-two little boys
only for short time, sir"
"A widow, l suppose?"
'Most likely, SIR" answered James.
'I shall give up my room! don't like wild
ows, and detest squalling young ones. The
matter is settled, James, and you may bring
me the morning paper"
But matters are more easily unsettled than
our middle-aged philosopher VOTED of. As he
came into his room after breakfast. he found
1t occupied, a young woman. in a White
morning wrapper with black rDDOns, sat there.
with a chubby year-old Cupid in her lap-the
loveliest vision of violet eyes, scarlet lips and
peachy cheeks he had ever seen. For one in
Slant there rose up in our tough old bachelors
mind the possibility of what might have been
had he married pretty Elinor Dare when they
were both young people together. The lady
rose with sparkling eyes of Indignation.
''Sir, believe this is nay roomr'
II beg your pardon, suffered Colonel Chix-
ley, "but / believe il is" with a glance to-
ward his dressing-case on the bureau. "nline
No. 48, madam"
"Pray excuse me, sir, l thought it was 80!
The furniture is exactly alike and"
"a very natural mistake ma'am; very ma
tural indeed. Mrs. Meredith, l presume-a-
charming little boy, that Of yours"
Had -,lorx 10Th ~ fall
into the snare. Before she returned to her
room, she and Colonel Chixley were ON excel
lent terms. When she was gone, he looked
after her, admiringly.
And the colonel fell to wondering vaguely
what Aunt Lucretia would say, if When at
last James entered to tell the colonel that his
clearinghouse was unoccupied.
Eyes, yes; to be sure!" said Colonel Chix-
ley, starting from his reverie. James. you
needn't change my room, after ALL Those
children seem quiet, and dare say shall get
along very we'll"
"Yes, sir" said James.
The colonel was sitting Oh the veranda that
afternoon, smoking his post-prandial cigar,
when little Pinkie Meredith. the eldest child,
ran laughingly to him. and clasped him round
the knees.
"Dear heart alive, sir,' said the nurse. with
agiggle, che takes you for his grandpa! Pinkie,
come here"
The colonel WINGED little.
LET him stay, my good girl" said he. II
I don't dislike children"
A concession, that, for the colonel
He took the whole party driving, two days
later. He spent the evening ON the veranda
with Mrs. Meredith and Pinkie, and even lis
tened complacently to the whole of the House
that Jack Built from the lips of the infant
prattler.
onel. She adored Tolstol-so did Colonel Chix
ley. She had always longed to visit the South,
and the colonel waxed eloquent on the subject
of his winter villa on the St.sJohns.
'Tm blest if l don't believe the old mans
in love-" James said to the chambermaid.
"And amt that rum 60 at his age 2"
II don't care if she is widow p said the
colonel to himself. ~ don't care if am twice
her age! don't care if there are two children.
! don't care # people do say am making a
fool of myselfP'
Inspired by this conscious valor. the colonel
bought diamondring, the glitter whereof was
like a miniature sun.
'Oh, Colonel" demonstrated Mrs. Meredith.
II ought not to receive such valuable gift
from you."
at belonged to my grandmother" lied the
colonel, "and it really is of no use to me.
should have given It to my sister If she had
lived, but
II will accept it. then-in purely sisterly
fashion," smiled Mrs. Meredith; and the col
onel looked complacently at its sparkle on the
pretty taper uIScT
81 suppose that amounts to an engagement"
said he to himself.
Mrs Meredith failed to make her appearance
at the tea-table that evening, and consequently
Colonel Chixley had no appetite to speak of.
He hurried through his meal, and sought the
veranda. There she sat, as he had expected;
and yet not as he had expected; for, close to
her, with one arm thrown over the back of her
bamboo chair, was swaIthy giant with
beard foot long, and a cigar whose clouds he
puffed deliberately up into her face.
The colonel came to dead halt in amaze
ment Mrs. Meredith smiled beamingly up,
with the most innocent of expression in her
velvet-soft eyes.
"Oh here's Pinkie's dear friend, Colonel
Chixley," she exclaimed. Colonel, this is
my husband"
Mr.. Meredith bowed in an off-hand manner,
without rising from his chair or laying aside
his cigar.
''Glad to see you, sir" said he. Bessie
here, has been telling me how kind you have
been to the little fellows. / don't wonder.
They are pretty children"
Colonel Chixley stood like one transhxed.
Her husband! And after all the drives and
bouquets and Neapolitan ices, and-most ap-
palIing reflection of all-after the dismond ring!
Her husbands And yet, when he came sober
" to reflect over the matter. he could not but
admit to himself that she never had absolutely
denied having husband.
Recalled to the exigencies of the moment.
he stammered few words of politeness, and
retired to his room.