Telegram-herald., 1891-12-06

been riyen- She bsgku Ter own toilet
with the satisfaction VI feeling that che
would ehapercne one Of the noss beau
tifui girls IN Washington society
The oolonei's wife WA In = CULVER Of
excitemsnt. che wss romantic - her
finger tips. and knowiak 4onething sad
gsessing good deal Of the state Of af-
fairs between May and Capt Aru-
sirong. she bad planned . httis sur
prise.
The eapssin had arrived 10 Washing
ton that afternoon. aud IL haa been =
sery easy thing for Mrs farweii. who
knew when he was expected. " get On
Invitation sea. 70 him
Early In the evening she had given
the colonel orders To go To aalph's hotel
and ask him To accompany them 20 the
ball, urging as reason that IL would
be an act Of kindness "a the young man
since his uncle's family were no, ia the
city. The colonel had agreed TO her re-
quest. bnt with such = twinkle In his
eyes tha, sss said a. she helped him
into his coat;
"You would be invaluable 70 the czar
Of Russia. Charles"
"Why?"
Because ycu have such . faculty Of
seeing through plots"
THAT Is because am 20 intimately
acquainted with the POTTER" he an-
swered.
After he had gone she arranged the
rest Of her little plan. She decided she
would not tell May anything about her
invitation Co Ralph. but would man.
age To have her downstairs when he
came. With that end In view she got
her to dress early. but IL aust be con-
fcsscd that she had tho grace 70 feel
slightly ashamed Of her plotting and
.elt half inclined 10 call the girl back,
after she had sent her down 20 the par
lor with the injunction To waylay her
uncle and send him directly up Ia dress
the moment he came inside the door.
She QUOTED her conscience with the
reflection that after all she was probably
doing those two people a favor by Civ
ing them u chance to come TO an under
standing.
May. all unsuspecting. went dutifully
down TO the parlor. and seating herself
in large chair before the CRATE pre-
pared - enjoy TIE Gre and the quiet Of
the deserted room.
She knew that Capt. Armstrong had
arrived In the city but she did not ex-
pcct to sec hip until the next day.
While standing before the mirror in
her room. she had been woman enough
TO wish that he might be 1t the ball
and see her in all the glory Of delicate
silk and lace. She knew that she was,
to express IL modestly. looking very
well. and she knew from six weeks
experience in Washington society that
many others would be there that would
think 50 too. Sometimes during tho
months that had interviewed since she
left the fort she had been troubled by
tho old doubts about her discretion
that last night She told herself that
after the scene she made Capt Arm.
strong could do nothing less 'an write
some such note as he did. She never
really believed this version OF the case
Still tonight sho was conscious OF q
wish that he might be q witness for n
little while before speaking TO her. Of
the attention she received from some Of
the most brilliant Washingtonians
What woman had not rather confer q
favor by loving than TO have the favor
conferred upon her.
So lost was she In rcvery that she
hardly heard the opening and closing
OF the hall door, but she was most
cffcctually aroused by hearing her
uncle say, Us he opened the door Of the
room she WIS in: 81 suppose the
women are SO deep in the mysteries Of
their toilets that they ',ave forgotten
all about sending for yeu. I've got to
get into my state trousers, ! suppose.
so you'll have to ariuso yourself why
no; bless me! here's May looking like
the queen Of oil fairies. May. you
haven't forgotten Captain Ralph?'
Capt. Ralph saw figure In shining
whiic rise from o deeply cushioned
chair and turn toward him. The radiant
vision dazzlcd him for n moment, then
q pang Of sharp disappointment shot
through him. The look Of blank sur
prise was not the look he had hoped TO
see on her face.
f!e advanced and shook hands rather
mechanically. then with remark
about the coldncss of the night passed
around to the other side of the crate
and leaning one elbow on the mantel
stood facing her as she sank again into
her chair.
She asked him . few questions about
her friends at the fort. which ho
answered briefly. Conversation seemed
to grow more difficult every moment.
for he was not In n talkative mood.
and working confusion with her con-
versational powers was the thought:
''Ilc thinks sent for him"
An awkward pause fell st last upon
the one-sided conversation and . little
clock on the shelf ticlsed away with
loud persistence siny sat atudying the
Goals intently and trying 20 gain con-
posurc enough 20 tell him that slic had
not expected 10 zee him this evening,
but personal remarks seemed IN be be-
yond her Just for the moment. She
knew that he was standing there look
ing gravcly at her and the silence be-
came more unbesrablr every moment
She raised her head with q proud little
gesture and loched him fully In the
face. tie was looking at her hands.
which lay In her lap. and she suddenly
became conscious that they were
trembling. She changed their position
quietly and spoke In as careless tone
as she could command:
II hardly expected 20 see you In
Washington society before Tomorrow.