Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1891-04-18
his hands in his pockets and his soft hat

his hands in his pockets and his soft hat
slouched over his face.
Once behind his locked door he sank
gloomily into a chair He was too much
startled to think very clearly; only the
letters P. @. R. danced imp-like through
his brain.
"Tbat note" he growled, ethat
motel"
And the frown on his face grew if pos
'ible, deeper.
"There must be three of them. Three
Priscilla Q. Russelsl What nonsense!
1t must be the same one. Pshaw How
can it be2 A girl like that! Perhaps
it was brother. But she hasn't any. |
asked her once.
So much distressed was Clarke by the
idea that his friend might be the ''Pris"
of the unfortunate little note, that his
last conscious thought that night, was
resolve to call the next day on the gray
! eyed one and ask her if the note had
been intended for her.
He called ID fact, but found if was no
such easy matter to ask a beautiful and
exquisitely bred girl if she had ever met
man at As P. NJ. under a lamp post.
Indeed, after the first few moments
moments that passed awkwardly enough
for him-he decided that he had been a
fool the night before; and that the town
was evidently full of Priscillas.
1t was unfortunate that this explana-
ton lost its FEASIBILITY on his return,
while the note seemed photographed on
his memory. Miss Russell must be
''Pris."
The next Thursday evening Clarke did
not appear to entertain the newsboy and
errand boys. Poor Priscilla, assailed on
all sides, thought she had never seen her
proteges behave SO badly. rhe air too
had never seemed so fetid. Her head
ached duly, and it was slowly and me-
chanically that after the boys had been
dismissed, she helped put the rooms in
order.
She searted nervously on hearing
Clarke's voice behind her.
"Let me assist you, Miss Russell. You
have too many books there"
''Mr. Clarkel You herer
ayes, aud should have been before.
My head ached so that feared | could
not stand the noise. But 1 grew better
and here am"
| Inwardly he lashed himself for his de-
| ceit.
Priscilla looked at him pityingly. She
passed the palm of her hand slowly over
her forehead.
81 can sympathize with you; too
have a headache tonight"
Clarke's heart smote him. How could
be have left her to do his share of the
work.
Greatly" be asked anxiously, Il fear
am to blame for it. You have had too
much to do for one was selfish in not
coming.
She shook her head gently, while her
white lids dropped heavily under his
troubled and remorseful glance.
ut was the air in here, 1 shall be all
right by the time reach home"
''May help you to reach it,"
Certainly"
But the glrlfelt chilled as she gave the
permission. OF late, it had been a mat
ter of course that he should walk home
with her. And Clarke, on his way home
was not proud of himself.
81 cant stand this he muttcred, ~
must do something; this sort of thing
can't last. Here l can't stay away from
her three days, and yet whenever l do,
| can think of nothing but that con
| founded note. Perhaps it was a cousin,
though l never heard of any. Still it
was vulgar thing to do. What a fool
ann How do l know she did it, A
! girl like that doesn't do such things.
But how did he dare suggest it, Oh,
hang it all!'
And William Clarke passed a more
uncomfortable night than he had yet
| known.
For the next few weeks, Priscilla was
much puzzled by the young fellows
manner.
Several times she had caught him
watching her with an almost bewildered
air. She was perplexed and also troubled
by the under current of thought she felt
in him.
They met one evening at the remark
able Bingham institution, known as the
"Coffee Party" perhaps because as far
back as man remembers, there has never
been there drop of coffee. As the two
paused after the waltz, Clarke asked
abruptly:
"Miss Russell, what would you think
of a girl that would meet man at 7:45
P. NJ, under a lamp post2"
The girl looked quickly up at him, but
with such genuine perplexity and amuse-
ment, that the young man flushed for
shame, and hastily excused himself
Toward midnight, as he was moving
with her in the slow crush back to the
dressing room, she said, suddenly:
"Oh, Mr.. Clarke! My sister and her
husband arrive from California to-mor-
row. They stay two week. l hope you
will meet them. You will like them
know, and We should be glad to have you
CALI
81 thank you"
my sister is delightful; I am almost
silly in my admiration for her. But you
may enjoy Rob more"
"Robi"
The girl took the exclamation for a
question.
eyes; my brother-in-law, Rob and l
are great friends. He is very jolly and
| pleasant and intellectual as well. want
you to meet him"
~ want to meet him." answered the
poor fellow with deep emphasis.
A few days later Clarke made the ac-
Quaintance of Miss Russelrs brother and
sister, and was much pleased with them,
and called again the next evening. This
time, however, he asked only for Miss
! Priscilla.
She came in, holding out her hand,
smiling, little astonished, but not ill
plea sed, at this second call so near the
previous one.
"Sit down. am glad to see you"
''No; l have confession to make. l
prefer to do it standing
Priscilla had seated herself in broad,
low arm chair, hel hands lying easily in
her lap. A faint flush rose in her cheeks,
but she gave no other sign.
Clarke had clasped his hands behind
his back and was walking nervously UP
and down After some moments of de
liberation he plunged recklessly into his
piteous little tale of doubt He told a:
best he could the emotions aud feelings
of their acquaintance, and when h