Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1891-05-23

aged charmer, well rouged and powdered
WITH hair cleaning meretriciously
and teeth just size too large for th
thin-lipped mouth.
In one hand she held his love-breath.
ing letter; in the other his photograph
And during that second his heart sanL
like lead
But he did not know-ah, how much
more difficult would it have been to hea,
hao he done so'-that Halcyon Hart
ford's eyes were surreptitiously watching
him from the honeysuckle- garlandeo
easement beyond.
dear Charley" the elderly damse
tnittered, 'you are here at .ast.''
He set his teeth. drew one long breath
and allowed her to slip carressipg hand
through his arm and lead him into the
house, muttering some hoarse acknowl-
edglhent of her coquettish smiles.
"lve brought it on myself" b,
thought ''And l must simply endure
It. The woman isn't to blame-no, she
! is not to blame"
''He is hero" Halcyon thought
"yes, a hero"
And then she burst into a passion o
tears and ran up stairs to her own room
''But now I've got you fairly here"
Isped Aunt Hal, more determinedly
youthful than ever, "I'm really afraid,
dearest Chaltley, that there's a great
disappointment in store for you"
.'Eh?"
The Colonel had sat down in a rather
listless mann er. Aunt Hal held on t.
his hand, still all teeth and smiles.
"And may as we'll tell you at once,
said she, "that I'm already engaged t,
Judge Flostroy, of the Superior Court
Of course, if I had known of your at
tachment in time, there's no saying"
"Oh, pray don't let me interfere with
any existing arrangements" said Bles.
son, jumping eagerly up. "Perhaps
under the circumstances, you will let nj
have my photograph back?"
Just then there came ring at tht
door below as the maid announced:
Judge FIostroy, miss, if you please =
Before the slow and ponderous steps O
the approaching visitor could reach the
room, Aunt Hal had thrust the photo
graph into Blossoms hand.
She had had the little triumph, whicl
was all she wanted. That little case O
diamonds from Judge Flostroy had set
tied the question.
"A-hem-m-m"' sonorously coughe
the luminary of the Superior Court.
Aunt Hal tripped smilingly forward.
"Glad to see you, Judge!'' she cooed
This is my old playmate, Colone
Blossom, just arrived from India. dar
say, Charley, you'll find Halcyon some
where about the house,
''Disposed of in short order," NUT
tered Colonel Blesson. "Great heavens
what have done to deserve such lucl
as this9'
Two hours afterward the young lover
sat in the veranda, watching the evenin
star rise over the hills, while the Judge
oasso profundo voice still rolled IN tn
sitting room like distant thunder.
s.But wasn't it a narrow escapes
pasped Blossom, holding both Halcyon'
hands in his.
Would you really have married hel
Chartleyl'
LAS a gentleman, Halcyon, there wa
no outlet of escape for me, under th
circumstances.
But would you really have marie
her!"
YES. would with sternly.set teet
and knitted brows. "
"Then I'll marry you, Charley,
> whispered Halcyon, "because you are
i genuine hero. And because" with q
arch glance, 81 really think you need
: wife to take charge of you.
"After the episode of to-day sai
Colonel Blossom, Il really think ! do
-.Saturday Night.