The morning call., 1891-05-02
THAT WICKED BLUSH.
BY OLIVER H. STORY.


mel Gushing Of the First, our pet regiment,
YOU know. You two will be fast friends at
once, for things military are so dear to you
both, and off glided delightful Mrs. HAYES,
with her charming presence, to her other
guests.
But for the Colonel very little charm had
fed, for beside him stood the only woman
to whom he had ever asked to be intro
duced. -
my father has often spoken Of you,
Colonel Gushing, and l am indeed pleased to
meet vou.'' came with the sweetest accents
from Miss Steele. ~:
:. a And am sure that L shall owe Mrs.
Halves lifelong debt of gratitude, re-
sponded the gallant Colonel, bending over.
Miss Steele's hand in his most dgnifed way
''This is not tire first timed haye had the
pleasure of seeing YOU he said, as he led.
her back to her seat. ~ ~.
q An! indeed. Colonel, and when was that
other Time may Iasf2 =I.haYe no recoiiec-
ton of seeing. you, and a conscious blush.
stole over Miss Steele'S lovely face = =;
=. The Colonel quick to notice, in:his abrupt
way demanded. :. 80. ~ -.
r. - Is that tEae .2'.'s:.:: - +: -.
j. He would have given: his commission to
have recalled those words but it was too
= Colonel Gushing. win you lead me to.
1t was not a question. The cold, icy tone
commanded. -. -. :: i
t.Miss#Steeler'~ :: FL.
:. 2''Talkiug tires me, Colonel Please take
me in - -
:. Chagrined aud mortified, he obeyed. Hast
lily ezclusiug himself, much to Mrs. Halves
surprise, he strobe out on the Yeranda,
across the lawn toward the cliffs. ~:
Quickly lighting Ills one cigar-he. wished
he had doZen-he commenced: pacing the
path: The cigar was soOn. consumed, but
the walker kept on. = =.
Was tlHssto be the outcome OF his year Of
Waiting2 Was he tg.loSe her thus ?...s-.. -
Bitterly now he remembered low FIVE
years ago, when but a Captain, during a
grand review, he had noticed a beautiful
girl standing with distinguished gentle
- man, e.. - -. r. -. - =.
In his conceit=he thought she had looked
long Al him. The boys wondered next day
how he had bofnetlre criticism Of a tardy.
salute, from pronlinent journal, so pleas.
Rntly. That the most precise officer in the
regiment should regard criticism from such.
source IN the light OF: a joke has always
puzzled them. + =. =:
The years had gone by, and experiences
crowded the lie OF this busy man, but
through them all the remembrance of that
grlisll fnce had stayed. Diplomatic matrOns
had angled N vain for this desirable catch.
Like too many deniZens OF the fashionable
sea. the bait WAS stale
- Two days ago he had rundown from town
to participate in a coaching party. During
the Tide they had passed smart little trap
with tile very same young lady whose face
had been so constantly with him in charge.
Several at once. exclaimed that she was
General Steele's daughter, having Just re-
turned from protracted study on the Con-
tnent. r.. H.
1t was whispered that she had there re-
fused several desirable =Suitors. Gossip as.
signed certain: scnOol-day admireT as the
.poSsessor Of her affections. Certain it was
that the aforesaid sch0Ql-day admirer was
constantly near her When occasion: offered,
much to the disgust Of sundry other young
men, - -. -
All this gossip. was eagerly cleaned by the
.. Colonel, TO whom the Sch0Ol-day admiTeT
was no obstacle. He was too true. soldier,
and difficulties only made him strOnger.in
- his purpose. ii =.
- At the CONCLUSION Of. the drive, which he.
pronounced a h0TFid bore lie made arrange
meuts to. prolong his stay and concluded to
accept an inyitatiOnfO the BeXt evening to
party at which be learned she was to be
" present. ~. 80 = -
His aunt Informed him"that Miss Steele
had spent two years at little German town
studying. HeIememb ered visiting the place.
himself few years age, and he wondered
If she was there at.the tine.z: -.
Usually calm. and collected. he became.
nervous and impatient as the day sped by.
=. Then lie realized low much the girl was 10
him. he knew now What1t was that made
= the many bellies. appear plain in his eyes
- MIS- Hawes was more than delighted at
- the COloueRs change OF mind. Too well
trained to show surprise at his request for
an early introduction to Miss Steele, she
mentally Congratulated herself that tao
such perfect people should meet beneath
her roof. She scented happiness from afar.
D le.v., 49,,
= soon returned to hers Alas, what couldhaYs
happened. Louise veTy@sJOn withdrew, and
Mrs. Halves curiosity was not satisfied.
- When she returned Mrs. Halves detected
that tears had been shed despite the eau de
cologne
- The poor woman fairly prickIed with in
=. terrogatiOn points, Sue probably tingles
yet, for she never learned the secret of that
p night If she reads these facts she can
easily substitute names.
With anger increased upon realization Of
the fact that he had probably misinterpre-
ted her confusion, and disguised with his
eoneeit he returned 70 the cottage and
acted his part for the remainder of the even
ing. Miss Steele cut him completely, and,
soldier though he was, he retreated.
= Twelve months slipped away, and, as fate
would have it, our two friends found them
selves the only real city folks in quiet
country village, each having selected this
quiet spot to while away week. What
their feelings were when informed Of the
others presence l cannot conjecture.
=. =. at all events, they exchanged no greet
Ings and conducted themselves as utter
strangers TWAS matter of great wonder
ment to:tbe villagers that people from the
same city should not know each other
y. i. They often remarked, what fine couple
=. they'd makel l.:-..:
He was tall and distfnguished she stately
!. and fair, with anuble figure and face. Al
though they had not spoken, yet his
heart beat high with hope when she
thanked HIM kindly for restoring a letter
which she had dropped; but, alas! she was
as distant as ever when next they met
; The Weeksecrept by, but neither left.
80 One afternoon, as had been lis custom, he
Gtroli5d through the woods, enjoying the
cool shades and forest scenes. Hearing a
TustlIng in the bushes on one side what was
Steele caught in:sthe bushes. a most be-
coming blush Of embarrassment oYerspread
her face. Hardly eOmpEehending the Situa-
ton, he Stood. hat In hand, as much con-
fused as is possible for a man of so.
The situation ended by Louise bursting
Into hearty laugh, in which the Colonel
thankfully joined :" Do you Thick | ought
d: always to- stay here?' she nalyely asked .
In momenthe became the attentive gen.
tieman. Cl0msily, and man can never do.
It otherwise, he cleared herfr0m the bushes.
FOrawhile, as they strolled back together,
the little adventure furnished a topic of
conversation Then came one of those
dreadful Gains that are SO dreadfully OPP
pressive.
The Colonel at length broke it by halting
Miss Steele in the path and seizing both her
hands,
Louise, don't let this dreadful actlng
20 on any longer. / cannot bear it. Don't
let that little thing of last year stand in the
way of our happiness. Willyou believe me
when l tell you that your face and yours
alone has been with NE ali these sly long
years?"
II have never doubted your word have
e. II" answered the tantalizing little creature.
s'No, never, and I'll not doubt yours il
you viii say that the face, the imprint of
which has been so indelibly stamped upon
t,5Il no.