Los Angeles herald., 1892-08-06

long time," said Jonas, hoisting the
colonel's luggage on the back of the
wagon. Sand dressmakers and mill
ners they will talk, you know, though
I'm told Miss Hal took great pains te
hide it."
"Did she?" aside: "The darlingi')
"And a fine woman she is, colonel, y
officiously added Jonas, as he pushed in
the last iron clamped trunk. ga very
fine woman, considerin her age. won
der she amt married long ago."
Colonel Blossom opened his sleepy black
eyes wide.
''Why, man, who in the world are you
talking about?"
"Why, Miss Hal Hartford, to be sure. >
"Miss Halcyon.or Miss Halliana?'
"There amt no Miss Halliana," said
Jonas. "They're both the same name,
but we calls the aunt Miss Hal and the
niece Miss Halcyon. My daughter, she's
lady's maid there, and I'd orter know, if
any one does"
"And which of them is it that is GO
ing to be married?' breathlessly queried
Blesson.
"Why, the old un, in coursel Beg
pardonw hurriedly added Jonas, 81
mean Miss Hal. Polly, she tells me
there's twenty-four different gownds or
dered, let alone the jackets and parasols
and ten button kid gloves fit to make
your hair stand on end"
"And Miss Halcyon-the young lady,"
cried the colonel; ''she is engaged too?'
"Not as any one knows on. That
all, colonel? Got your telescope bag?
Then we'd better be movin."
Colonel Blossom pondered seriously all
the way up to Hartford Cedars, oblivious
of Jonas incessant streams of talk.
Could it be possible? No; that was utter
nonsensel And yeti
He strained his eyes as he approached
the house. Surely golden haired Hal
cyon would be there, smiling, to meet
himl
But no. In her place stood a middle
aged charlner, rouged and powdered,
with hair cleaning meretriciously and
teeth just size too large for a thin
Tipped mouth.
In one hand she held his love-breath-
ing letter, in the other his photograph.
And during that second her heart sank
like lead.
He did not know-ah, how much
more difficult would it have been to
bear had he knownl--that Halcyon
Hartford's eyes were surreptitiously
watching him from the honeysuckle
garlanded easement beyond.
n1I
said, ''you are here at lasti"
He set his teeth, drew one long breath
and allowed her to slip caressing hand
through his arm and lead him into the
house, muttering some hoarse acknowl-
edgment of her coquettish smiles.
"I've brought this upon myself" he
thought, 'sand l must endure it. The
lady is not to blame-no, she is not to
blame
HE is a hero" Halcyon thought;
''yes, hero"
And then she burst into passion of
tears and ran up stairs to her room
'sBut now I've got you fairly here"
| lisped Aunt Hal, more determinedly
youthful than ever. '.Im really afraid,
dearest Charles, that there's great dis
appointment in store for you"
"Eh?"
The young man had sat down in a
rather listless manner. Aunt Hal held
onto his hand, still all teeth and smiles.
'And l may as well tell you at once,"
said she, ''that I'm already engaged to
| Judge Flostroy, of the superior court.
| Of course, if | 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 up eagerly. Perhaps un-
| der the circumstances you will let me
have my photograph back"
Just then there came a ring at the
door below as the maid announced:
"Judge Flostroy, miss, if you please"
Before the slow and ponderous steps
of the approaching visitor could reach
the room Aunt Hal had thrust the photo
| graph into Blossoms hand.
'sA-hem-mr' sonorously coughed the
luminary of the superior court.
Aunt Hal tripped smilingly forward.
"Glad to see you, judge" she cooed.
"This is my old playmate, Colonel Bles-
son, just arrived from India. l dare
say, colonel, you'll find Halcyon some
where about the house."
Disposed of in short order" muttered
| Colonel Blossom. "Great heavensi what
| have done to deserve such luck"
Two hours afterward the young lovers
sat on the veranda watching the evening
stars rise over the hills, while the judges
basso profsndo voice still rolled in the
sitting room like distant thunder.
sBut wasn't it a narrow escape?'
gasped the young colonel, holding the
girls slim hands in his.
| "Would you really have married her?'
Halcyon asked.
GAS a gentleman there was no escape
for me, under the circumstances"
| "But would you really have married
her?'
"Yes, would" with sternly set teeth
and knitted brows.
"Then I'll marry you, Colonel Bles
son." whispered Halcyon, "because yor
are a genuine hero, and because" +" witt
an arch glance, 81 really think you need
wife to take charge of you"
"After the episodes of today" said Col
onel Blesson, ~ really think ! do
New York Evening Sun.
Singers Rise in Life.
Singer, living in a loft over a stable