Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-07-19

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B.esson
.why. the old an, In eourse' Beg
pardon.@ hatrisdiy added jonas, Il
mean Miss Hal Polly, she tells me
there's T~enty-foar different goxnds or
dered. let alone ths jackets and parasols
and ten button AID gloves TT 70 make
yoaF hair stand On end .
And Miss Halcyon--the young LADS, "
cried the colonel; she is engaged toos'
Net az any one knows on That
all. colonel: Got your telescope bszf
Then we'd better be moyin"
Colonel Blossom pondered seriously al
the way up 10 Hartford Cedsrs. obliyioCs
Of Jonas ineessant streams Of talk.
Could IL be possible: No: that was utter
nonsense. And yet
He strained his eyes as be approached
the house. Surely golden haired Hal
cyon would be there. smiling. 10 meet
himl
But no. In her place stood middle
aged charmer, rouged and powdered,
with hair cleaning meretriciously and
teeth just a size loo large for q thin
Tipped mouth
In one hand she held his love breath
ing letter. III 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 be known.-that Halcyon
Hartford's eyes were surreptitiously
watching him from the honeysuckle
garlanded easement beyond.
Dear Charles" the elderly damsel
said. ''you are here at last!'
He set his teeth, drew one long breath
and allowed her 10 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, land must endure it. The
lady is not to blame-no, she is not to
blame"
"He is . hero" Halcyon- thought;
Eyes, a hero"
And then she burst into passion of
tears and ran up stairs to her room.
but now I've got you fairly here"
hsped Aunt Hal. more determinedly
youthful than ever. I'm really afraid.
dearest Charles. that there's great dis
appointment in store for YOU"
"Eh"
The young man had sat down in q
rather hstless 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 l 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 I'M
der the circumstances You viii let me
have my photograph back"
Just then there came q 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.
"A-hem-m!" 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 heavens! 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 profundo voice still rolled in the
sitting room like distant thunder.
"But wasn't it a narrow escape?"
gasped the young colonel, holding the
girls slim hands in his.
Would you really have married herr"
Halcyon asked.
''As gentleman there was no escape
for me, under the circumstances"
But would you really have married
herr"
"Yes. wouldr with sternly set teeth
and knitted brows.
Then III marry you. Colonel Bles-
son." whispered Halcyon, because you
are a genuine hero. and because" with
an arch glance, Il really think you need
wife to take charge Of YOU"
AFTER the episode of today" said Col
onel Blossom, II really think / do
New York Evening Sun.