The Portland daily press., 1892-12-24


ON the contrary, and began lingering a
''chair back nervously.
sit is fine day." she said, and then
stopped.
"Hang itr' he thought. ST meant to
tell Geraldine the news first, but there's
no harm in beginning with her."
So he began, pulling out his official
letter to show her.
II have come, Miss Oakley, to tell
you some news and ask you to congrat-
ulate me-"
'sWhat" she exclaimed, "are you
engaged to be mar
sob, nor he answered, mot exactly
THAT is, not yet-in fact mean not
exactly"
And he got very red, and SO, curiously
enough, did she. She looked very pretty
blushing, and with her lower lip CULVER
ing a little. Geraldine was not SO pretty
as Maud, he admitted to himself as he
looked at her; but so much the better.
Geraldine would be all the less likely to
hirt, if, that is, there was any one at
Government House to firt with.
mo" he said; ''it's the appointment I
told you (or was it your sisterD my uncle
was trying to get for me-the very thing
I,have been wanting
And he proceeded to paint the charms
of the new career opening before him in
glowing colors. He said nothing about
the quinine. When he came to an end
of all the details she was sitting, with
,,, oxy,,yacs;o, og doo,, ir+arac+ 1ooI,;roe
at him, and he felt that had she only
been Geraldine the very moment would
have arriyed-that precise opportunity,
not always easy to obtain, particularly
in a small villa. ''And So" he said,
feeling he must bring his tale to a con-
clusion and give her an excuse for going
to fetch her sister-'and so, Miss Oak
ley, l leave Bunborough very soon, and
have come to say goodby."
"Good-good-boohoor'
She did not hit the precise note which
had startled Miss Grayson's visitor, but
the effect ON him was even more electri-
tying.
my Godr" he murmured.
"Boo-hoo, boo-hoo-o!' And she
buried her head in the sofa cushions.
For minute he said nothing; his first
inarticulate entreaty to her died on his
lips before her storm of grief, so he bit
his mustache in silence. Then the front
door slammed. Miss Geraldine Oakley
was going out for a walk, totally un-
aware Of his arrival. Could he stop
her? He could hardly open the window
and shout. He moved toward the draw
ing room door, but he had to pass the
sofa, and as he did so the girl on it rose,
as If she, too, half dazed, was seeking
way of escape, and as their hands met
on the door handle she sank sobbing
into his arms.
.'Don't, don'tV' she whispered, hardly
articulating, but he was doing nothing
from which he could desist, for he
could scarcely let her drop on the floor.
1sGood Godr' said Captain Jumpison
again; twill no one Gomez" But the
house was still, and he reflected that
perhaps it was as well that no one
should come in at that precise juncture
at all events, not without warning
and so there was another pause, broken
only by her sobs. He could see her sis
ter through the muslin blinds; she was
looking over the garden gate talking to
some one. Would she change her mind
and bring whoever it was in to tea? If
she did Maud would surely hear them
entering the house and retreat. But
Geraldine stood talking at the gate.
Only the rector wore a high hat at Bun
borough by -the-Sea and DR.. Coverdale.
"Click.' went the garden gate as Ger
aldine passed into the sunny roadway.
"Boohoo" It was a very gentle one
this time from somewhere near his
watch pocket.
s.Click!' went the garden gate as it
swung back on its hinges.
And Captain Jumpison surrendered
at discretion James Budget