Smyrna times., 1892-04-27

~N@Ss "a OAAdBOO andLCLlGlll
was inexpressible her modification
pathetic. After scheming years in the
misdirected manner in which the best
friends often distin guish themselves,
to encounter Unexpectedly an intangi-
BILE but none the less insurmountable
obstacle, brought tears to her eyes.
don't see any use sniveling about
it, said the general bruskily, when the
burden of her grief was known to
that son of Mars. Especially after
warned you of the colonel's aversion to
widows.
Thus it happened that the hop of the
season was WEAKNESS and a burden,
instead of a pleasure to Mrs. General
OllapOd.
In the twenty-four ensuing hours
the colonel encountered the pretty
child half score of times, and the
child invariably recOiled from him,
until he marveled at her conduct. Was
she one of those unfortunate bundles
of nerves that would be thrown into
cOnvulsiOns by a mouse?
But thoroughly schOOled as the colo
mel deemed himself, he had something
to learn yet. By one of those rare
chances one seldom is cognizant of out.
side a novel or play, the colonel over
heard the brief dialogue between Mrs.
General Ollapod and an unknown
companion that gave him a novel SEN
satiOn. Mrs. General Olapod was
pleading earnestly; her tone was i'm
pioring, while her words shaded them
selves into expostulations which were
suddenly cut short by the unknown
companion.
Please don't say any more, Mrs.
Ollapod. | beg of you to let the mat
ter drop. | have the hest reason for
the profound dislike have expressed.
l repeat, | detest that odious man, Col
Onel Maxwell.
The colonePs complexion, Judging
from mixture of saffron and copperV
tints. He thought he would choke.
On the contrary he flung his cigar
away as he turned to retrace his stems
when, horror of horrors his foot caught
IN an overturned chair; ne made IA des-
perate, gallant effort to regain his
equilibrium, but the treacherOus screen
that the strong shoulder relied upon
for an instant's aid gave way, and with
isfactOry surmises in neighboring
groups, the frail structure fell to the
ground, exposing to full view the
proportions Of Colonel Maxwellto Mrs.
General Ollapod and the brilliant bru-
nette
The cOlonel's complexion was alto
gether coppery now. The gas lights
rays for the time being "spoke" for the
trio. The colonel, more by force of
habit than through exercise of the
wonderful tact he was credited with
bowed to the ladies, turned and strobe
away.
Mrs. General O!lapod told her hus-
band lit was all over now" and the
general, unsympathi izingly as husbands
often are, laughed bOisterously on
hearing the story.
Gad he exclaimed, as he made her
repeat it, I'D give months pay to
see the picture you made"
1t often happens that when mortals
retire from contest chance or fate
interpOses in a mysterious manner that
sets things to rights speedily.
The following day, as the colonel
strOlled out leisurely on the crowded
steamboat pier that juts out into the
Chesapeake, a commOtiOn near at hand
attracted his attention. Women Shrek
ed and men shouted. The brilliant
beauty he desired to avoid was pressing
toward the edge frantiCally. The col
Onel thought of the beautiful child as
he glanced at the water below them.
Certainly something cleaned on the
ton Of the hnnn hiIInvr fhaf 1o,Vr,I
the golden tresses of child. Whether
she had fallen or was pushed off acci-
dentally he did not stop to inquire.
His attention for the moment was
given to the beauty to whom he was
so repugnant. His voice was as calm.
bis manner as selfpOssessed as though
he was discharging an every day duty,
as he turned to his friend.
General, will you see to her?
While the general, with equal pres
ence of mind, took charge of the lady
the colonel tossed his hat, cane and
cigar from him, and without pausing
to dotf his light OvercOat, took header
from the pier that was the talk of Old
Point the remainder of the season.
The little speck on the wave disap
peared simultaneously with the faint
streak of gray that the cOlOnels de-
scent resolved itself into as the multi
tude looked on with bated breath. 1t
all happened so quickly that none
seemed TO comprehend the truth.
There was pressure on the landing
heads craning over heads, as the
crowd Ofguests looked down upon the
sea, awaiting the temperance of the
Meantime General Ollapod with the
and decision that marked
his Indian campaigne's, hurried the
widow toward the hotel. As they pas
sed the crowd men and women turned
to look at her in cOmmiseratiOn, until
a head appeared above the wave, when
a shout arose and the people parted
and made way for the widow and her
escort. The widow gave but one
& glance-she looked long enough to see
that, the colonel held something in his
arm-then she passed eagerly to the
shore.
The colonel was a superb swimmer.
The guests on the shore, seeing the
crowd on the pier looking into the
sea, and hearing shouts, took off their
hats and bOnnets and waved them as
they cheered the colonel. Women
cried and men blew their noses and
to look with indi ference upon
the scene as the colonel swan to the
beach and was met by the widow and
the general
But not until the colonel, with the
stately manner which characterized
him when he was at his best, leaned |
forward and gently deposited in Mrs.
Os6urne's arms her dog Fido, did that
charming woman betray the weakness
Of her sex. Not until poor Fido, limp
and bedraggled in u manner bearing q !
marked resemblance to a wornout dish |
cloth or frayed dOormat, looked up |
at her pitiOusly and shivered did she |
shed tears. Then she said brokenly:
Dear colonel, how can l repay you? |
Needless to add that gossips had a
iine days topic in the relations estab-
lished between the widow and the
colonel after he saved the dog. 1t was
when the gossip was at food tide that
Mrs. General OllapOd, sitting beside
her friend, crochet needle in hand, one
afternoon in Lent, said suddenly:
BY the way, Grace, you never told
me why you called the colonel an
Ddious man?
Didn't 1 said the charming, chan.
geable widow.
Let me explain, said the colonel, who
approached them unawares, Grace
somehow conceived that lin fact.
entertained an aversion for her dog.
w Whimeiaal ianIf 40