Fairhaven herald. [volume] (Fairhaven, Wash.) 1890-????, 1892-03-11

! ueh OF her grief was made known to thai
son of Mars Especially after | warned
you Of the colonels aversion to widows"
Thus 1t happened that the hop of the sea
son was WEAKNESS and burden, insteac
of a pleasure to Mrs. General OIlapod.
In the twenty-four ensuing hours the
| colonel encountered the pretty child half 4
| score of times, and the child invariably re
coiled from him. until he marveled at hei
conduct. Was she one of those unfortu
nate bundles of nerves that would be
thrown into commissions by a mouseY
But thoroughly schooled as the colonel
deemed himself, he had something to learn
| yet. BY one of those rare chances one sci
dom is cognizant of outside a novel or play
the colonel overheard brief dialogue be
tween Mrs. General Ollapod and an un.
known companion that gave him a novel
sensation. Mrs. General Ollapod was
pleading earnestly; her tone was imploring,
while her words sh sped themselves into ex,
postulations, which were suddenly cut
short by the unknown companion
Please don't say anything more, Mrs
| Ollapod. | beg Of you to let the matter
| drop. have the best reason for the pro
found dislike have expressed repeat,
detest that odious man, Colonel Maxwell y
The colonePs complexion, Judging from
his sensations, must have been mixture
of saffron and coppery tints. He thought
he would choke. On the contrary, he flung
his cigar away as he turned to retrace his
steps, when, horror Of horrors his foot
caught in an overturned chair; he made a
desperate a 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 a crash
that caused innumerable unsatisfactory
surInises in neighboring groups, the frail
structure fell to the ground, exposing to
full view the proportions Of Colonel Max
well to Mrs. General Ollapod and the bril-
liant brunettel
The colonel's complexion was altogether
coppery now. The gaslight's rays for the
time being spoke" for the trio. The colo
mel, more by force of habit than through
exercise of the wonderful tact he was cred
tied with bowed to the ladies, turned and
strobe away.
Mrs. General Ollapod told her husband
sit was all over now" and the general,
unsympathizing as husbands often are,
laughed boisterously on hearing the story.
"Gadp' he exclaimed as he made her re-
a
picture you made"
1t often happens that when mortals re-
tire from a contest chance or fate inter
poses 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 at
tention Women shrieked and men shouted.
The brilliant beauty he desired TO avoid
was pressing toward the edge frantically.
The colonel thought Of the beautiful child
as he glanced at the water below them.
Certainly something CLEANED on the top
of the huge billow that looked like the
golden tresses Of a child. Whether she had
fallen or was pushed off accidentally he
did not stop to inquire. His attention for
the moment was given to the beauty TO
whom he was 50 repugnant. His voice was
as calm, his manner rs self possessed as
though he was discharging an every day
duty, as he turned to his friend.
General, will you see to herr"
While the general, with equal presence
of mind, took charge of the lady, the colo
mel tossed his hat, cane and cigar from him,
and without pausing to dof his light coat,
took a header from the pier that was the
talk Of Old Point the remainder Of the sea
SON
The little speck on the wave disappeared
simultaneously with the faint streak OF
gray that the cOlonePs descent resolved it.
self into as the multitude 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 Of guests
looked down upon the sea, awaiting the re
appearance of the colonel
Meantime General Ollapod, with the
forethought and decision that marked his
Indian campaigns, hurried the widow to
ward the hotel As they passed the crowd
men and women turned to look at her in
commiseration, until 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 tc
see that the colonel held something in his
arm-then she pressed 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
their shouts, took off their hats and bon.
nets and waved them as they cheered the
colonel Women cried and men blew their
noses and affected to look with indiffer-
ence upon the scene as the colonel swan
TO the beach and was met by the widow
aad the general
But uo5 until the colonel, with the state
ly manner which characterized him when
he was at his best, leaned forward and gen.
tly deposited in Mrs. Osborne's arms her
dog Fido, did that charming woman betray
the weakness Of her sex. Not until poor
Fido, limp and bedraggled in a manner
bearing marked resemblance to a worn
out dishclout or frayed doormat, looked
up at her piteously and shivered did she
shed tears. Then she said brokenly:
Dear colonel how can | repay your"
Needless to add that the gossips had a
nine days topic in the relations established
between the widow and the colonel after
he saved her dog IL was when the gossip
was at flood tide that Mrs General Ola
pod, sitting beside her friend, crochet
needle in hand one afternoon in Lent, said
suddenly:
by the way, Grace, you never told me