The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-10-22
TURN ABOUT rs FAIR.


way, but it does not much matter now.
I'll have screen put round your corner to-
morrow. Mine is comfortable enough"
ms was said to me one winter evening
by my cousin, John Elder, as we sat on
each side of the fire in his particularly cozy
dining room, where the table, with it's
lamp, flowers and dessert, had been drawn
up to an easy distance from our hands
John was slipping port and was cracking
nuts. tor which in spite of my years have
an abiding affection, and behind my chair
was the door from which might, but did
not, come the draft John was speaking Of
John is an elderly gentleman, n bachelor
very well off, very comfortable and very
popular, but still rather mysterious!y n
bachelor because he has always liked and
been liked by women. l am an elderly
lady, widow, and John and / have been
warm friends all our lives. The reason why
was sitting beside Johns dining room fire
was that | had come to pay him n visit.
and as there were 10 other guests i'm the
house 1t was much more sensible for me To
stay and talk with him while he enioyed
his after dinner ease than to go away by
myself into the drawing room
"There is no draft" said: .none Mt
present. am sure. But there may be when
the wind Is north. and screen would make
all safe"
Yes" he answered musngly, MS he
looked Mt the wine he had just poured out.
"a screen would do. but did think once of
altering the door, making n really good
job OF it, planned that with other altera-
tions"
And the plans were never carried out?"
asked. after had waited n moment to
see If he would say more "Well. SIM
pose know when they were made but
never did quite understand why they came
to nothing"
No" he answered. II don't think any
body knew but ourselves. 1t was my fault
certainly, it was all my fault"
He stopped, but ! thought he was not
dislncllned to go on, and ] was curious.
Indeed there had been an episode in Johns
life about which we had all been curious.
and though it was n good while mast ]
still felt should like to know. So said.
II fancied it had been Miss Woodrofre's
doing?"
II said it was my fault" he answered.
Il did not say it was my doing"
"Ohp' | answered rather blankly. and
there was silence
Then John gave little laugh, half ridi-
Guile OF himself, thought. and half rueful-
ness for the story that was in his mind.
may as we'll tell you all about it." he
said. You are not likely to tell it to any
OF the young ones, and it certainly was nm
odd way OF losing ones promised wife.
You see that she was not to blame"
saw now that | was in for the story.
whatever 1T might be, the catastrophe of
which had left John bachelor. so SET
tied myself in my chair, put my feet more
comfortably on my footstool and laid down
the nutcrackers.
We'll. he said, II dare say you remem-
Der that have always been much fonder
of seeing my friends in my own house than
of going elsewhere for society l don't
suppose I've dined out ten times In the
iast Ten years; anu ten years ago disliked
doing it almost as much ~ I do now
Only wasn't quite such an old fogy. and
! believe had some vague idea of marry
ing. The difficulty was that had never
seen exactly the right woman, and very
naturally wasn't nearly so keen about
finding her as i had been twenty years be-
fore that. 1t Is just ten years now since l
met Miss Woodroffe"
YES" said, Il remember It IS about
ten years since heard of her"
Tile only house where ever cared to
dine in those days was Joldrells', and l
used to go there about once for every four
times they asked me. One evening in Sep
tember went there much against my will
Joddrell had promised me that l should
meet some old friends, but when arrived
there was not ore present but strangers,
and nearlyall the party We're young people.
Fancy asking me to meet room full of
young peoplel 1t wasn't till dinner was
announced that / saw the lady was to
take in; then Joddrell led me into corner
of the drawing room and introduced me to
Miss Woodroffe, n friend of his wife"
John stopped little here, and l fanced
he was trying to find words in which to
describe Miss Woodroife. If that were so
he did not succeed. After minute he
went on again, without attempting to give
me any portraiture of the heroine of his
story.
Upon my word. Mary, can't tell how
it happened. All know is that she was
the most charming woman ever saw in
my life. We talked n great deal during
dinner. and we talked n great deal after
dinner, and the more she talked and the
more ! looked at her the more thought
with disgust of my solitary existence.
Somehow or other before | got up next
morning l had made up my mind that
would try to persuade her to become my
wife All this of course is very common
place. Plenty of men, | suppose-even
some men of fifty dve-must have had the
same sort Of eXpe fence. Now comes the
part of the story which think must be
long to me alone. Do you remember how,
years ago, persuaded you TO let me send
some of your handwriting to n lady who
professed to know all about the people
whose writing she was allowed to exam
ine2 sent yours and some others. DO
you remembers"
Yes" ] answered, II remember very
well, and we thought the characters sent
back were wonderfully true
I'VE did," said John emphatically. land
that was the mischief of it, Some time