New-York tribune., 1892-01-10
MRS. KEATS BRADFORD.
TX
MISS PHILLIPS THINKS OF CANYONS.

Copyright 1872 BY The Tribune Associction.
Mrs. Bradford conscious of some sense of
irritation when sine heard this voice which she
I'D not recognize.
Whom had her sister brought? The porierc
was immediately drawn aside. and Mr.. Soule en-
tered. very pale, very weak and thin-lookins
and leaning on a cane But his face was undo
niably radiant as his hostess met and greeted him
cordially.
lie sat down quickly when Rowena had re-
sumed her own seat
You see | have escaped" he said.
His eyes were large and so black, they had
in them such wistful, child-like expression.
that Rowena hardly liked to meet them. She
did not fully realize that this look was there
because he had been i'll and was still weak. and
that il by no means betOSened ANYTHING child-lilte
in bis character. His pallor, too. in contrast
with his inlsy hair and mustache. was something
startling.
Rowcna's voice unconsciously assumed a GER
tain tender consideration.
Mr. Soule leaned back in his chair and clasped
lis hands on the top of his stick.
"Of conrse l came here first" he said, II
wanted to thank you.
Il have earned no thanks. was the response
"Oh. didn't expect YOU TO be conscious that
vou ought to bc thanked. II is not because Of
what YOU nave OoHt-lt II occdunV
Here he bent forward with an appearance Of
uncomfortable carncstness.
1T ia because YOU are what YOU are, Mrs.
Bradford Do you think who is blessed
with your friepdship-may not say friend
,hipf--do Won think such A man doesn't feel like
thanking God -
"You have been i'll and you exsgeerstc. Mr..
Soule- said Rowens. gently.
Il have been SO near the other world that
dare 70 he sincere he responded.
Mr. Soule was always very impressive He
was more 80 now than Rowena had ever seen
him.
Moved by some incxplicable restesSuess Rowena
half rose from her seat and reached forward 10
the table where stood the vase holding the great
bunch Of odorons lilies She detached one Of
the flowers from its companions and bent her race
over IT, Not only was she restless. hut an in
definite indignation growing within her IL
was as il she were in some kind Of a false posi-
tion. Aad vet ber reason told her that such was
not the case.
Robert Soule was preternaturally keen concern
ING the moods of women. lie had not, with bis
natural gifts TO aid him, devoted good many
years to the study of them without arriving az
great skill. Besides. he was sometimes li'.ie
feminine in the possession OF something ike
intuition.
His appearance changed. lie could not be
otherwise than impressive, however, when WIN
woman.
lie smiled, and said lightly:
"You like my lilies"
Rowena flushed as she answered quickly with
another question:
Are they yours"
They were mine for the space OF hve mlhutes
after / got them at the florists. was so 1oolsn
,s to want Won to guess that sent them
"You zee | was not Yankee enough TO guess
correctly / thought they came from MISS rhii-
lipps."
Rowena held the bloom moment longer then
with hesitating, deprecating movement sne iaid
il on the table She knew there was certain
rudeness in her action, but she was lmpeiicd 10
il by a feeling she could not resist
Having done SO. she looked up and met Mr.
Soule's raze There was smile on his lips out
there was no smile in bis eyes.
THE perfume is very powerful, she said !"
a low voice
She was rlad that Sarah Kimball now re-
turned from her room where She hao oec"
~ remove her Jacket and hat, and to see II her
nair was rght. This was the successful sec"nu
day Of her crimps, and it appeared to her as Il
hey were in perfect condition. She was assnr
,dlv very pretty now as she advanced toward
-,vherc her sister sat and placed herself near her
II WIS evident that the gentleman present. dln
not try 10 conceal his admiration for MIS- brah
ford's Young sister. His face almost sparNeu
as he saw her He going TO rise 10 piace q
chair for her, but he found himself too weak 10
move quickly. He made a gesture OF scllmocE'
cry as he sank back
Rowena was amazed to perceive that from the
time of Sarah Kimbalis entrance she hcrSeli
became but n mere third person Not treO
Mr. Soule not attentive to her. but 1or the
first time in her acquaintance with him she imng
;ned that she detected hint Of something per-
functory in that attention. This was new ex-
percnce She could hardly believe in the re-
Atty. She covcrtIy watched her sister. Sarah
Eimball seemed 10 twitter and prcen herself
like a bird who knows il is admired. She chat
tered like a bird also. ROwens had never heard
her talk so correctly. And th"rc was a Klnd OF
charm in the fresh chatter. Sarah Kimosl was
shallow. but she was not fat" She had share
of shrewdness that prevented fatness Rowe
ma could not help being amused by her com
ments upon what she had seen Of Boston. The
girl was never awcd by anything. She had no
reverence The metallic, Yankee twang of her
voice filled the room
Suddenly Mr. Soule looked at his watch with
the air OF man who had entirely forgotten the
fight Of time.
Il have been here an hour :" he said. "Can you
forgive me. Mrs. Bradford, and allow me TO come
again soon? | can't ask anybody else TO tolerate
Inc while I'm invalid l ask you because
YOU are 80 kind you can't refuse"
Sarah Kimball was inwardy angry that he
should ask her sister instead of her. Wasn't it
plain enough that he had come 10 her? A
Young man out at home would not ask somebody
else if he could again. She almost
sombre when she bade Mr.. Soue good-by. But
she was secretly very much pleased with the way
in which he bent over her hand. She had never