The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1893-09-25

said Bronson dryly. "If were You, I'd
bide my time, and some day You may yet
an explanation. Stranger things have
happened, and my wife tells me that the
Barrowses are to spend the coming winter
I'm New York. You'll meet them out
somewhere no doubt"
mo. shall decline to gowhere they are.
No woman shall cut me second time--not
even Mrs Barrows," said Willis firmly.
"Goodl Stand by your colors, said Bron-
son, with an amused smile.
A week or two later Willis received an
invitation from Mr.. and Mrs. Bronson to
dine with them informally. II have some
very clever friends I want you to meet"
wrote Mrs. Bronson. $50 be sure to come"
Willis went. The clever friends were Mr..
and Mrs. Barrows, and to the surprise OF
Willis he was received most effusively by
the quondam Miss HOLSTER.
why, Mr.. Willis" she said. extending
her hand to him, "how delightful to see
you againW
sion. "I-er-I am sure it is very pleas
ant surprise for me. I-er-had no idean-
Nor l, /" returned Mrs. Barrows "And
udNt bttu u llIUlc EN- Utf-
rassed, think, had known you were to
be here. HAL HABITS 30 absurd that
almost hesitate to speak Of it-but feel
must. I've treated you very badly"
"Indeedp said Willis, with O smile,
"How, prayt"
well, it wasn't my fault really" re-
turned Mrs. Barrows, "but do you remem-
Der little over year ago my riding up
tS,r h0r MaI,aa,~
with your"
of reflection. Let me see; ah-yes-l
board, believe, and-ah''-
Here Mrs. Barrows laughed outright.
"You thought we were the only ones on
crowded." she said.
Then don't remember IT," said Willis.
1.-THE only time l ever rode on horse car
with you to my knowledge was"-
II know. This was the OCCASION" inter.
rupted Mrs. Barrows. You sat in corner
at the rear end of the car when / entered,
and l was very much put out with you be-
cause it remained for a stranger, whom |
had often seen and to whom had for rea.
sons unknown even to myself taken a deep
aversion, to offer me his seat, and, what is
more, compelled me to take It,"
81 don't understand" said Willis. ave
were alone on the car"
ITO your eyes we were, although at the
time did not know it. To my eyes when
boarded it the car was occupied by enough
people to fill all the seats. You returned
my bow as l entered, but did not offer me
your seat. The stranger did, and while
tried to decline it was unable to do so.
He was man Of about my own age, and
he had most remarkable pair of eyes.
There was no resisting them. His offer was
command, and as l rode along and
thought of your sitting motionless at the
end of the car, compelling me to stand, and
being indirectly responsible for my accept
ance Of courtesies from a total and dis
agreeable stranger, became so very indig-
nant with you that passed you without
recognition as soon as l could summon up
courage to leave. l could not understand
why you, who had seemed to me to be the
soul of politeness, should upon this occa.
sion have failed to do not what l should
exact from any man, but what had reason
to expect of you" -....-
But, Mrs. Barrows," demonstrated VIII.
lis, why should give up seat to lady
when there were 90 other seats unoccupied
on the same carl"
There Is no reason in the world why
you should" replied Mrs. Barrows. But
it was not until last winter that / discov
cred the trick that had been put upon u.s."
"Ah" said Willis. Tricky"
yes" said Mrs. Barrows. ut was a
trick. The car was empty to your eyes, but
crowded to mine with the astral bodies of
the members Of the Boston Theosophical
society" 1855"
"Wha-a-atf" roared Willis.
st is just as have said," replied Mrs
Barrows, with a silvery laugh. "They are
all great friends of my husbands, and one
night last winter he dined them at our
house, and who do you suppose walked in
firstf"
mime. Blavatsky's ghosts" suggested
Willis, with grin.
mot quite" returned Mrs. Barrows
"But the horrible stranger Of the horse car,
and do you know he recalled the whole
thing to my mind, assuring me that he and
the others had projected their astral bodies
over to New York for a week and had a
magnificent time unperceived by all save
myself, who was unconsciously psychic, and
so able to perceive them in their invisible
forms"
1t was mean trick on me, Mrs. Bar
rows" said Willis ruefully as soon as he
had recovered sufficiently from his surprise
to speak.
"Oh, no." she replied, with repetition
of her charming laugh, which rearoused in
Willis breast all the regrets off lost cause
"They didn't intend it especially for you
anyhow"
well, said Willis, ~ think they did
They were friends of your husbands, and
they wanted to ruin me-"
Ruin your And why should the friends
of Mr., Barrows have wished to do thatf"
asked Mrs. Barrows in astonishment.
Because" began Willis slowly and
softly-"because they probably knew that
from the moment met you l. But that
is n story with disagreeable climax, Mrs
Barrows, SO | shall not tell it. How do you
like ton2"--IIarper's Week.