Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1893-01-06

\ most covering he cOulu IeeI tue Coin-
munication which had that afternoon
altered the course of his career forev-
| er.
"On Her Majesty's service It had
arrived; and ION Her Majesty's ser
vice" it informed hun he was expected
TO proceed forthwith 10 somewhat
distant portion of her dominions
where, in return for salary exceed
ing his widest dreams, he was to
perform duties as TO which he still
felt vague. But they probably in
cluded the dispensation of substantial
justice with lavish hand to sundry
swarthy fellow-subjects and the in
struction Of the male portion OF them
in the use of obsolete weapons ant
the evolutions Of an improved drill.
The clmate-wcll, every rose had
its thorn, and Government house and
his society would reconcile Geraldine
Oakley to a bursting Thermometer and
diet of quinine. She could have her
sister to stay with her if size felt lone
ly; he was quite fond of Maud, though,
Of course, she did not care for him;
did she not always retire when he
came to tea and leave him alone with
her elder sister, and always refuse TO
give him more than four dances in
one evening? But Geraldine was diff
ferent. DR.. Coverdale would do very
we'll for Maud when Geraldine was
gone There she was-Maud, not
Notwithstanding on the top step
waiting for him as he almost ran up
the garden walk.
How do you do?' she said shyly,
as she ushered him into the drawing
room. Il will 20 and tell Geraldine
you are here"
He was delighted; could anything
have been more thoughtful? ? But
oddly enough, she did not go. She
sat down, on the contrary, and began
lingering chair back nervously.
1T is fine day" she said, and then
stopped.
Hang it, he thought; Il meant
to tell Geraldine the news first, but
there's no harm in beginning with
her
So he began, pulling out his official
letter to show her.
Il have come, Miss Oakley, to tell
YOU some news and ask you to con
gratulate me.
What ~ she exclaimed, are you
engaged to be mar
"Oh, no. he answered, mot ex-
actly-that is, not yet-in fact, | mean
not exactly
And he got very red, and so, curl
ously enough, did she. She looked
very pretty blushing, and with her
lower lip quiverjng little. Geraldine
was not so pretty as Maud, he admit
ted to himself as he looked at her.
NO" he said, Its the appoint
ment l told you COR was it your sis
ter p my uncle was trying to get for
me-the very thing have been want
ing"
And he proceeded to paint the
charms of the new career opening be-
fore him in glowing colors. He said
nothing about the quinine. When he
came to an end Of all the details she
was sitting, with an expression of
deep interest, looking at him, and he
felt that had she only been Geraldine
that very moment would have arrived
that precise opportunity not always
easy to obtain, particularly in a small
villa. And so, he said, feeling he
must bring his tale to u conclusion
and give her an excuse for going to
fetch her sister-''and so, Miss Oak
ley, leave Bunborough very soon,
and have come to say good-by.'
"Good-good boo-hoo.
She did not hit the precise note
which had startled Miss Grayson's
visitor; but the effect on him was
even more electrifying.
My goodness - he murmured.
"Boo-hoo, boo-hoo-o.n And she
buried her head in the sofa cushions.
For Il minute he said nothing; his
first inarticuate entreaty TO her died
on his lips before her storm OF grief,
so he bit his mustache in silence. Then
the front door slammed; Miss Geral-
dine Oakley was going out for walk,
totally unaware of his arrival. Could
he stop her? He could hardly open
the window and shout. He moved
towards the drawing room door, but
he mad to pass the sofa, and as he did
so the girl on it rose, as If she, too,
half dazed, was seeking a way Of es-
cape: and as their hands met on the
door handle she sank sobbing into his
arms.
Don't. don't - she whispered,
hardly articuIatsly, but he was doing
nothing from which be could desist,
for he could scarcely let her drop on
| the floor
MY goodness, said Capt. Jumpi-
son again; will no one come = But
the house was still, and he reflected
that perhaps it was as we'll that no
one should come ia at that juncture-
at all events, not without warning;
and so there was another pause bro
ken only by her sobs.. He could see
her sister through the muslin blinds.
She was looking over the garden gate
talking TO some one. Would she
change her mind aud bring whoever
il was in 10 tea II she did, Maud
would surely hear them entering the
house aud retreat. Bat Geraldine