The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-19

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the pillow and cried gr4 sparkling tears
like dcwdrops.
80 you're back againA lieutenant? Beg
pardon, ia orter sail 4lorel, | do sup
pose" raid the old cab live at the sta
ton. whom Charlie Ble4on had remem-
bered ever since he was 4 child. well, /
declare | shouldn't hard have knowed
yel And come home TO married, eh?"
Blossom bit his lips IL he laughed
carelessly. Jonas Hoppe4 was a privi-
legged individual, like m court testers
Of old.
How did you know. I'D
o. I dunno. Miss Hart4 d she's been
gcttin' re1dy 10 be mad Ell this long
time" said Jonas. holstinI The coloners
luggage on the back Of thd wagon. And
dressmakers and milliners they will talk.
you know. though I'm told Miss Hal took
great pains to hide It,"
Did she?" aside: 1.-THE daringr)
"And a fine woman she is, colonel"
oficiously AIDED Jonas as he pushed in
the last iron clamped trunk. "A very fine
womaa. consi lering her age I wonder
she amt married lCrg ago"
Colonel Blossom opened his sleepy black
eyes wide.
why, man, who in the world are you
talking about?'
why, Miss Hal Hartford. 10 be sure"
Miss Halcyon or Miss Hallana?"
There amt no Miss Haliana." said
Jonas. They're both the same name,
but we calls the aunt Miss Hal. and the
niece Miss Halcyon. Ny daughter she's
ladys maid there, and ia orter know, IL
any one does"
and which Of them is It that is going
to be married. breathiessly queried Bles-
son.
"Why, the old un, i'm course! Beg par
don" hurriedly added Jonas"I meant Miss
Hal Polly. she tells me there's twenty
four different gowns ordered. let alone
the Jackets and paTasols and ten-button
kid gloves fit to make your hair stand on
end"
And Miss Halcyon-the young lady"
cried the colonel; 'she is engaged. too?'
Not as any one knows on. That all,
colonel? Got your telescope bag? Then
we'd better be movin'."
Colonel Blossom pondered seriously all
the way up to Hartford Cedars. Obvious
of Jonas incessant streams Of talk. Could
| It be possible? No; that was utter nom
sense. And yet"
He strained his eyes as he approached
| the house. Surely golden-haired Halcyon
would be there. smiling to meet him.
| But no. In her place stood a middle
4
| hair cleaning meretriciously and teeth
| just a size too large for a thin-lpped
| mouth.
| In one hand she held his love-breathing
| letter. in the other his photograph. And
| during that second his heart sank like
| lead.
| He did not know-ah. how much more
| difficult II would have been 10 bear had
| he knowni-that Halcyon HartfOrd's eyes
I IL fahf I'm frnr,
| the honeysuckle garlanded easement be-
| yond.
| Dear Charles" the elderly damsel said,
| "you are here at last.'
| He set his teeth. drew one long breath,
| and allowed her TO slip caressng hand
| through his arm and led him into the
| house, mutterng some hoarse acknowl-
| edgment OF her coquettish smiles
| s'Tve brought this upon myself" he
| thought "and ! must endure it. The lady
| is not to blame-no. she is not TO blame.
| 'He is a hero" Halcyon thought; yes
| hero"
| And then she burst into a passion of
| tears. and ran upstairs 10 her room.
| "But now I've got you fairly here.
| llsped Aunt HAL more determinediy
| Youthful than ever I'm really afraid,
dearest Charles, that there's a great as
appointment in store for you.
| "Eh2'
The Young man had sat down In
| rather ustiess manner. Aunt Hal held
| onto his hand. still all teeth and smiles.
And | may as we'll tell you at once
| she said that l am already engaged 10
| Judge Flostroy. Of the supreme court
| or course, If had known OF your at
tachment in time, there's no saying
'Oh. pray. don't let me interfere with
any existing arrangements" said Blossom,
iunring up eagerly. Perhaps, under the
| circumstances. you will let me have my
| photograph back.
Inst then there came a ring at the
door below. as the maid announced:
Judge Flostroy. Miss. If you please.
Before the slow and ponderous steps OF
! the approaching visitor could reach the
room Aunt Hal had thrust the photograph
into Blossoms hand. a..
| "A-hem-n," generously coughed the
lu,ninarv OF the superior court.
Aunt Hal tripped smilingly forward.
| "Glad Ia sce YOU, Judge" she cooed
"This &c nv cid playmate, Colonel Bies-
son. lust arrived from India. dare say
colonel. you'll find Halcyon somewhere
! about the house
'Disposed OF in short order" muttered
| Colonel Blossom Great heavens. what
| have | done 70 deserve such luck
Two hours afterward the young lovers
]
otars rise over the hills. while the judges
J basso profunao voice still rolled In the
sitting-room like distant thunder.
But wasn't It n marrow escapeY gasp
ed the young colonel. holding the girls
slim hands In his
Would you really have married her!
| Halcyon askt d.
| "As n gentleman there was no ESCAPE
/ for ne. under the circumstances
But would you really have married
herr"
Eyes, wouldr with sternly set teeth
| and knitted brows.
Then III roarry you, Colonel Blossom,
whispered Halcyoa, because you are a
genuine hero end because." with IN arch
glance. IL really think you need wife
10 take charge of you"
after the episode OF to-day" said
Colonel Blossom, II really think I do"