The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-01-14

Miss Edith Chester.
Captain Hugh COTney, '. G., her cousin.
Scene: A drawing room in the country.
a servant announces Captain Corney.)
Edith-Hugh. am so glad TO see you.
Hugh-Dear Edith, how very nice you
look. 1t seems impossible that three years
should have passed over you since you and
danced and firted together in dear old
England.
Edith-FlrtedP That Is hardly the word
is it. Hugh?
Hugh-No, you are right. 1t was too
serious for that and l suppose we both
meant it-any how. you look prettier and
nicer than ever 0akIng her hands,, and you
were always the prettiest and incest girl in
the country.
Edith (pleased)-That is coed to hear
Hugh. Women, even the least vain, like
&c be told now and then that they are not
frights.
nugh-Of course they do; you are the
vain sex, l suppose. We men have the
advantage of you there. We simply don't
care a pin what We look like. Take me,
for instance. l know | am not what was
in the old days-I fancy l was rather good
looking three years ago-a man may say
that without conceit when it is all gone by,
when be has been through India and
fever and campaign in the hills and lost
all his coed
Edith with sudden enthusiasm)-Los all
your l0Oksl Why. Hugh, dear, what nom
sense you are talkingl Three years ago you
were little more than very nice-looking
boy-a very delightful one admit-and now
you have come back man-your face is
broDzed, your mustache is longer, your
eyes
Hugh (smiling)-Well, dear, my eyes-2
Edith-Oh, l am talking nonsense. / only
ka,-t eli ha,y
looked on danger and on death and have
not turned away. No boys eyes can tell
one that.
Hugh-To quote you, Edith, shat is good
to hear"
much-but after all, 1t is three years
Hugh-lt is not bit too much to say
not bit-and we were always such friends.
Edith-We were. indeed
Hugh-But, Filth, you know / wrote
from India to say l had something to tell
you.
Edith Laughing shyly)-An announcement
TO make2
Hugh (seriously)-A very important one
for me. You know, dear, after my fever l
vast sent TO Simla to get well. / told you
that, did not2
Edith (smling)-Yes. Hugh, but your let
tiers got very scanty just then. OF course,
you were too i'll and too tired to write. /
guessed that
Hugh put out for the momenA-Well-
no. | was only-busY.
Edith-Basy Pat Simla?
Hugh-Taken up, perhaps, should have
said.
Edith don't quite see.
Hugh-No? You are not so sharp as
usual, Edith. The fact is. the general In
eommand-old Somers. you know-wes
very kind TO me and hospitable. 1t was al
hicd dot NV ba n for
that affair in the hills, for really did moth
ing more than the other fellows. Well,
was good deal with them, you know.
Edith-With them? With whom?
Hugh-Why, with his people-and-and-
am engaged TO Winifred Somers-I know
you will congratulate me. (He takes her
band)
edith says nothing for a moment, but
grows very white.)
Edith Qn low voice and trembling
litile)-I congratulate you, Hugh.
Hugh-But not more cordially than that?
How cold your hand has become, and Won
are quite pale.
Edith-It was-rather sudden. (SmiIiug)
You told me so suddenly. 1t was a little
shock. l suppose.
HUgh-But, dear, you must be glad with
me. Winllred Is the sweetest, dearest girl
in the whole world. / cannot tell you how
/ love her You will be so fond of her,
Edith. You shall be the first of my rela-
lions she shall know-and then, from a
worldly point Of view. it is such splendid
match for me.
Edith-Hugh, dear, forgive mel lam not
very well. do congratulate and wish you
happiness with-with her.
Hugh Cooking at her very earnestly
Edith. my dearest cousin, think / know
what il is that has upset you. have told
you all this too suddenly. You have a Sc
cret of your own. a grief. that in my stupid
seIfshness / have reminded you Of. Telling
you of my great happiness has, fear. re-
minded you of some great unhappiness of
your owns that So Edith? Forgive me if
some one?
Edith-No. no. no. (She suddenly bursts
into tears.)
Rugh-Ohi am so sorry; was sure it