Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1895-11-14
AN APOLOGY.

found myself in the room, but after my
behavior on the previous evening it wa
absolutely necessary that l should se'
Miss Power. began bluntly. II have
come, :" said, s'to offer an apology fol
for what happened last night.
She opened her eyes and regarded mt
with an innocent stare, in which, how
ever, some haughtiness mingled. II de-
not understand, said she. Ibid yoJ
trip on my dress? Well, at any rate,
hate apologies Will you have some tea?
"Thank you, said I, seating myself
and putting my hat ON the floor "Yor
see, when we came out of the hall anC
there was that rush, had no idea''-
Eyes, it was an abominable crush, >
put III Miss Power hastily. wonder
Mr.. Radcliff, if you would mind ring
ing the bell?"
"You remember, explained, as
returned from the bell, chow just al
we reached the door
"Oh, dear mel" cried Miss Power
suddenly. tThis teapot is such a silly
thing hope nothing went over you.
mot at all, ? said politely.
She examined her dress carefully, ant
/ waited in patience II think te;
stain is worse than a wine stain, don :
you, Mr.. Radchtf?" she went on. "Ant
one can't put salt ON it either
''No. assented cautiously. "Bu
when we were being pressed so hare
against the door and trying to get out
you were on my right, and the rush sen
me-
"You do take sugar. don't your" in
terposed Miss Power abruptly. "Hov
hot the weather is"
zone lump, please" said l. "Ant
then some one pushed me, and I suppose
some one pushed you, and the next thinl
I knew was that our cheeks were
"Mr. Radcliff," interrupted Mis-
Power quickly, her cheeks flaming, n
think we had better forget silly thing
and 20 on with our tea. " She SPOKE
with some dignity and even with an ali
of rebuke
"That's what l want to do" 1 ex
planned eagerly. "But I have had it OF
my conscience to explain to you. YoI
see, I couldn't help our cheeks touch
ing" 'Mr. Radcliff, said Miss Power
rising, g if you will not leave stupid ac
cidents alone ''No, no." said
quickly THAT is what / wanted to-
I owe you an apology. You see, i
wasn't that 'Wasn' t what?" asked
Miss Power after a pause, and as if sh,
did not want. to ask it. sit WASH al
accident, = / murmured in shamefacet
way. ! felt she was looking at me, ant
/ felt, too, that her cheeks were Grim
son, and then she laughed an uneasy
discordant sort Of laugh. you car
make yourself extremely ridiculous, >
she said suavely. but please don t in
vent nonsense like that, and let as botf
forget very unpleasant episode. II Il
suppose it was unpleasant, said du
biously. "Highly," she said, with as
perity, and turning away began to ar
range some flowers in a vase.
''But you see, began in a shufling
manner, 81 can't rest-I mean wan
you to say you forgive me. II dom
think, observed Miss Power tranquil
ly. ''that there is anything to forgive
seeing that it was entirely accidental >
/ will confess that her persistence baf
fled me. Ialmost began to think it mus
have been an accident. Still, / perse
vered. It was my duty. "But it WASH
an accident, II l cried dolefully. Mr..
Radcliff, you are intolerable, said she
quickly. "You yourself have just ex
planned that it was the crowd, and -
"Yes," l put in eagerly, "that was
when our cheeks-when we''- Eyes
yes, she exclaimed impatiently. "But
that was not all, I" / added. Miss Power
elevated her eyebrows, but did not face
me. Really" she said indifferently
but could have sworn that she wa;
furried. You don't know what hap
pened, them" I asked meekly "Wt
came away, suppose, said Miss Pow
er, with the assumption Of carelessnes'
still upon her. Eyes, / said meaning
ly, "after something else. upon my
word, you are very tedious" said she,
II neither understand you nor wish tt
understand you" / am sure she was
agitated. "Were you not aware, l ask
ed, "that THAT T. Miss Power
made no remark, but was much occu
pied with her flowers" that well
I thought You must have known" Still
/ got no help, and her back was toward
me now II took advantage Of the jux-
- -,rrh
got it over--"lziss you r.
Miss Power turned round abruptly,
and her eyes were full Of honest anger.
She surveyed me with great dignity,
and then, in very cold tones, said, ''You
seem determined to use the cap and
bells today" Indeed, l said earnest
", "this tone and "How dared
you?" said Miss Power fiercely. Now,
to say the truth, did not think she
would have made this fuss about it, be-
cause imagined that she had known,
and-well, she had been polite enough
when came in. But she was obviously
very angry indeed, and this confounded
me. stammered more apologies. /
you-the temptationp - l murmured.
Temptation n she echoed, with scorn.
"a man is a poor creature who cannot,
who has no self restraint and must in
suit every girl he runs across, and
"Oh, but it isn't every girl, I cried
hastily. 1T was only you. l wouldn I
have taken advantage Of any one else.
and - ''That is pretty compliment
to me-, she interrupted, with angry
hauteur, that / should be the one
chosen for your insultr l moved my
hands helplessly in protest oh, but
you don't understand I" declared.
81 understand you quite well enough,
she said, looking at me with contempt.
'"The temptationl" l murmured again
in confusion. She curled her nostrils.
II would not have done it in any Other
case, because there would not have beer
the same overpowering temptation,
said bravely. II dare say not, she ex
claimed, with sneer. "You see,
went on breathlessly, mo one could
look at you without wanting to- -
think we have discussed this enough, :
said Miss Power curtly. 1t was you
eyes that first gave me tEs irresistible
impulse, continued humbly.
Miss Power snorted, very daintily, o.
course. II have never seen eyes thai