The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1895-12-17

I
iced water?"
1t was bold stroke, but it sue
ceeded. Had she hit on the wrong
man, she was prepared with an excuse.
1t was not needed, however.
"Of course, 1 shall be only too glad
to be of any service; only 1 am not
sure where the refreshment room IL.
Perhaps, if You would come. too-Ue
paused, for he could not supply a
name. and yet she was evidently per
fectly familiar with his. Susan nc.
coded, with IA sense of growing salts
faction. She liked his voice she
liked his utter Indifference to being
seen with such dress as hers.
"No bounce" she decided, and
bounce was n quality Susan loathed.
What was odder still. he seemed
really interested in her conversation
and Indifferent to stray chances from
carefully madeup eyes. He was shy,
and dared not ask the name of this
chatty little woman, who seemed TO
| know him so well. He was always for
| getting faces since he had taken to
that beastly glass. He gave up wrest.
ling with 1T. and then, with IA start of
surprise, he saw long spray OF a
quaint orchid-a spray like one he
had been assured by leading florist
was unique, and for which he had paid
accordingly.
"How curious we should be wearing
the same very uncommon hower?" re-
marked the diplomatist in n tone of
easy comment, as she noticed his start
OF surprise. They had reached the
oyster bar. 1t was thronged, and
glasses of water take an immense time
to procure. There is suo other order
against which "a waiter openly rebels /;
1t is so alien TO his own tastes.
Very odd, indeed. What | time
that man is; your poor friend will
think we are lost altogether
''Yes, mine was present from
somebody who was prevented from
coming here; she took it out of a
bouquet"
He turned the dull red that is the
masculine equivalent for blush.
"Then you know Miss Proetheroe?"
Every we'll; in fact, [ am she.
Didn't you know me?"
Susan's little eyes twinkled, for she
saw that this poor young man thought
the florist had made some terrible
mistake. To fetch glasses of water
was ono thing. TO buy ruinously
dear flowers to be worn by girl who
was downright ugly, not even plain,
was quite another. He was not quick
enough to grasp the true aspect of
affairs. The glass of water came at
this juncture. Captain Brldgenorth
looked so very -estfallen as he took
1T that Susan relented. A rather Sc
rious expression came across her face
as they went down the passage.
eyes, L am Miss Protheroe, but /
think you stayed at Cherrlngton with
my little sister"
ooh, is she here tonight? thought
she might be"
"No. she is not here; she is in dis
grace"
Gin disgraco" The he lowered his
voice, and said, as if to himself, with a
pretty touch of tenderness: "The
Queen can do no wrong"
Evidently he was very far gone, in.
deed. They were back again by this
time, and he administered the glass of
water, very kindly making eager prof
fer Of any further help.
''You must rest" he said, in quite a
brotherly way, land then presently
YOU must let me take you in for lit
tie supper" He forgot that they had
not been introduced. Then ne turned
anxiously to Susan: "Haye you any
dances left, and if so, Will YOU give
me all you cam"
CIVIL you sit out the rest of this?"
They sat down, and ugly Susan was
the happiest girl in that ballroom.
81 go TO india Tomorrow" said
Anthony Bridgenorth, becoming very
serious, "out our time is nearly up,
and ! shall be home III year. It is
very hard to me to go without saying
good-by to your sister.
''Peroline is very young yet" Su-
san interpolated, with an indefinite
sense of being consolatory.
But she is SO lovely, there Is no
one like her, ~ said the lover, with n
conviction that thrilled Susan. A
little picture of Peroline, with tears
falling on the white roses, suggested
!
''5ome other fellow will get her
while | am gone. I am certain of it
] meant to have spoken TO her tonight
and told her that she is all the world
/ 90 me.
"You have my very best wishes, and
they a-o hopeful ones" Susan could
not se more. Peroline's dainty SO.
cret ~ st only he revealed by her own
| lips. Her voice was more expressive
than she guessed.
Then You think ! may nope?"
II 1t had been her own eyes" Su-
san could not have said it more softly
or more swectly.
Her listener was evidently very
deeply touched, but he was silent.
Then she showed him the little por.
trait OF him she had skeIched, and he
found ready words They were not
so GUent when, with q few rapid
touches from the apt pencil, Pcrolinc's
own face was before him. Meanwhile
/ plenty Of inquiring gances had been
| directed towards this couple, vino had
| occupied that secluded seat so lonQ
| Presently, to Susnn5 great pleasure.
/ he remembered her forlorn proteoc.
"Now let me take you two ladies com.
| iortably In TO supper" He was "a
I rood ma hiq vvprJ an tLo. III -