The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1895-11-07
and said. without preamble. in the
quiet tone OF an old acquaintance:

would mind fetching her a glass of
iced waterP"
It 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, shall be only too glad
to be of any service; only am not
sure where the refreshment room is.
Perhaps, il you would come. too-He
paused, for he could not supply n
name, and yet she was evidently per-
fectly familiar with his. Susan nc.
coded, with sense of growing salts
faction. She liked his voice; she
liked his utter indifference TO being
seen with such dress ms hers.
"No bounce" she decided, aud
bounce was n quality Susan loathed.
What was older still. he seemed
really interested in her conversation
and Indifferent to stray glances 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 CLAUS. He gave up wrest.
ling with it. and then, with q start of
surprise, he saw long spray of
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 tlower?' re-
marked the diplomatist in tone of
easy comment, rs she noticed his start
of surprise. They had reached the
oyster bar. II was thronged, and
glasses of water take an immense time
to procure. There is sno other order
against which "a waiter openly roJcls !;
il 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, mino was IL 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 twinklcd, for she
saw that this poor young man thought
the florist had made some terrible
mistake. To fetch glasses of water
was one thing. 10 buy ruinousy
dear flowers to be worn by girl who
was downright ugly, not even plain,
was quite another. lie was not quick
enough to grasp the true aspect of
affairs. The glass of water came at
this juncture. Captain Bridgenorth
looked so very ~-estfallen as he took
it that Susan relented. A rather Sc
rious expression came across her face
as they went down the passage.
"Yes, / am Miss Protheroc, but 1
think you stayed at Cherrington with
my little sister"
"oh, is she here tonight? ] thought
she might be"
"No. she is not here; she is in dis
grace"
"In disgrace !" 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, aud he administered the glass OF
water, very kindly making eager prof
Ter Of any further help.
"You must rest, " he said, in quite a
brotherly way, "and then presently
YOU must let me take you in for lit
! tie supper. He forgot that they had
not been introduced. Then he turned
anxiously to Susan: "Have you any
dances left, and if SO, will you give
me all You can?'
"Will 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, "but our time is nearly up,
and shall be home in n year. 1t 1t
very harl 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 nc
one like her, said the lover, with /
conviction that thrilled Susan. A
little picture of Peroline, with tear,
falling on the white roses, suggested
itself. THAT is quite true.
"Some other fellow will get he
while | am gone. | am certain OF it,
l meant to have spoken to her to-ni9h
and told her that she is all the world
to me-"
"You have my very best wishes, an
they are hopeful ones" Susan coul'
not say more. Peroline's dainty Sc
cret must only be revealed by her ow
lips. Her voice was more expressly
than she guessed
Then you think l may hope?"
If it had been her own "Yes," Su
san could not have said it more softl
or more sweetly.
Her listener was evidently yer
deeply touched, but he was silent
Then she showed him the little Dol