Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-31

But you don't say It," she said present.
ly, as If waiting for me to finish the sem
tence, and she laughed such a coy little
saug9 t4at my pulse went up to hundred
"oh, Eta" l said as strongly as our
contiguity to the crowd on the other part
OF the piazza would permit, Il love you;"
and there in the sweet June night, with the
stiffness of the mountain on the one hand.
ana the throng Of people on the other, as
we stood In the shadow Of that friendly
corner OF the piazza, told her over again
the old, old story, and she listened with
the rapture OF one who hears heavenly
harmonies.
1t was all right, and was happy, with
cut one thought of the morrow.
On the morrow Miss Shelton was called
away by the sudden illness Of her father
In town, and for a week 1 did not see her,
though l heard from her every day. Then
she returned, her fathers illness not being
dangerous, and I met her at the train,
more exuberant in spirit than ever; but
she was not. On the contrary, her recep-
tion OF me was cold enough to have made
.ne reputation OF the springs. II that tenn
perature could have been distributed and
maintained all summer
W-w-what's the matter?' I stammered,
as felt the dreadful chill. clothed. as 1
was in tho lightest summer toggery
Il should like to see you at the hotel in
an hour, Mr. Leffert," she said, haughtily
and left me standing on the platform like
a post driven into the ground
l don't know how 1 ever got back to the
motel; but L did some way, and at the an
pointed hour I was in the reception room
awaiting her coming. I may say I was
there as soon as I could get there from
the railroad station, where had met that
nipping frost. A queer thing, that frost,
Tor summer girl to be carrying around
with her, wasn't it?
now" l said; putting on my most for
MAJ manner. when she appeared, "if you
VII be kind enough to explain your re-
Hlarkabie conduct you will greatly oblige
me, Miss Shelton
And If you will explain your remarkable
conduct Mr. Leffert.' she said. just as for
lnaily. you will greatly oh,ige me"
What conduct?" I asked. sngrily. my
conduct doesn't need explanation, unless
loving you NEEDS explanation
Don't talk of loving me" she exclaimed
angrily. THAT is the shame of it ALL" and
she broke into sob which quite unnerved
me.
What do you mean?" I inquired, in the
greatest establishment of my life
'This." she said, recovering her firmness
of manner and steadiness of voice ION
overheard some PEOPLE talking-people whom
1 did not know-ard they said you were
here, and later one of them spoke of your
wife. Oh. Edward" and once more she
sobbed.
WELL said, land what did they say?"
"Oh. OH" she sobbed, why didn't you tell
me you had a wife?"
Then it began to dawn upon me, and de-
spite the seriousness Of the situation I be-
gan to laugh, and on that she left her sob
bling and blazed out in a fit of righteous
wrath that was really beautiful to look at
considering that she was a summer girl
supposed to be without depth of feeling.
II didn't tell you,'' said to her, quietly
because I didn't have one My wife died
sixteen years ago; that was when you were
a little girl six years old. Now, is that an
explanation Of my remarkable conduct
Miss Shelton?'
A rainbow of a smile arched itself through
her tears as the sunshine came again.
and 1 always dotted On widowers," she
said, with her lovely head on my shoulder.
w. ]. HAMPTON.