The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1895-11-21
AN APOLOGY.

was quite a little alarmed when !
found myself in the room, but after my
behavior on the previous evening it was
absolutely necessary that I should see
Miss Power. I began bluntly. II have
come, " I said, "to offer an apology for
for what happened last night"
She opened her eyes and regarded me
with an innocent stare, in which, how
ever, some haughtiness mingled. Il do
not understand, 1" said she. Ibid you
trip on my dress? Well, at any rate, /
hate apologies. Will you have some tear"
"Thank you," said I, seating myself
and putting my hat on the floor. "You
see, when we came out of the hall and
there was that rush, I had no idea"-
"Yes, it was an abominable crush"
put in Miss Power hastily. II wonder,
Mr.. Radclif, if you would mind ring
ing the bell?"
"You remember" explained, as I
returned from the bell, chow just as
we reached the door,
"Oh, dear mel" cried Miss Power
suddenly. This teapot is such a silly
thing! l hope nothing went over you"
mot at all" l said politely.
She examined her dress carefully, and
I waited in patience. II think a tea
stain is worse than a wine stain, don't
you, Mr.. Radcliffe" she went on. Aud
one can't put salt on it either"
"No," l assented cautiously. but
when we were being pressed SO hard
against the door and trying to get out,
you were on my right, and the rush sent
me-
You do take sugar. don't you?" in
terposed Miss Power abruptly. How
hot the weather isn'
Zone lump, please" said I. "And
then some one pushed me, and I suppose
some one pushed you, and the next thing
I knew was that our cheeks were''-
"Mr. Radcliffe" interrupted Miss
Power quickly, her cheeks flaming, II
think we had better forget silly things
and go ON with our tea. She spoke
with some dignity and even with an air
Of rebuke.
THAT'S what I want to- do" I ex-
planned eagerly. But I have had it on
my conscience to explain to you. You
see, I couldn't help our cheeks touch
ing" MIR. Radcliffe, y" said Miss Power,
rising. eff you will not leave stupid &C.
cidents alone "No, no." said
quickly. "That is what I wanted to-
! owe you an apology. You see, it
wasn't that" Wasn't what?' asked
Miss Power after a pause, and as if she
did not want to ask it. "It wasn't all
accident" I murmured in a shamefaced
way. / felt she was looking at me, and
I felt, too, that her cheeks were Grim
son, and then she laughed an uneasy,
discordant sort Of laugh. "You can
make yourself extremely ridiculous, "
she said suavely. But please don't in
vent nonsense like that, and let us both
forget a very unpleasant episode" Il
suppose it wa unpleasant, said I du-
biously. "Highly," she said, with as
perity, and turning away began to ar
range some flowers in a vase.
but you see,' I began in a shutting
manner, Il can't rest-I mean 1 want
you to say you forgive me. Il don't
think" observed Miss Power tranquil
~, THAT there is anything to forgive,
seeing that it was entirely accidental. "
l will confess that her persistence BAT
fed me. Ialmost began to think it must
have been IN accident. Still, I perse-
vered. 1t was my duty. "But it wasn't
an accident" cried dolefully. "Mr.
Radcliffe, You are intolerable," said she
quickly. "You yourself have just ex-
planned that it was the crowd, and
Eyes" 1 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 I could have sworn that she was
hurried. You don't know what hap,
pened, them" I asked meekly. "We
came away, / suppose" said Miss Pow.
er, with the assumption Of carelessness
still upon her. YES" I said meaning.
~, latter something else" upon my
word, you are very tedious" said she.
Il neither understand you nor wish tc
understand you" I am sure she was
agitated. Were you not aware" I ask
ed, that THAT r. Miss Power
made no remark, but was much occu
pied with her flowers-''that I-well-
/ thought you must have known" Still
got no help, and her back was TOWARD
me now. Il took advantage of the jux
Imposition to'-I heaved a sigh ant
got it over-'kiss you!'
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, "Yo,
seem determined to use the cap an,
bells today" Indeed" I said earnest
ly, this tone and"- How dare,
you?" said Miss Power fercely. Now
to say the truth, l did not think sh
would have made this fuss about it, be
cause l imagined that she had known
and-well, she had been polite enoug
when Icame in. But she was obviousl
very angry indeed, and this confounde
me. | stammered more apologies. 81
you-the temptationr' I murmuret
Temptation! - she echoed, with scorl
"a man is q poor creature who canno