The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-05-24
SAVANNAH. GA. SUNDAY, MAY n, 1896

morQus. stupid-perhaps Dur not funny
Miss Anstruther aimed wildly Her bail
Went twice round the table and hit moth
ing
Then she lifted her chin and rested it
on the Tip of her cue.
You know what ] mean" she said
''Wly did you leave me alone all the even
ing win AR McDOnald2'
well" I said. II was talking-let me
see-tu Miss Bates.
on found her amusing
Not amusing Better. Pretty
"Ohi YOU couldn't call her pretty. Nice,
Decidedly pretty-in her way Now
You are plain, aren't you?" l said, seeing
II peg Your pardon" said Miss An
Il mean-rm playing with spot BY
JoNe.' ] eNclaim "a. as ] turned away in
disgust after missing the cannon. There
'Who?' asked Miss Austruther.
'Alr. Mcdonald, walking up and down
IN me garden, smoking cigar in the rain.
Snail whistle him ia 2'
"Oh. no. said Miss Anstruthor
Nv NY, nOt2" 1 asked. facing around to-
ward her. Il thought YOU wanted 70 see
"Oh. there's no hurry-no immediate
hurry, said she. "He doesn't leave tin
this afternoon"
Il Thought il might be something impor-
tant.' / said.
ut is important" said Miss Anstruther.
con. YOU are hOrrid.f she continued
Z
what. / shouldn't tell YOU, should I?'
,But you haven't told me- 1 said, con-
ooh. but you can guess said Miss An
! struther, shaking her bead You must
| have understandings And I've no
right to say anything about it,"
! paused judiciously.
1T seems, said, after an appropriate
interval, quite suitable arrangement.
Mr.. Mcdonald is very wealthy"
Yes" said Miss Anstruther reflective
/ ly, The has money. But then, so have ] q"
That is what makes it so suitable.
But" said Miss Anstruther. Hftins her
| eyebrows patheucaly. hes we'll"
That is true, l said. but we all
have our faults. And poverty's the
Il don't thing So" said Miss Anstru-
/ thcr. quickly.
Mrs. Austruther thinks So" / replied.
/ Yes, of course, you could see mamma
floor with her foot
! ] turned to the window and watched Mr.
Mcdonald walking uD and down i'm the
/ rain. Miss Anstruther sat down upon one
| Of the cushioned benches which ran around
| the billiard room.
IT happened last night she said sud
/ denly, when you we're"
what happened?" 1 asked.
"Oh, you know
Your engagement"
Il am not ugagedH'
Not engaged? Then what are we
| talking abOut?"
you are stupid. Don't you understand?
/ That's what / have to decide-to tell Mr.
I Mcdonald this neutrality-suspicious. he goes
/ away. Oh! l oughtn't to tell you all this
| But. you made me, you know. And 1
/ think you might help me-
81 would, with pleasure If l only
what should "a girl do when her mo-
Their wants her to-you know-and the
! "Rich?" / suggested
! Yes and-like that" Miss Anstruther
| nodded toward the window.
ITS a difficult question, l said, "a
| very difficult question. AS YOU have ask
me 70 auv1se you-we1l-do you love him?"
! You may put that aside said Miss
| Anstruther, with sweep OF her hand
| That simplites matters ] said. Then
! there comes the question of filial duty
/ You see. "a parent judges in these matters
/ with less-I mean with greater freedom
! from-personal feeling
But" objected Miss Anstruther, lit is
| very personal matter, isn't it? Be
/ sides, am sure mamma would never want
me tO-marry any one whom she thought
! / didn't really didn't-or. mean If L."
1 shook my head gravely.
''You must really be frank with me- if
| l am to advise you probably / said
'If / really cared for some one else?'
/ said Miss Anstruther, very softly.
"Ah-there's some one else2"
Miss Anstruther nodded.
who doesn't care for your
ooh, yes he does, said Miss Anstru-
Their quickly, raising her eyes for a mo-
ment to mine, and then dropping them
again
fresh complication, when Miss Anstruther
jumped up.
"oh. but we are not playing she said.
It's my turn, isn't it|'
1T is, l said, witt, a sigh; for l should
have preferred to follow out the subject.
You have an easy losing hazard off the
red into the top pocket
"A hazard?" said Miss Anstruther, rath-
er vaguely.
1T is a hazard, " I explained, when you
so for the pocket"
stopping in mid-stroke ITS like
Yes" ] said, there are many analo-
giles between billiards and the tender pas
sion. But, excuse me, you won't do it
that way; and if you hold your cue like
that youn dig a hole in the cloth"
/ went around the table TO where Miss
Anstruther was standing
Keep quite stil. and I'll show you.' l
said. ! placed her hand in the right posi-
ton at the butt end Of the cue, and, hold
ing il there, showed her how to make a
proper bridge with the left hand and slide
the cue smoothly and horizontally over il.
"Now," l said, still retaining a guiding
hand on the cue, IF you aim so, you'll
get the pocket-unless the balls kiss
Naturally was compelled to stand very
close to Miss Anstruther during this OBJ
ject lessOn-sO close that the curl that
nestled round her left ear tickled my lips
as my breath stirred it.
Miss Ansruther made her stroke 1t was
a ridiculous stroke
"Were you really going for the pocket p"
/ asked
q think" she said, turning and facine
me- the kiss spoilt it."
Miss Anstruther was strangely agitated
over her failure. Thinking better TO change
the subject from billiards. / said:
Tell me; what are you going to say
to Mr.. McDOnald?"
We were, as I have said, of necessity
very close together and Miss Anstruthar
dropped her eyes.
II am going to tell him." she said. that
! don't care for hlm-~not in that way
and"
And that's what you meant when You
said just now that-that-you couldn't
say il to me2"
Miss Anstruthers attention was fixed
upon the toe of her right shoe which she
was tapping with the butt end of her cue
Mine was concentrated on Miss Anstrutn-
ers dropped eyelids. Consequently neither
Of us heard the door open.
Hello! Playing?" said Mr.. Mcdonald,
walking round the marking board
whats the gamer
The game" I said, looking up. "is-let
me see-two and love; isn't ii, Miss An
struther2'
Miss Anstruther looked quickly at 1fr
Mcdonald and then at me
eyes" she said.
an m la for ever said M NTrT,onsTq