The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-03-19

nave come. SAID,
~ ito offer an apol-
Cgy for-for what happened last night"
She opened her eyes and regarded me
with an innocent stare in which, how
ever, some haughtiness mingled. 81
do not understand" said she. Did you
"trip on my dress? Well, at any rate, l
hate apologies viii you have some
tea?' THANK you," said l, seating my
self and putting my hat on the floor.
You see, when we came out of the
hall, and there was that rush, / had no
idea" Eyes, it was an abominable
crush," put in Miss Power, hastily. 81
wonder, Mr.. Radcliff, if you would mind
ringing the bell?" you remember"
i explained, as 1 returned from the
bell, "how, just as we reached the
door" "Oh, dear me-" cried Miss
Power, suddenly, this teapot is such a
silly thing! l hope nothing went over
YOU" Not at ALL" | said, politely.
She examined her dress carefully, and
/ waited in patience. Il think tea
stain is worse than a winestain, don't
you, Mr.. Radcliff?" she went on; and
one can't put salt on it either" No."
] 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 suddenly
sent me" you take sugar, don't
you?" interposed Miss Power, abrupt
1y. How hot the weather isl" Zone
lump, please" said I. And then some
one pushed me, and l suppose someone
pushed you, and the next thing l knew
was that our cheeks were" Mr..
Eadclitf," interrupted Miss Power,
quickly, her cheeks flaming, Il 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 ii on
my conscience to explain to you, You
see, L couldn't help our cheeks touch
ing" "Mr. Radcliff," said Miss Power,
rising, ''if you will not leave stupid ac-
cidents alone" mo, no." said |, 81
owe you an apology. You see, it wasn't
that" wasn't WHAT" asked Miss
Power, after a pause, and as if she did
rot want to ask it. 1T wasn't an acct
Dent" | murmured, in a shamefaced
way. / felt she was loolin at me; and
l 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 in
vent nonsense like that, and let us both
forget an unpleasant episode" Il sup
pose it was unpleasant" said 1, du-
biously. Highly" she said, with as
perity, and, turning away, began to ar
range some flowers in a vase.
But you see" l began again, in a
shutting manner, 81 can't rest-I mean,
/ want you to say you forgive me-" II
don't think" observed Miss Power, tran
GULLY, that there is anything to for
give, seeing that it was entirely acct
dental" / will confess that her persist
ence baffled me; | almost began to think
it must have been an accident. Still,
persevered; it was my duty. But it
wasn't an accident" l cried. dolefuIly
''Mr. Radclitf, you are intolerable," said
she, quickly. You yourself have Just
explained that it was the crowd, and"
Yes" put in, eagerly, that was when
our cheeks-when We" Yes, yes"
she exclaimed, impatiently. But that
was not all" ! added. Miss Power ele-
waited her eyebrows, but did not face me.
Really" she said, inditferently, but
could have sworn that she was Hurried.
You don't know what happened, then? ,"
/ asked, meekly. I'VE came away, l sup
pose" said Miss Power, with the as
sumption of carelessness still upon her.
YES" l said, meaningly, after some
thing else" "Uuon my word, you are
very tedious she said. Il neither I'M
derstand, nor wish to understand You"
l am sure she was agitated. Were you
not aware" asked, that THAT II"
Miss Power made no remark, but was
much occupied with her tlowers-"that
I-well-I thought you must have
known" Still l got no help, and her
back was toward me now. 81 took adj
vantage of the juXtaposition to
heaved a sigh and got it over, "to kiss
you'll"
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: "You
seem determined to use the cap and
bells to-day" Indeed" said, earnest
ly, this tone and" "How dare you?"
said Miss Power, fiercely. Now to say
the truth, / did not think she would
have made this fuss about it, because |
imagined that she had known, and
well, she had been polite enough when
/ came in. But she was obviously very
angry indeed, and this COMPOUNDED me,
l stammered more apologies. ''I-you
the temptation" l murmured.
Temptation | murmured. "Tempta-
toni" she echoed, with scorn. "A man
is poor creature who cannot--who has
no self-restraint, and must insult every
girl he runs across, and" "Oh, but
it isn't every girl" l cried, hastily. 1T
was only you. l wouldn't have taken
advantage Of anyone else, and"
THAT is pretty compliment to me-"
she interrupted, with angry hauteur,
shat | should be the one chosen for your
1Osuiti" mo"ed my hands helplessly