The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1896-01-17
CHAPTER VII.

witnessed with some ltGlo surprise anu
restraint this unrehearsed effect in a liv
ing drama. His own greeting of Aggie
was perhaps trifle less warm than
might have been expected after five
years. separation. But then, you see, it
might be pleaded in extenuation that
Aggie was wet, most painfully wet,
and that Angus Stuart was quite obvi-
ously in possession. 1t was an awkward
moment. However, after short pause,
Phil took Aggie over, so to speak, and
proceeded to accompany her up to the
house of their mutual friend, whence
she expected to be married. Angus
Stuart came round there, too, after a
very brief interval for changing. his
clothes. Naturally enough, he was anx=
ious to learn how the lady he had res
cued had survived her wetting.
The young soldier had word or two
alone with the little bride in the room
behind, while Phil talked to their host
ess in the big front drawing room. By
this time Aggie had got the fluffy hair
tolerably dry and had endued herself
afresh in her pretty little morning dress
Will lu0 l1IuC WuloUSOtst. hJAlO 1OohSa
really charming. Angus Stuart thought
he had never seen her quite SO sweet be.
fore. She looked up at him appealingly.
"Well, shall speak to him?" Angus
asked.
And Aggie, drawing back, made an
swer very low: ooh, no, not for worlds !!
You mustn't! How could you?''
D,4 bo co1dior xuas fort atp1u of
bolder mold. With resolute face he
went up to Philip.
"Might l have few words with you
alone, Mr.. Gilman?" he asked quietly.
Phil, half expecting what was COM
ing, bowed his head in acquiescence,
and the two men went out together on
the broad ve1anda.
Angus Stuart cleared his throat. 1t
was an awkward subject to tackle, but
there was no avoiding it.
It's some years since you saw Miss
Oswald, / believer" he began tentative
ly.
Phil met him half way. eyes, some
years." he answered, "and I imagine
Miss Oswald has had almost time to
change her mind meanwhile" He said
it little anxiously.
"Well, no. Perhaps not quite that,
Angus answered, with faint smile of
pleasure, "but, you see, I've had it in my
power to render her today a slight serV-
ice, and-but I've no right to speak Oh
her behalf, and I'm sure she desires to
act honorably i'll the matter" I"
Precisely my DESIRE" Phil murmur-
ed meaningly.
Angus Stuart caught by instinct at
the faint undercurrent of intonation in
his significant words.
"To act honorably?" he repeated, with
tone of abstract inquiry. 'You put
it on those grounds, then?"
''I do perhaps, Phil answered, catch
ing sympathetic glance in his neigh
boris eye.
Angus ventured to be still bo1dep.
"Then you wouldn't feel it slight"
he said quickly, IAN irreparable slight,
if, as a consequence of recent events.
Miss Oswald"--
"On the contrary" Phil answered
frankly, helping him out in turn, "re-
cent events on my side too'- And he
broke off shortly.
They looked at each other and smiled.
They had 10 need to say much more
But Angus drew back o little.
''I think I understand" he said,
"Another LADY,
"Quite so," Phil answered. "And in
Miss Oswald's case, suppose, another
gentleman
SIN point of fact-myself, Angus
replied, growing hot.
"Then, as a matter of honor, neither
side is bound," Phil put in, somewhat
timidly.
ST think not" the soldier replied
"And as to the business arrangements,
I fancy you and 1 can settle those be.
tween us.
When Aggie came to hear of it all
afterward, only one serious difficulty in
the way occurred to her. She hesitated
to mention it. But Angus Stuart gave
her an easy lead.
"Well, your trousseau'll do, Aggie, "
he said, laughing, little later that very
evening. lit was Aggie and Angus by
that time between them.)
"Ye-es," Aggie answered, with a
blush, holding her head very low, "but
the worst of it is, my things, don t
you know, are all marked A. Gilman.
Bombay had never two gayer we'd
| dings. And nobody on earth was ever