Smyrna times., 1896-08-05
AN APOLOGY.

Miss Power. 1 began bluntly.
81 have come" said, ''to offer an
apology for-what happened last night. 1"
She opened her eyes and regarded
me with an innocent stare, in which,
however, some haughtiness mingled.
81 do not understand, said she.
''Did you trip on my dress? Well, at
any rate, hate apologies. Will you
have some tea?"
"Thank you," said I, seating my
self 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
eyes, it was an abominable crush, :"
put in Miss Power, hastily. 81 won
der, Mr.. Radcliff, if you would mind
ringing the bell?"
"You remember" explained, as L
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! I hope nothing went over
you?"
''Not at all, )" said, politely.
She examined her dress carefully,
and I waited in patience.
81 think tea stain is worse than a
wine stain; don't you, Mr.. Radcliff?"
she went ON. "And one can't put salt
on it, either"
'No." I 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 isl"
"One lump, please" said 1. "And
then some one pushed me, and 1 sup
pose some one pushed you, and the
next thing I knew was that our cheeks
were"-
"Mr. Radcliff," interrupted Miss
Power, quickly, her cheeks flaming,
"I 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 l 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
touching"
''Mr. Radcliff," said Miss Power,
rising, ''if you do not leave stupid acci-
dents alone''-
''NO, no." said I, quickly. 'That is
what I wanted to-I owe you an
apology. You see, it wasn't that"
Wasn't what?" asked Miss Power
after pause, as if she did not want to
ask it.
"It wasn't an accident" Imurmured
in shamefaced way. I felt she was
looking at me, and felt, to, that her
cheeks were crimson; and then she
laughed an uneasy, discordant sort Of
laugh.
''YOu can make yourself extremely
ridiculous. she said, suavely. "But
please don't invent nonsense like that,
and let us both forget very unpleas-
ant episode.
81 suppose it was unpleasant, said
I, obviously.
Highly" d" she said, with asperity,
and turning away began to arrange
some flowers in a vase.
"But, you see" began in shuffl-
ing manner, 81 can't rest-I mean !
want you to say you forgive me-"
81 don't think" observed Miss
Power, TRANQUILITY, "that there is any
thing to forgive, seeing that it was
entirely accidental"
I will confess that her persistence
hatfied me, 1 almost began to think it
must have been an accident. Still,
persevered. It was my duty.
''But it wasn't an accident" 1 cried,
dolefully.
"Mr. Radclih, you are intolerable, u
said she, quickly. ''You yourself have
just explained that it was the crowd
and,
eyes" I put in eagerly, ''that was
when our cheeks-when we'-
eyes, yes, she exclaimed, i'm
patiently.
"But that was not all, I added.
Miss Power elevated her eyebrows
but did not face me.
"Really," she said, indiferently, bu-
could have sworn that she was fur
ried.
"Yoq don't know what happened
then9" I asked, meekly.
"We came away, 1 suppose" sale
Miss Power, with assumption of care
lessness still upon her.
eyes" F" I said, meaningly, ''afte
something else.
Upon my word, you are yer,
tedious" said she. ST neither under
stand you"
am sure she was agitated.
'Were you not aware, II asked, ''tha
THAT I"-Miss Power made no re
mark, but was much occupied with he
tiowers-"that I-well-I thought vol
must have known" Still got N,
help, and her back was toward me now
81 took advantage of the juxtaposi
tion tot heaved a sigh and got i
oyer-ftkiss youl"
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:
'fYpu seem determined to use the ca
and bells, to-day.u
Indeed" said, earnestly, 'fhi
tone and"-"How dare you?" sal,
Miss Power, fiercely.
Now, to say the truth,I did no
think she would have made this fusl
about it, because imagined that sh
had known, and, we'll, she had beer
polite enough when 1 came in. Bu
she was obviously very angry, indeed
and this confounded me. 1 stammere,
more apologies.
'I-you-the temptationp" I mur
nurad