The Opelousas courier., 1896-04-18

cry for-for what happened last night"
She opened her eyes and regarded me
with an innocent stare in which, how
ever, some haughtiness mingled. II
do not understand" said she. did you
trip on my dress? Well, at any rate, I
hate apologies. Will you have some
tea?" THANK YOU" said l, seating my
self and putting my Eat on the floor.
You see, when we came out of the
hall, and there was that rush, l had no
idea" Eyes, it was ar abominable
crush" pug in Miss Power, hastily. 81
wonder, NJ. Radcliffe, if you would mind
ringing the bell?" you remember"
I explained, as III returned from the
bell, 'how, just as we reached the
door, ooh, dear me-" cried Miss
Power, suddenly, this teapot is such a
silly thing! l hope nothing went over
YOU" "Not at ALL" l said, politely.
She examined her dress carefully, and
/ waited in patience. Il think a tea
stain Is worse than a wine-stain, don't
you, Mr.. Radcliffe" she went on; "and
one can't put salt on it. either" NO"
j 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
your" %interposed Miss Power, abrupt
ly. "How hot the weather isl" Zone
lump, please" said I. And then some
one pushed me, and I suppose someone
pushed you, and the next thing l knew
was that our cheeks were" Mr..
Hadclif," interrupted Miss Power,
quickly, her cheeks flaming, Il think
We had better forget silly things and
20 on with our tea" She spoke with
some dignity, and ever with an air of
rebuke.
That's what I want to do" ex-
planned, eagerly. "But I have had it on
Iuy conscience to explain to you. You
Zee, I couldn't help our cheeks touch
ing" "Mr. Radcliffe" said Miss Power,
rising, "if you will not leave stupid ac-
cidents alone" mo, no." said I, Il
owe you an apology. Iou see, it wasn't
that" wasn't what" asked Miss
Power, after a pause, and as if she did
not want to ask it. ut wasn't an acct
dent" I murmured, in a shamefaced
way. I 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. "Bu1 please don'tin
rent 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," I began again, in a
shutting manner, II can't rest-I mean,
I want you to say you forgive me-" Il
gully, that there is anything to for
give, seeing that it was entirely acct
dental" I will confess that her persist
ence baf1ed me; I almost began to think
it must have been an accident. Still,
p~ersevered; it was my duty. But it
wasn't an accident" I cried. d%olefully.
'Mr. Radcliff, you are intolerable," 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, impatiently. "But that
was not ALL" ] added. Miss Power ele-
waited her eyebrows, but did not face me.
"Really," she said, indifferently, but l
could have sworn that she was Hurried.
"Youdon'tknow what happened, them"
Iasked, meekly. eve came away, I sup
pose," said Miss Power, with the as
sumption of carelessness still upon her.
eyes," I said, m%eaningly, latter some