The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1896-04-18


have come" said,
''to offer an apol-
rgy for--for what happened last night
She opened her eyes and regarded me
with an innocent stare. in which, how
ever, some haughtiness mingled. Il
do not understand" said she. did you
"trip ON my dress? Well, at any rate,
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" "Yes, it was an abominable
crush" put in Miss Power, hastily. II
wonder, Mr.. Radcliff. if you would mind
ringing the bell?" "You remember"
/ explained, as / returned from the
bell, show, just as we reached the
door" "Oh, dear me-" cried Miss
Power, suddenly, this teapot is such a
silly thing! hope nothing went over
you.' Not at ALL" l said, politely.
She examined her dress carefully, and
l waited in patience. Il think 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."
] 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
ly. "How hot the weather isl" "One
lump, please" said I. And then some
one pushed me, and ] suppose someone
pushed you, and the next thing knew
was that our cheeks were" Mr..
Iadcliff," 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 even with an air of
rebuke.
That's what i want to do" ex-
planned, eagerly. "But 1 have had il on
my conscience to explain to you. You
see, / couldn't help our cheeks touch
ing" sMr. Radcliffe" said Miss Power,
rising, 'if you will not leave stupid ac-
cdents alone" ''No, no." said /, Il
owe you an apology. You see, it wasn't
that" WASN'T WHAT" asked Miss
Power, after pause, and as If she did
rot want to ask it. ut wasn't an acct
dent" l murmured. in a shamefaced
way. felt she was look ing at me; and
/ felt, too, that her cheeks were GRIM
son, and then she laughed an uneasy,
discordant sort of laugh. "You can
make yourself extremely ridiculous"
che said, suavely. "Bur please don't in
vent nonsense like that, and let us both
forget an unpleasant episode" II sup
pose IL was unpleasant" said 1, du-
biously. Highly" she said, with as.
perity, and, turning away, began to ar
range some flowers in vase.
But you see," began again, in a
shutting manner, 81 can't rest mean,
want you to say you forgive me-" 81
don't think" observed Miss Power, tran.
gully, ''that there is anything to for
give, seeing that 1t was entirely acct
dental" will confess that her persist
cnce baffied me; almost began to think
il must have been an accident. Still,
pcrsevered; it was my duty. but II
wasn't an accident cried, dolefuily
"Nr. Radcliff, you are intoierable," 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" i added. Miss Power Gle
waited her eyebrows, but did not face me
Really" she said. indifferently, but
could have sworn that she WINS fiurried
"Youdon'tknow what happened, then p
asked, meekly. 1--WE came away, sup
pose," said Miss Power, with the as
sumption of carelessness still upon her
YES" said, meaningly, latter, some
thing else." 'Unon my word, You are
very tedious" she said. Il neither un
derstand, nor wish to understand you.
] am sure she was agitated. "Were you
not aware" asked, that THAT I-?'
Miss Power made no remark, but was
much occupied with her fiowers-"that
l--well--I thought you must have
known" Still got no help. and nel
back was toward me now. II took ad
vantage of the juxtaposition to-
heaved sigh and got it over, ito kiss
you'll"
Miss overturned round abruptly, ant
her eyes were, full of honest anger. She
surveyed me with great dignity, ant
then, in very cold tones, said: "Yo,
seem determined to use the cap ant
bells to-day" Indeed" l said, earnest
ly, "this tone and" How dare yol? p
said Miss Power, fiercely. Now to say
the truth, / did not think she woule
have made his fuss about it, because
imagined that she had known, and
well, she had been polite enough wher
/ came in. But she was obviously YER,
angry indeed, and this COMPOUNDED me
stammered more apologies. "I-yot
the temptation" murmured
Temptation murrnured. "Temptu
toni" she echoed, with scorn. "a MAI
is peer creature who cannot--who ha.