Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1896-04-07

~ sec Power. ! be-
~ gan, bluntly: 81
have cornc," said,
~ ITO offer an apol-
ogy 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, 1
late apologies. VIII you have some
tea?" THANK you" said /, seating my
self and putting my hat OH 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 l returned from the
bell, "how, just as we reached the
door" och, dear me-" cried Miss
Power, suddenly, "this teapot is such O.
silly thing! 1 hope nothing went over
YOU" Not at ALL" | said, politely.
She examined her dress carefully, and
1 waited in patience. II think tea
stain is worse than wine-stain, don't
you, Mr.. Radcliffe" she went on; land
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 nry 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
Eadcliff," interrupted Miss Power,
quickly, her cheeks flaming, II 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 want to do" ex-
planned, eagerly. "But have had ii on
10y conscience to explain to you. You
see, 1 couldn't help our cheeks touch
Ing" "Mr. Radcliff," said Miss Power,
rising, "if you will not leave stupid &C.
cidcnts alone" NO, no." said l, 81
owe you an apology. You see, itwasn't
that" Wasn't what:" asked Miss
Power, after pause, and as il she did
not want to ask it. ut wasn't an acct
dent" I murmured, in shamefaced
way. I felt she was looking at me; and
I felt, too, that her checks We're Grim
son, and then she laughed an uneasy,
discordant sort of laugh. "You can
make yourself extremely ridiculous,'
she said, suavely. "But please don't in
vent nonsense like that, and let us both
forget an unpleasant episode" 81 sup
pose it was unpleasant" said I, 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, NJ can't rest-I mean,
/ want you to say yeu forgive me-" 81
don't think" observed Miss Power, tran
GULLY, that there is anything to for
give, seeing that it was entirely acci
dental" will confess that her persist
ence baffled me; 1 almost began to think
it must have been an accident. Still,
persevered; it was my duty. "But it
wasn't an accident" l cried, dolefully
"Nlr. Radcliff, 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 cheelis-whcn We" "Yes, yes,''
she exclaimed, impatiently. "But that