Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1896-02-06
But the conversation WAa a iIttIO

one-sided after that Capt. Valence
chatted easily little nothings Of the
hour, amusing conversation OF we'll
bred man of the world with a witty
tongue and shrewd perception. But
she did not pay much heed to what he
said. She was thinking Of the time they
met. She was Blanche Forester then,
and he called her his angel the light
Of his life, and she had laughed, and
hidden him not to be a sly boy. The
whole episode had been very absurd, OF
course, but somehow his mockery Of 1t
did not please her.
Thursday is my day." she said to
him, when he put her in her carriage,
by and by. "But If you like to take
your chance, you know"
Perhaps she thought about him moro
on her way home than she had ever
thought about him before at one time.
Il was young once" said Capt. Va
lence to the horse chestnut trees, II
was distressingly young--a malady we
all suffer from. But feel better now,
thank God" he added, piously. And
he lighted cigar and went to watch
the polo with a smile Of self-satisfac-
ton.
They met good deal in the course
of the next few weeks. He reminded
her of her promise, and she mentioned
two or three desirable damsels to him;
but her assistance ended there, and he
never saw an attractive girl in her
house. Also he found occasion to al
lude once more to his salad days.
Nothing polishes a cub" he said,
"like an affair with a woman Of the
world. Ny dear Lady Brereton, ac-
cept the assurance of my gratitude"
She would have been better pleased
IL he had intimated that she had ruined
his life, better pleased even If he had
openly avoided her. zone would think
was his grandmother" she said to her
own wrathful reflection in the toilet
glass.
For a week she saw nothing Of him,
then one evening their eyes met across
the opera house, and a faint resent
ment-the sequel to the unexplained
tears-was in her smileless brow. 1t
was perceptible, too, in the manner OF
her greeting, when, during the last en-
tr'acte, he deserted his stall for her
box, and, on Mrs. Crosbie's invitation,
dropped into the vacant chair between
them.
81 have news for you" he MUIR
INJURED in her ear when the stage
claimed Mrs. Crosbie's attention. She
is found"
Indeed, and am I to congratulate
you"
Perhaps it would be a trihe prema-
ture. You see, haven't proposed yet.
I'll tell you all about 1t tomorrow II
you are sufficiently interested"
Tell me now" she said.
She spoke quite naturally and she
was smiling. But he did not look at
her face; his eyes had been on her hand
as it closed with spasmodic force upon
the handle of her fan.
"You will break that toy II you treT
1t like that" he said, quietly.
She dropped it as if it had stung her
and drew back in the shadow of the
draperies with her white teeth pressing
her lower lip.
go on" she said. "Is 1t an affair Of
the heart, or of her forehead"
"She is the only woman 1 should ever
wish to marry" he answered. Il want
her more than have wanted anything
in my life. / hardly know how to de-
scribe her to you. Don't laugh If I
rave; am in love, and when a fellows
like that, you know. Lady
Brereton, you will certainly ruin your
fan! But / am not going to tell you
that she is perfect. She has variety,
she has charm-admirable qualities to
attract man. All, she is adorable, she
Lady Brereton"
She was leaning back against the
partition, her eyes closed, her face col
orless.
"Nothing-don't notice me" she
murmured. "The heat Il
am better already"
He bent forward to screen her from
the other woman's view. His hand
covered hers, and it was shaking, like
his voice.
"You are going to faint! am a
brute, but l want you so badly and
knew 1t was the only way to make you
care. II I had shown"
THE comedy is finished" The
words were spoken on the stage, and the
curtain fell. He put her cloak round
her as they rose.