The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1896-02-04

III, upon my WOru, commented MS
friend, with suspicion of sniff.
Might | ask what put that idea into
your head?'
"Oh, there's another chap chap
with title, and money, and things"
vaguely. Handsome chap, too" lu.
gubriously.
"No."
Then what makes you"
"She saw it coming, / suppose. I
suppose ] looked it"
There was pause, during whic h
they both looked into the glowing
Goals.
did you ever make love-really-
to woman?" Mrs. Vavasour asked,
curiouslv.
"No," answered Thorne, with n
shake of his head and Mrs. Vavasour
gave little nod that said plainly, "I
thought So"
"And don't you think you are
jumping to conclusions rather?" she
asked, after while.
"No," Thorne answered, shaking
his head again; "he's n much more
likely fellow to please her than am,
and 'twould avoid complications to
keep me out of tho way" he added
bitterly, "for her father would quite
possibly take my part"
81 think you are making her out
as acting in an abominable manner, >"
said Mrs. Vavasour, with spirit
mot at ALL" he reioined quickly.
al dare say she's little sorry for me,
and besides she's procured me my
captainship-hang it! All the
pleasures taken out Of it !"
There was n long silence after this
that was only broken at length by
Mrs. Vavasour's rising suddenly, and
saying:
away with you, now; 1 must go
and dress. Come and see me to,mor-
row at half past five-no, a quarter to
six. Now, don't forget"
81 won't forget" said Thorne, shak-
ing hands and going TO the door.
''By the way, what's the other man S
name?" she asked, as her friends big
figure was disappearing.
"Toler, he answered, turning
round; hes a very decent fellow. |
perfectly understand her AMY one
preferring-"
eyes. Good.by. But that's m ore
than | do, she said aloud to herself,
as the door shut. Dear old Dicks
worth ten of him any day. Wait n
while, my dear, think I'll manage
it."
As she went upstairs she met her
husband
''What, not dressed yet?" he asked.
MS he kissed her. "What have you
been at now?"
thinking how | can make two
people happy MS we are, she answered.
That's big undertaking, said
Tom Vavasour, grave!y.
The next day Thorne presented
himself at 5.45 o'clock anil asked for
Mrs. Vayasour. He was shown up.
stairs Immediately and greeted by the
lady he sought, who crossed the room
to meet him in n marvellous tea gown.
"You may shake my little finger"
she said, holding 1t out to him; "the
Others have been eating buttered toast
at least, not exactly, but--you know
what mean"
Perfectly" Thorne laughed, shak-
ing the dainty finger between his
strong finger aud thumb.
"There are chairs to be had if you
look hard enough for them" Mrs.
Vavasour went on, peering around in
the trelit autumn dusk that filed the
room.
Lots, thanks, " said Thorne, Selling
the nearest.
"Not that ! it won't bear your big
weight. Stir the fire up, Ciceiy, un-
til look for something made of iron. "
A girls figure bent forward at the
far end Of the room and stirred the
Goals into bright blaze, and Thorne,
who had jumped at the name, made a
movement toward the door with
muttered excuse.
Don't be absurd; it's too late
now said his hos e g, in a whisper
that brought him to his sensey. "Ah,
that's just the thing" she went on,
aloud, pointing to deap backed arm
chair Immediately opposite the fire,
AMI leading the way toward it. That's
the worst OF the modern drawing
room" she continued, whilo Thorne
bowed to Miss Donaldson aud sat
down; "if you have anything really
comfortable, it's sure not TO be decent
enough to put in it, and one never
seriously thinks OF buying anything
for it but oldfashioned curly-legRed
things OF stiff-necked generations long
passed. "
T'm very comfortable, " volunteered
Tborne.
$50 am ]" put in CiooIy, with a
laugh.
"G'm delighted to hear it, said Mrs.
VayosouG seriously, rs If she had not
been running on merely to guard
against an awkward pause that had
loomod ahead, "but 1 really think
that we have the only three sensible
chairs in the room. Sugar and cream ?
OF course, I remember"
Thorno drank his ten between the
two women, wishing he were anywhere
else, yet knowing that ne would rather
be where he was while they talked
across him. Presently Mrs. Vavasour
turned to him and said, in her sweet.
est manner:
What a good opportunity for
thanking Miss Donaldson for putting
that kindly spoke IN your wheeli BY
the way, We must call you Captain
Thorno now, j supDose?"