The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1896-01-04
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Camilla IS unfortunately not a man.
! Neversmind,' he added as he knocked
at her door, "she must pursuade her.
self, that's ALL" And he entered the
cabin with as meek and helpless an
expression, as he could manage to put
! on. 100
Camilla was in state of feverish agl-
tation. She attacked him at once.
Well she cried, ''and what does this
msah, SIRE
The colonel hung his head.
Did | not tell YOU" she continued,
that If Captain Estcourt went with
you l should stay behind?"
I thought perhaps you might think
better of it."
Do generally threaten what 1 do
not mean to carry out?'' she retorted.
TO this he made no answer, and his
silence suggested, as it was intended
to do, that it was now rather late In
the day for the fulfIment of this par
| ticular threat
do you not see," she went on, into
what a position your foolish obstinacy
has entrapped me?"
am very sorry" murmured the
| colonel
1T Is infamous Of you" she cried
Here we are, with our enterprise all
ready launched; for me to turn back
now would be to forfeit my share in
the glory of success; to send him away
would be to ruin it ALL"
m afraid it would" said the colonel,
in a tone of acknowledgements; and he
looked about him frowning, as if per-
picked at the difficulty of the dilemma.
Camilla's Indignation was by this
time beginning to exhaust itself. 70
hammer so abject an opponent was.
merely beating the air, and of that the
strongest fighter soon wearles.
What am l to do?" she cried in de-
spair
Couldn't you so on as you are do
| ing?" he suggested.
What! live for fortnight cooped
up here with a man whom I've insulted
to his face?"
It's not your fault" he replied; "he
brought it on himself"
mo, no! he did mott" she. answered,
notify. TT was your doing from the
beginning"
Il asked him to come. l admit" said
the colonel; but he shouldn't have ac-
copied"
How can you" she exclaimed, chow
your own? You were the tempter, YOU
were the suggester of evil His CON
duct in yielding may seem strange to
us, but we can not tell what good rea-
sons he may have had for taking a less
severe view Of his duty in this instance
He belongs to party which has long
favored the EmperOr's release; he was
no longer actually employed in the Eng
Ilsh government, which has treated, him
with tngratitude; he was chivalrousIy
devoted to u.s. his friends, and there
may have been other reasons. I could
wish that he had acted differently, but
l Will not hear you blame him"
Don't misunderstanG me-" she cried;
i do not take back anything of what
l said He interrupted her
of course not" he said; Il was
waiting to remind you that as we are
TO touch at Ascension, you have still
a free choice; we could easily land you
there for fortnight and take you off
again on our return from st. Helena
You would lose none of the credit of the
undertaking, and you would share the
Emperors triumphal return to Europe"
4 will consider that" she replied,
before we reach Ascension; but it was
not what | was thinking of. What |
meant to tell you was that in any case
! refuse to have Captain Estcourt
forced upon me as a colleague 1 de-
cline to recognize him in that position,
and you may tell him that if he and
l are to meet, it must be on other
ground, and expressly on condition
that the object of this voyage is never
mentioned"
The colonel sighed; not, as she sup
posed, with resignation, but with relief
and perfect satisfaction.
Il will go to him at once" he said,
and left the cabin, still detected and
submissive in appearance.
AS he climbed the companion-ladder
however, his demeanor underwent a
complete change, and it was with
beaming face that he emerged up the
deck where Estcourt was anxlously
awaiting his return. III
1T is all right, he said, cordially.
Il knew it would be. She has quite
got the better Of her disappointment,
and is sorry for having hurt your heel
iugs just now. Her indignation, it lap
pears was not directed al you but me,
whom she blames severely for having
been the original cause for all this trou-
Bile, l confess It, but l assure you l
was far from intending to cstrange you
from us"
Don't say another worGw cried Dick.
Selling his hand and shaking it in a !
fervot Of gratitude. I'm your debtor
for the rest Of my life. But now let me
go to her at once"
Stay moment" said the colonel |
holding him by the sleeve; 'let me give
you one last hint before you go. No
wise man expects an apology from a
woman under any circumstances"