The Somerset reporter., 1897-10-28
THE REASON WHY.

L always wonder why it is you have
never married, Dick?"
1t was Emily who had said these
words some half an hour ago, and Dick
had found no answer for them, and he
sits by the fire and ponders over them
nightly, trying to find if there be an
answer Dick is five and forty, tall, ro-
bust, with a rather handsome face and
horld complexion, and with bright gold
en- brown hair, but just where it max es
little crinkles above his ears it has tiny
silver threads running through it-an
even race now between the gold and
silver, but in these days of bimetallism
who shall answer for the future?
He is very personable man, a true
honest good fellow, rather slow at
grasping an idea, but when he has
grasped ii it is sure to become service
able, clean idea. Dicks grasp firm and
strong, would always purge it of any
vice or vulgarity it might have possess
the comfortable library of his sister S
house. He smokes pipe and thinks
over that sister S question, 81 always
wonder why it is you have never mar
ried, Dick?'
Then curious thing happens AS
the smoke of his pipe rises up in thick
black clouds he looks quite through it
back to the year 1867 and sees himself
again as boy of 20, just before he first
sailed for India-such a jovial, noisy
sort OF boy, with ready smile and
pleasant word for every one, Just now
much excited at the prospect of the new
life which is to begin with the voyage
tomorrow.
He is just entering a ballroom with
friend of about his own age. ("Jack
Dutford, who died in China, "murmurs
Dick of today 1t is very large ball
room, brilliantly lighted and decorated
with flowers and eyergreens 1t must
be regimental ball, for there are col
ors stacked at one end. Dick Of today
tries to make them out, but quite fails,
and so turns his attention to what Jack
Dufford issaying to Dick of 1867.
Il want you to dance with my little
sister Kitty. 1t is her first dance, and
she's the dearest little thing going. :"
And he puts his arm through Dick of
l867's and takes him across the room
to where there stands girl in white
muslin such dainty, fresh white mus
lin, with little blue bowknots dotted
over it, and this is all that Dick of 1867
sees as he makes his bow, but when he
raises his head again he meets such a
sweet, dancing pair of brown eyes look
ing at him from such a pretty, bright
face, with whole mass of light fluffy
hair above and around it, and later
when he puts his arm around her and
they dance and he looks down into the
hair he sees a wee wreath of blue for
getmenots half lost and very tightly
imprisoned in its glittering meshes. 1t
is almost Dick of 1867's first ball, too
and he thoroughly enjoys it, but none
of the figures are plain to Dick of today
save only the white muslin and blue
bowknot one. Talking and dancing
with it seem to fill up the whole even
ing, and then, when the end comes, Dick
of 1867 rolls it up, oh, so tenderly, in Il
warm, white shawl, and Dick of today
feels his heart beat quicker as a little
hand is put into that old Dicks hand
and low girlish voice says:
We'll, good night and goodby, Mr.
Kenneth hope you will like India. Z"
Then Dick of 1867 goes home, and he
feels nervously excited and cannot sleep
tainty of liking India
The tobacco smoke clears off and our
Dick wonders why such an old, quite
buried memory should revive tonight,
but he has not much time for wonder
ing, for as fresh smoke rises up he sees
fresh figures forming themselves behind
it. Still himself, but older, browner and
more manly Dick, this time of 1872. A
ball again, evidently in a private house.
There is wide flight of stairs, off it at
one side a conservatory filled with flow
ers and at its top wide landing, with
the ballroom opening bright, noisy and
joyous behind it
In the doorway stands the hostess,
welcoming her guests Dick of today
tries to distinguish her features. but
they elude him just as the colors had
few minutes before He passes ON in
to the room. Again all the figures are
blurred, until he comes quite to the up
per end, Immediately beneath the big
hanging lamp, where there stands
very distinct one in white silk and
quantity Of soft white tulle, who has
her back turned and displays worry
fair head with a bunch of pink moss
roses at one side Dick of 1872 speaks,
and the figure turns and looks at him
with a little uncertainty at first, and
then a gradual, pleased look of recog
milton comes 10 her face-that same
sweet face, with its warm, brown eyes
Dick Of 1879 thinks five years have
passed very lightly, leaving behind
them only a touch OF dignity and wom-
anliness in place Of the almost childish
ness She u.s. IN fact, improved by them,
and 80 thinks Dick of today.
Dick 0f16l2 dances three times with
"my little sister Kitty, and the third
time she Is carried away from him by
very tall. dark, handsome man, with
small pointed black beard. He watch
es them, and voice at his elbow says
what jolly couple they make He is
old Lord Easton's nephew, and they are
IN ha married next week. Won know -