The Louisiana populist., 1897-03-12
MRS. COLONEL
CLITHEROE.'

"Mrs. Colonel Clitheroe." And with
the utterance of those words the brown
eyes seemed to laugh at their own re-
fection in the mirror, and as the pref
tily curved lips parted they showed the
perfect teeth. "Do look 1t, John? Do
/? For l am intensely anxious as to
the effect which shall produce on
your friends and neighpors."
The gray-haired handsome husband
shook his head with smile.
Hardly, am afraid, Rose. A casual
observer would be more likely to think
you were a young lady spending the
holidays with her grandfather. For
tunately, however, the residents in
these parts know who you are. / ex-
pect they will muster pretty strong at
church this morning to get q good
stare at you"
Rose Clithroe took her husbands arm
as they passed through the gateway of
the priory. The Colonel had inherited
the property from an uncle not long be-
fore his marriage.
1T looks more matronly to take your
arm, John," she said, laughing. But
then her mood changed and she looked
grave, adding:
II do really feel nervous. l don't
want these people who have known
you all your life to say j am too young
and too giddy, and too altogether un-
worthy to be your wife! DO you think
they will be prejudiced against me by
my appearance? I chose bonnet and
this long sealskin coat because they
make Inc older than the hat and
jacket"
Don't be anxious, child" and the
Colonel pressed the hand which rested
on his arm. unless people are hope
lessly stupid and short-sighted they
must see at a glance that you are the
most charming of young women and
am the most fortunate of men, and
blessed together beyond my deserts.
But whatever they think and whatever
they say, the fact remains that we are
entirely satisfied with each other"
Il am more than satisfied" and Rose
spoke emphatically. II often wonder
why such happiness should come to me
when so many women are miserably
married."
1t was rather romantic little story.
as things go in these prosaic times,
that story Of how Rose Dysart became
Mrs. Colonel Clitheroe when she was
Is and he was 46.
Rose declared that she had been in
love with him all her life. Certainly hit
2 years old she had been in the habit
OF assuring him, "Rosie'll marry you
when she's big" whereupon he al
ways answered, "All right, little wo-
man, I'll wait for you."
The childs passionate devotion to the
handsome officer was quite an amuse-
ment to her parents. But when his
regiment was ordered off to India, and
they saw the little face grow white ana
thin, and heard her heartbroken sobs.
they laughed no longer. Even after
she ceased to cry for "Rosie's colonel
she never forgot him.
The pretty baby had grown to a TALL
slim girl Of 13 when these two friends
met again. By that time Rose Dysart
was pupil at small and select board
ing school in the environs Of Paris, and
on one Of the frequent visits which her
father and mothefpaid to their darling
they came, by chance, across Colonel
Clitheroe, who also was spending a few
days in the gay capital.
"How is Rosie? Has she forgotten
me?" were among his first questions.
Mrs. Dysart laughed.
Rose is at school at Neuilly. Come
with us this afternoon, and then Judge
for yourself whether you have been
forgotten"
The girl had not grown stiff and shy.
She was immensely delighted to see
her friend again, and she told him So.
He Joked her about her baby oyertures
toward him; he reminded her of how
she would drag foot-stool across the
room, and by Its aid climb to his knee
and busy her small hands with his hair,
on the pretext of making him mice and
tidy"
Il have grown gray since those
days" he said, with half sigh. Where
upon Miss Rose declared that she liked
gray hair best.
Each seemed to please the other;
they seized In moment on each Others
meaning, they appeared to divine each
others thoughts.
i shall come again." said Colone.
Clitheroe, when the visitors hour was
over, and study must begin, y see
rH s. s