The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-11-07

riedfy, az the young man entered the
drawing room just I'm time 10 hear the
announcement that dinner was served.
Miss Winston. Mr. Harper-or stay
with a breathless recollection Of some
vague story connecting the two names
perhaps you already know each other.
Yves. we have met before was his
bald reply given with embarrassed hes
itation as Mrs. Dudley looked question
ingly from one TO the other. The wom-
ans quicker wits prompted a less halt
Ing response.
~Yes. indeed: we were quite intimate
rnce" she said sweetening the common
place words with the brilliant impersonal
smile she had adopted as part Of her
professional outfit and which was so
widely and lntrinslcally different from
the frank and unstudied smile of the girl
ne remembered.
She laid her fingers lightly on his arm
as their hostess nuttered away. and they
walked ont TO the dining-room together
In due course and order: but neither
spoke again until the soup had been dis
posed OF and the fish was well under
way
Then-"You are greatly changed" he
blurted out. feeling that courtesy i'm
peratlvely demanded an utterance of
some kind. and hardly knowing what 10
say. She favored him with new smile
again.
YES. I have changed. much. sup
pose" she returned, lingering her fork
with lust a touch Of nervousness. II
have been working hard for some years,
YOU know. and steady, earnest work al
most transforms one, I think. Besides,
n Is over seven years since we last met,
IS Il notg l was very young then
"You We're just twenty. trembled upon
his lips. but he suppressed It. He was
bv no means certain as TO the precise
amount OF personal conversation she
would allow But presently, as he. made
no audible reply. she spoke again
'In fact"-stiu with that nervous ac-
ton Of the fork and flngers-'I have
changed so much since that time that
am hardly the same person at all. The
girl YOU knew" with sudden decision
died a long time ago
"she was very dear little girl" he
exclaimed tendcrly. without stopping to
think. But. somewhat TO his surprise. she
neither reproved him nor looked indig~
nant Instead. nc could have sworn that
her voice trembled little as she uttered
her calm and judicial reply.
yes" she responded. with unexpect-
ed genticness and acquIesence. Il think
abe was. She has been dead so long. you
see. that l can speak OF her just as
though she had never belonged TO me at
All. and / really do think she was a nice
little thing. so faithful to the ridiculous
little ideals which seemed OF such vital
Importance "a her. l am surprised now,
when l think OF her occasionally, TO re-
member how really good she was, or
tried TO be. and really, l am fond Of her
memory, too. Would you believe" turn
ing upon him impulsivey, with a smile
and glance so precisely like those OF the
girl under discussion. that he started IN
voluntarily. rIhat ], practicing physic-
ian and surgeon Che fancied that she laid
an unnecessary II slight emphasis upon
the last four words). within two mile
stones Of my thirtieth birthday, would
be foolish enough 10 do as I did yester-
days I came accidentally upon the satin
sllppera I wore at-at that ball. you know.
5uft before-weli. long time ago
"Just seven years" he interrupted.