New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-08-08

,treet for moment People do generally pause
on doorsteps to put up their umbrellas but she
forgot to open hers.
1T Is good" she said catching sight Of
herself in shop window rain flushed. disorder
IS. She. thirty eight!
She took one or two objectless. hopeless steps
10 nowhere. Then sudden idea seized her.
With the impetuousness Of her hasty nation she
made up her mind, turned opened her umbrella
and hurried up the street.
She did not think, she certainly did not pause
TO consider what she was about to DO FRO
ceeding along the pavement rapidly with some
disregard for other people and her mind eager
ly full of her own affairs and that bright idea
she charged through the rain.
Half down the Strand the spikes Of her UNI
brella dabbed into somebody and she raised II
hastily. Not even looking to see If the big per-
son she had coded with was damaged she
passed quickly on, vision Of black untidy halr
bright cheeks and shining eyes then only
short blue skirt and an umbrella
The person she had run into stood still and
looked after her till the last glimpse Of her
was swallowed up He tugged at his grizzled
mustache and sighed then staked sadly on his
way
Frances shot on, unheedng. She stopped at
last and went into an unpretentious little shop.
smelling like hairdresser's, but not ostensiby
such. She bent over the counter and spoke
few incoherent words. She was GREATNESS ana
agitated. But the man seemed to understand
there no need to put her desire more clearly.
Golden or auburn miss" he said.
II am fool!' cried Colonel Williamson
The night had closed in and hidden the rain'
but no blinds could shut out the drip and patter.
1t was a melancholy sound, and it fitted in with
the Colonels thoughts. He not at his club.
not having fallen INTO home ways yet he was
sitting at his hotel thinking.
Poor Colonel; his story was not a happy one,
apart from the regiment It's fights and glories.
!; was common story. often told in novels and
perpetualy available by penny novelties. \
young subaltern packed off to India a girl at
home-and writing either side forbidden
The passing-hopeful enough-of year or two.
Then a wedding in the papers and headlong
forgetfuness by one breathess reader Of the I'M
important she-cousin whose name resembed
one. The usual story helping misunderstanding,
the usual lapse of years, and then-discovery.
Colonel Williamson was gray when he sailed
for home. India and-circumstances, age a
man. But leap of romantic expectation came
to him when he heard Of somebody still single.
He dared sometimes to dream Of a graver. sad
der face than had visited his dreams once and
then left a nightmare gap through years-of
somebody whose wild spirits were gone by this.
and In whose subdued affections he might
awaken forgiveness and a quiet memory OF
ancient love That dream lasted out the voyage
and brought him to town. And then
II fool he said grimly. Il might have
known she could never grow old as did Would
she not laugh in my face If dared TO show
myself. claiming recollection fora lover? I am
Old now and she is young ever dare not
GO % her with this bitterness of difference be
tween US. Let me stick 10 dream that may
brighten my lonely life but never shatter it by
trying to prove it true. Oh. Frances. after all
these years the same; while T.
Colonel Williamson dropped his head upon his
hands 1t grew very dark.