The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-06-24
SKIES AND SEVENS.

Romer as sho lay back in the punt an
put up her parasol "Isn't 1t a shame
Mr. Ellsworth, that have to go away o
tho first day of the 'eightsS'"
Ellsworth of Exeter, having moored th
punt carefully, turned and sat down OF
posite Mrs. Romer, nursing his knees.
"Beastly shame" he said, with gloon
in his voice. "But must you gof''
Positively must" replied Mrs. Romer
shifting her parasol and looking at no
companion round the edge. "We've 40
to go to dinner party tomorrow night IL
town and theater and dance tho mex
night, Notwithstanding or other ever,
night till the end of tho season. Blu
you're coming to see us in town, aren'
your You promised, you know"
Ellsworth dug his heel into the floor O
the punt. "You won't have any time II
spare for me in town-like up here, yor
know" he said gloomily. Then, NOR,
choerfully: "We've seen a lot of each othel
the last week, haven't WEI Seems as though
we'd know each other for--for any amount
of time"
Mrs. Romer shifted her parasol again in
order to watch an eight padding down tc
the starting point at Iffley.
"They look such nice, clean, wholesome
boys" she said. "That's what I like SO
about Oxford. All the boys look as though
-well-as though they had bath every
morning. What boat is thatp'
"Oh that's the House Christchurch, ]
mean. But let's''-
"And who is that at the end of the boatp'
THAT'S Barclay. He's stroke, you know
awful outsider. -
He looks NICE" said Mrs. Romer, fol.
lowing the boat with her eyes.
But, I say" said Ellsworth, "can't
you cut the dinner party and stay onP We
could have such an awfully good time"
Mrs. Romer turned her eyes to Ellsworth
and shook her head. "I'm to be carried off
by main force tonight" she said. "You
sec, my husband is coming on from Bir.
mlngham this afternoon to pick me up,
and we positively must go to town by the
last train"
Mrs. Romer leaned back on her cushions
and sighed. "But you're not smoking,
Mr.. Ellsworth" she said. II don't mind
your smoking, you know"
II don't want to smoke, )" said Ellsworth.
II say" he continued after pause,
we've had ripping good time this last
week, haven't wep''
i've enjoyed myself immensely" said
Mrs. Romer. Everybody has been so
kind. The Pethwioks are charming peo-
pie and let one do just as one likes, and''-
Yes, said Ellsworth, II shall always
be grateful to tho Pethwioks."
And you have simply devoted yourself
to me, an old married woman like me
too!''
"What rot!" said Ellsworth "Why,
don't believe you're more than--than
year or two older than am"
"Ah, but I am" Mrs. Romer sighed,
shifted her parasol again and turned to.
ward the river. Wasn't that the gum"
she asked. docs that mean that the race
Is startingS"
"No. That's only the first gun" said
Ellsworth. "But never mind the race.
Let's talk about--I mean-I want to tell
YOU
Don't DO silly" said Mrs. Romer, sit
ting up and looking with great interest
down the course. "Of course mind about
tho race. That's just what I've come to
see."
II believe you arc offended with me-"
said Ellsworth gloomily 81 suppose de.
serve it. I'd have begged your pardon last
night only thought you didn't seem to
mind, you know"
"Mindp" said Mrs Romer, turning to-
ward Ellsworth. mind what9 thought
you were particularly nice last night"
"Then you weren't offended-reallyp"
"Why should DO offended"
"At what-what did,"
"Why, Mr.. Ellsworth, what did you do?"
Ellsworth turned puzzled face to Mrs.
Romer for a moment. Then, picking a
bit of fluff carefully from the knee of his
dannels, II mean, he said, ~ mean when
kissed you"
"OhP' said Mrs. Romer
"I'm awfully sorry If it annoyed you,
but did"
Ellsworth looked up boldly at Mrs. Ro-
ner, whose eyes wandered vaguely round
he horizon Her eyebrows lifted.
II don't remember" she said.
Don't you remember" pursued Els
worth, when we were standing last night
after supper at Brandon Shocking into
he gardonsp l was Just behind you-quite |
,lose-and''-
"YesP" said Mrs. Romer, quite gently, |
IS her eyes came to rest upon Elsworth's |
ace which was still bent on the knee of
lis f1annels.
well, couldn't help 1t, you know.
But you did know, didn't youp'
II did not" said Mrs. Romor. ~
adn't the least idea, and I can't under
tand"-
"Im awfully sorry--really," said Els
worth.
Mrs. Romer watched him in silence for
few moments Us he plucked at the knee
( his fannels Then her brow wrinkled
little. why are you SO sorry?" she
sked
Because I'm suro you are angry, now,
rem It you2'
Mrs. Roner reflected rubbing the han
10 of her parasol gently against her cheek.
"Well, you see" she said after pause,
after all, didn't know"
but supposing you had known" said
lsworth, looking suddenly up at her.
st would mover have happened" said
RS. Romer firmly.
There was silence for a few moments,
lsworth looking modify across the river
the towing path, where the townsfolk
God to Wow the races, and undergradu-
es were hurrying down to run with the
rats. Mrs. Romer looked re1ectiyely at
sworth.
II don't think 1t was very nice of you,
r. Ellsworth. she said, toto do that
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