The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-02-08
BEHIND A CURTAIN.

The little street of "bijou residences
near tho park" was pleasantly full of vel
low sunshine and blue window boxes.
Half way down carriage intensified the
dry wilderness of the pavements and roads
by its cleaning blackness. The straight
featured footman stood near the carriage
door, with black and white logs stifily
posed, and eyes gazing forward with the
regulation want of expression. He con-
versed with tho coaohman in subdued and
wary tones
pretty looking girl at No. g."
Coachinan rolled his eyes into the left
corner of hin ego sockets and perceived at
No. bright young face half yelled be-
hind tho draperies of tho drawing room
window.
She's just out, remarked tho foot
imam.
"Here comes the fellow who's most gone
on her. ,- !.
A gentleman walked alertly up to No. 8,
unconscious of tho scrutiny OF the liveried
critics, saw the face at the window vanish
suddenly and smiled to himself as he rang
tho bell
Hp went up stairs, repeating audibly tho
little sentences of deity hidden sweetness
and wooiDg no had prepared to say to hor.
She WAS very young, of entioing shyness
and yariableness, vet he was almost sure
she loved him. He meant TO utter his
carefully arranged phrases cautiously, and
II propitious moment or mood appeared
to mako his proposal. g..
The door was opened, he was an
nounced, and went forward eagerly to
greet-hor sister and the latest novelty in
o'clocI; tea sets He mumbled discon-
certed reply to the sister chnparon's re-
marks and gazed searchingly about the
room. Oh, for an ego Of cathode ray pow
OF to 500 whittier sho had flown! "What
delightful day." said the lady. London
sunshine is tho finest in the world. 1t Is
60 beautiful to sec It's effect on the ordinary.
everyday dimness and dullness. Like all
fine things its value is heightened by its
scarcity"
Yes. fearfully hot. The sun Is blind
Ing" no observed nhstractedly. Hang the
sun What has she run away forp Wero
all those bushes and shy looks merely the
result Of timidity and self consciousness
Did she dislike him SO much that his calls
were more than she could endure2 He
could swear he saw her pretty face and
shoulders at tho window rs he came up the
steps.
Zone lump, please," he murmured.
"Did you enjoy yourself at Lady Cardby's
danoep''
'As much as chnperon may" answer
ed the young dame, with an ancient air
TINT sat bewitohingly upon her coquettish
fairness. IA sister lately brought out Is
great responsibility. Besides the buds
detract from the blossoms )"
"You are youthful enough to rank with
the buds, he smiled, with sudden CLEAN
of sanity and gallantry. "Is Miss Maydey
quito well?" .a
r every WE'LL thank you. In fact she is
q little too brisk and lively for my nerves
sometisies :"
"Roally2 Now, thought hor the quiet
est, demurest of little ninids--if may DO
permitted to express any thought about so
charming young lady"
Ho spoke with an affected lghtness That
was more intense than the greatest earnest
hess Evidently the sistor understood his
case, She turned her beautifully dressed
head aside for an instant, and her mouth
quivcred with suppressed mirth.
"Ah, that is her society manner, and
will depart when she has seen season or
two" she affirmed. "When we are alone,
assure you she is tho most provoking,
teasing, laughing, mischieyous child you
could possibly find She has no reverence
for my dignity or my toilets Yesterday
she burst IN upon mo with the ayowed in
tention of making me giggle!"
He waa listening with attentive ears
tho ears of lover to whom any and every
thing concerning his mistress Is Of more
Importance than the total instantaneous
disappearance of q great nation or tho col
lapse Of all the thrones of Europe. Sud.
denly he saw the velvet curtain-whioh
draped one side of the flower filed fire.
place, at which he was looking-quiver
strangely. Scarcelya breath of wind came
in through the open windows, and the
CRATE was blocked entirely by sheet of
painted looking glass Moreover, the cur
tain on the other side hung more fatty and
closely than Its quisering fellow, which
bulged out here and there in manner un.
known to artistic upholsterers.
A suspicion flashed through his dazed
brain. He sat up with renewed energy
and sald
"You are describing very charming
character. am half in love with your
delightful description Of girlisn life and
waywardness.
He paused and saw the curtain give
quick, waving, tremulous convulsion to
Its folds, which instantly became still
again as he continued:
"Do you think 1t worth q mans while
to try to exist with half hearth
Really" said the lady, II am not a
1,ooi, Of tp diaao uao ~ ba baort
"But," he pleaded, "tyou have broken
60 many to heal one that your experience
must be of .value and your opinion very
well worth hearing-like that of general
practitioner
"Wer," answered the young matron
cautiously, ut Is certainly better to live
with whole heart, Or even with half Of
one, than without any at all. 1t Is more