Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1898-07-29

A M0IIeT OI Temperament.
Major Owen passed almost with a
look of relief down the steps from the
crowded reeeption-rooms into the gar
den. He was not a musician, and, al
though all that was best and most un-
pronounceable on the London concert
stage was at present performing in her
ladyship's drawing-room, the only
comment he could find to make to
Philip Rutherford was that there was
too much of this beastly Adding"
Then he had left Philip Rutherford,
and annexed Miss Phoebe Horton
(much the prettlest of the three Miss
Hortons), and now passed into the gar
den, looking as one who passed out Of
the valley Of the shadow. Chinese lam
terms twinAled everywhere. The gar
den was no wilderness. London gar
dens are not big enough for that-and
at the moment parts of 1t were densely
populated, but the Major and his COM
panlon passed through the groups near
the house into the comparative solitude
beyond There, as it was necessary to
say something to Phoebe, he said that
he didn't care for a violin. He was a
man of few ideas; when he had got one
he never made the mistake of express
ing 1t in the same way. to woman as
to a man. In a general condemnation
of the violin Phoebe supported him en-
Enthusiastically, and the walk in the
garden would not have taken more
than three minutes fifteen seconds by
a respectable chronometer. And that
was all there was against the Major
absolutely nothing else. He returned
Miss Phoebe Horton to Philip Ruther-
ford in excellent condition, and sought
out Christine. He found her, and he
judged by her appearances that there
was a storm gathering. Unquestion-
ably the best thing to do with a gath
erlng storm is to take 1t into supper.
BY the time it has finished its supper
1t has probably forgotten the cause Of
llb blOl iIlItobg anu u hOly Ndlln lOllOWbs
So the Major, who, though he had
few ideas, was not an impractical man,
suggested that he should take Christine
in to supper.
mo, thank you" said Christine. II
don't want any supper"
WELL" the Major said vaguely, "one
must do something"
81 don't want to do anything" said
Christine.
"Well," the Major said again, "it's
very hot in here and this music doesn't
much appeal to me, you know. VIII
you come out into the garden?"
Christine got up, sighed, and said
that she only came because she was
tired of saying mo" to everything.
They passed out together. The gar
den was almost empty now; nearly
everybody was in the supper-room.
"You like this garden, don't your
said Christine.
well, yes," he said; these lanterns
and things aren't bad If you gel
right up to the far end you cant hear
the muslc-at least. not enough to
matter"
did you go up to the far end Just
now?" said Christine. -m
What do you mean?"
Nothing"
"Oh, come! One doesn't say those
things for nothing"
Very we'll, then. For the last hall
hour you've been hiding in the gar.
den."
! "oh. come! You mustn't say sucl
things"
The passion deepened in her voice.
You've been hiding in the gardeI
with Phoebe Horton" She tried t.
laugh. Il thought you'd had time t.
explore it."
CAS- a matter of fact" said the Major
81 don't suppose l was out here NV
minutes. If I'd been out here for fiv,
fortnights, what would 1t have matter
ed to your"
Z Nothing" she said, drearily
Nothing matters to me now"
Then he observed that things wer
growing more serious. He took he
two hands.
Tell me-" he said. what is it?"
She began to cry.
An hour and a half later Mato