The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-06-28
LOVE-MAKING.

you are an old fool, Kingsbury!
said Mr.. Madison, rapping the bowl o
his 'meerschaum against the edge o
the chimney -piece to empty 1t of tn
silvery crust Of tobacco ashes.
"Forty-seven last week." said Majo
Kingsbury, smiling. rs that such
venerable age?"
ITO think of marrying young CIR
yes! Do you suppose she reall!
cares for you?"
"She says she does!"
"Only a caprice-only caprice
Kingsbury. depend upon it. Wha
does child of seventeen know Of hel
own mind?"
Major Ralph KiDgsbury was silent
but his grave smile betokened quiet re-
lance upon the affection Of the beauti'
full young girl who had promised to b.
his wife.
"Of course" added Mr.. Madison,
vindictively, Il might know better
than to expect you to take any ones
advice on the subject. There's no fool
like an old fool, I've all my life heard. u
Il am much obliged to you." said
Major Kingsbury, smiling. But you
will come to my weddinz?"
"Oh, Of course-on exactly the same
principle all the friends and relations
attend Hindoo widows suttee."
And Mr.. Madison filed his meer-
schaum second time and began medi-
tatively to smoke.
Major Ralph was silent also. Some
how the words of his old college friend
had left a drop of bitterness in his
heart. Was 1t true that pretty Ida
Casserly was too young to unite the
fair current Of her life with the stron-
ger, deeper stream of his own mature
destiny? Was 1t possible that she had
allowed herself to be Influenced by the
remembrances that he was rich man?
Why had he never thought Sof these
things before? Surely they were suf-
flciently evident. And he sincerely
wished that Nicholas Madison had held
his tongue.
She's pretty, I suppose?" said the
latter, abruptly, after a long interval
of silence.
"Yes!" Major Kingsbury answered.
What style? Dark or fair?"
VERY fair, with golden curls, and
eyes as blue as the bluest summer
heaven you ever beheld!"
"Ah!" said Mr.. Madison, nodding his
head with sort Of gloomy mystery.
And you are fool enough to believe
she loves you?"
Madison" said the major, with
some irritation in Lis voice and man
ner, suppose we put a stop to this
discussion. 1t may be very agreeable
to you, but confess that 1t annoys me
not little"
Madison laughed chuckling laugh.
"Oh, certainly, certainly" said he.
only, If anything should happen, you
will, at least, do me the justice to re-
member that warned you"
Major Kingsbury did not answer,
but he could not help thinking to him
self how very disagreeable these "old
friends" were!
And when Mr.. Madison had smoked
out his meerschaum for the second
time, and gone, he sat for moment or
two gazing into the red CLEANS of the
anthracite coal fire.
"Pshaw!" he exclaimed aloud, ris-
ing and giving himself shake, as IL
he would shake OF this strange mood
Of misgiving. What should a sour old
bachelor like Nick Madison know
about young girls heart? must
make haste, or ! shall miss the last
up-train tonight, and Ida made me
promise l would come without fail!
Dear little Ida"
And he opened small velvet box
that he carried in his pocket and
glanced admiringly at a tiny pearl
cross that lay therein.
All, 1t was quite evident that Major
Kingsbury was very much in love, in
deed!
The scarlet pillows that closed over
the keel of sunset lad long since faded
into orange, when Major Ralph climb
ed the hill that led up to Rose Villa,
the summer residence of Mrs. Casser-
ly and her three pretty daughters, just
where an occasional CLEAN or two in
the Hudson could be caught, through
bowling masses of elm trees, cedars
and dropping willows.
The wide veranda was empty and
deserted. but at the sound Of the bell,
Bridget, to whom the majors counten-
nance was familiar, met him with a
broad smile.
1.-THE young ladies' is out in the gar
den, sir!" said Bridget. will call
'em?"
"Oh, no, certainly mott" said tho
major. "lHl join them out there!'
And he smiled to himself at the idea
of surprising Ida among her flowers,
the fairest blossom Of them all.
Ida Gasserly stood just where the dy-
ing light shone full in her face, as
lovely young creature as heart could
imagine, with eyes and hair like yio-
let's and sunshine. and rose-red,
mouth all wreathed in smiles. Her
white dress, Just relieved by scarlet
cashmere scarf, futtered softly in the
evening breeze, and she held bunch
Of vivid scarlet salvias in her hand.
why Ida!" Kate Casseriy, her
sister was exclaiming, Il am
astonished at you! thought you
liked the major so much!"
"The major!" Ida echoed, with a
motion Of her pretty
head. "A horrid, old-fashioned thing!
Well enough when you can't get any
thing else, but"
"Then you really prefer Alexan-
der?"
"As il there could possibly be any
Major Kingsbury felt the angry scar
let rise to his cheeks, while a sharp
pang of jealousy shot through his
heart. Who was this Alexander" for
whom Ida Casserly expressed SO de-
cided preference?
WELL" cried Flora, the younger Of |