Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-11-25
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} SHORT STORY
; OF THE DAY.
MAJOR RUMSEY.
from fhe HunaIn NeNs

From the Buffalo News.
1t was the proud boast Of Mrs. Malt
worth, widow Of the late Captain Robert
Naltworth, OF the til cavalry. prophet
TESS of the Esmeralda hotel, SeabreeZe,
that in each of the twelve years during
which she had owned and managed the
establishment on the shore at Seabreeze
Fhe had successfully brought two young
people into relations with one another that
had resulted in matrimony. To tell the
truth, Mrs. Maltworth was a born match
maker, as many a young lieutenant could
have Witnessed.
Mrs. Maltworth was one of those rare
individuals who could sink their own dis
comforts and smile on the pleasures of
others. II was largely due to this fact
during the season its rooms Were flooded
with young people bubbling over with holi-
day spirits. who joked and laughed to-
Eether as if the office and the counter
We're nothing more than mere imaginings
which would not reappea at the Xpira-
ton Of a brief fortnight.
But Mrs. Maltworth and her two daugh-
tiers were growing Respondent. The season
was rapidly growing to a close, and as
yet no two young people had been at.
had been one or two mild firtations which
had excited considerable expectation, but
they had not developed and had ex-
pired before the participants left Sea-
Here's a letter from Major Rumsey.
my Sdlu lit u OIt ilioA lAlElS
I'll wants to come next Monday with
his son and daughter TO stay-why, he
doesn't say how long he will stay
WHO is he?" inquired the elder of the
Misses Maltworth, a prim young lady OF
.. whose living interest was c%entered and
circnmferenced in the cutting down of eX-
penses at the Esmeralda.
The widow passed the letter to her.
He writes from Shoreham, you see,
and that is very select. We shall have to
front and his girl in the room opposite
ours"
The younger daughter nodded approval.
mothers amiability and tenderness. mixed
with her fathers soldierly pride.
Major Rumsey duly arrived with his
son and daughter. He was a middle aged
gentleman whose hair was generously
sprinkled with gray. labeled military from
head to foot. and possessed of a bluff,
hearty voice that instantly won the wild
Il always feel thoroughly at home with
ere he had been in the house half a dozen
hours. You see, I'm a soldiers daugh-
ter and married a man who carried a COM
Madam" replied the major. you sur
Yes, my poor husband; Captain Malt
from his chair. your husbandeoold Bob
Maltworth of the til cavalry?"F
My dear Mrs. Maltworth, this is indeed
a pleasure. / and old Bob-er-Captain
Maltworth, were mates together before
have you never heard him speak of his
old friend Rumsey?
BLESS my soul, my dear lady" contin-
w Sfn sRe e aFancy MAJOR m2 Coming Matkia across ss the
widow of my old friend. The world is,
after all, quite a little place; now, isn't
The opening of the door and the entrance
of Mabel caused him TO turn round.
Mabel, my dear, this is Major Rumsey
-and-and he is an old friend of your
The major bowed to the fair young girl
before him, while she blushed and muir
ner that the major was on the instant
charmed and ~captivated.
That evening there was a merry party
IN the widows little drawing room, which
excited considerable curiosity among the
other boarders. There was much laughter
and just a few tears on the part of the
hostess. and that night young Harold Rum
sey dreamed of a blushing blue eyed girl
who had called him NJ Rumsey" no end
Of times, although he would have given
The visit of Major Rumsey. Mr.. Harold
Rumsey and Miss Eleanor Rumsey Ito
quote the SeabreeZe News was decidedly
a time of unqualified enjoyment. The hap
pinesS of the three suffused through the
whole of the Esmeralda hotel, and the pro-
prietress was heard to remark that never
In all her life had she seen SO jolly n COM
pany as her boarders at this period. The
visit heightened from a fortnight to three
weeks. then a month. and still the happy
trio said nothing of leaving.
1T does my heart good to see these
young people living so happily" said Mrs.
1T makes me feel young my
The major was standing at the case
ment. looking away over the sea. Outside
the promenade was almost deserted, for
the days were growing cold and sunless.
but at the end of the hin line of beach.
where ii was cut off by the cliff that iut-
ted out, he could see a woman and a man
EnafaH Har hand uaS TtnCna1 in hnrh ne
his. and as the old soldier watched he saw
her head droop lower-lower.
abo Mes' a Whisper' come ne he Tid' Y scare see
those two young people away there? They
are our young people"
Together They watched the two, who. all
unconscious that they were observed. were
telling one another the sweetest story in
the world.
The widow was first to speak.
II felt sure il would come" she cried.
Fancy this is the thirteenth year without
a break"
THE thirteenth year" Numbered ,he
major. DO You mean to tell me that the
girl has for thirteen years.
Major Rumsey:" interrupted the lit;
explained so well that her listener be-
came as enthusiastic as herself. and swore
with a characteristic military oath that he
could have desired no better mate for his
lad.
Suddenly the widow started up.
20. dear" she cried in dismay. 1T mustn't
be. j was forgetting it's the 18th. and that
would be unlucky. 1t was on the 18th that
my poor Robert"
Nonsense, my dear madame" growled
her listener. Surely you don't believe in
that old woman's tale"
But Robert-on the 13th-'
- Robert" the major Numbered, and
Immediately apologized. Il forgot myself.
What / wanted to say is this: Why should
we risk tho happiness of our boy and
girl?"
Why. indeed?" murmured the lady.
Suppose. for Instance two other people
found they could join forces with adj
vantage and advance on the enemy's line