The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1898-04-20
THE wATcHMAN AND soUTHRoN APRIL 90. 1898

eomplete-he noted every detail as if to
estimate its value. It cane back to him
how she had cunningly questioned him
about his needs before he left for Cannes
till he grew inpatient "Don't bother
me about ink bottles. Yes, the very
words and others-the secret writing Of
memory came out in this ire Of sorrow.
ssWhy won't women understand that a
man can't answer questions about trif1es
when he has work on hand?" He could
swear to the words, and he knew how
Maud looked, although he did not see.
"Don%s go away You promised that
you would sit beside me when I worked
hinder me? / suppose you are bidding
for kiss. You know the sight of your
face inspires me. That was ten years
ago-he might have borne with her
presence a little longer She never
would come again-he would have no
Interruptions of that kind.
Her gloves, sixes-what a perfect
hand it was (smooths out the glove).
His memory brings up dinner table.
Mrs. Chatterby gives her opinion on
.Meredith's last novel and helps herself
20 salt-he sees a disgusting hand, with
stumpy fingers and for impudence a
street arab of a thumb. A vulgar little
woman through and through, and yet
because she picked up scraps from the
monthles and had the trick Of catch
words people paid her court. And he
had sometimes thought. but he knew
better today-of all things in the world
8 glove is the surest symbol. Mended,
too, very neatly-that he might have
his hansoms.
It was the last thing he ever could
have imagined, and yet il must be a
diary-Maud's 8 diary. Turns over the
leaves and catches that woman's name
against whom be has suddenly taken q
violent dislike.
January 25.-Was at Mrs. Chatter
by's-how strange one does not say any
thing Of her husband, yet he is the nicer
of the two-ard I think it will be bet
ter not to go again to dinner. One can
always make some excuse that will not
be quite untrue.
g The dinner is in haaor of Mr..
Fynical, who is leaving his college and
coming to live in London to do literary
work, as Mrs Chatterby has been ez-
planning for weeks, and to give tone to
the weeklies
. The younger men areeuite devoted
to him, and eought all to be so thank
full that he is5to be within reach. His
touch reminds one of'-I don't know
the French writer, but she does not al
ways give the same name. We hope to
see gxeat deal Of him. So delightfully."-
cynical, you know, and hates the bour-
geoisie.
3 81 was terrified lest should sit next
Mr.. cynical, but Mrs Chatterby was
meciful and gave me jamie Godfrey's
father. Edward says that he is very
able man and will be lord chancellor
some day, but he is so.quiet and modest
that one feels quite at home with him.
Last summer be was yachting on the
west9coast Of Scotland, and he described
the sunset over the Skye hills, and I
tried to give him a Devonshire sunrise.
We both forgot where we were. and
then Mrs. Chatterby asked me quite
loud, so that every o':e looked. what !
thought Of Smudges.
The dinner table seemed to wait for
my answer, and wish that the book
had never come from the library, but 1
said that had sent it back because it
seemed SO bitter and cruel, and one
ought to read books which showed the
noble side Of life.
You are one Of the cid fashioned
women, she replied. You believe in q
novel for the young person, with q
smile that hurt me, and I told her that
7 had been brought up on Sir Walter
Scott. I was trying to say something
about his purity and chiyalry, when |
caught Mr.. Fynical's eye and blushed
red IF I had only been silent, for I'm
afraid every one was Laughing, and Ed
ward did not say one word to me all the
way home.
February 2o.-Another ordeal, but
not SO unfortunate as the last The
Browne-Smythes are very kind friends,
but / do think they are too much con-
cerned about having clever people at
their house. One evening Mrs. Browne
Smythe said she was happy because
nothing had been talked about except
translations Of Homer. A certain guest
was SO miserable on that occasion that
begged Edward to leave re at home
this time, but he said it would not be
Greek again. It was science, however,
and when we came in Mrs. Browne
Smythe was telling a very learned LOOK
ing person that she simply lived for
fossils A young lady beside me was
talking about gases to nervous man,
who grew quite red and tried to escape
behind table. I think she was wrong
in her words, and he was too polite to
correct her. To nv horror. he was