The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-03-12

the stairs. She entered, looking as prin
ana.impassive as ever, yet fancying sh'
was receiving the visitors with all cor
diality. These latter began, Of course
at once with inquiries for the invalid
accompanying them with every assur
ance Of sympathetic interest, and Mis-
Maynard was pleased TO say that be hat
had very comfortable day and had
vastly enjoyed the warm tea Mrs. Stan.
nard had made for him half an hour
since. To refer to it or to any edible OF
potable as hot would have been Grass
violation Of Miss Maynard's tenets as
to what was delicate and refined in
speech. She experienced something akin
to shock on hearing an officer of the
regular army, her burly host, importune
his smiling wife to order more hot
buckwheats, for village ethics in this
behalf, first applied by imported school
ma ANS to purely personal conditions
as when they gently rebuked the maid
ems running in from the game of tag at
recess and saying "I'nl so hot"-had
gradually extended to provincial EN-.
barge against the adjective on any
terms. All the Same warn" meant
"hot" when applied to toast and tea,
and Mrs. Turner took the word, as say
the French, and hustled briskly into
conversation.
"Ah, yes, we all know how good Mrs
STANDARDS tea isl My cook never can
get it like hers bpt just as soon as Mr..
Maynard's able to eat anything I'll be
too happy to bring him some dainties
myself. Does he like jelly?"
VERY muoh," answered Miss May
nard, with a somewhat astringent
smile. His appetite is coming back,
and he wants to eat everything" But
she made no mention of the jelly he
had eaten and rejoiced in only an hour
before far more than he did Mrs Stan
nard's tea, SO it was the latter who
spoke.
Miss Baird brought him some deli
cious jelly this afternoon" she an
pounoed, land it was good to see how
he enjoyed it,"
eyes, but it was Mrs. Barry, not
Miss Baird, who was the donor"
quickly interposed Miss Maynard.
miss Baird was merely the bearer,
though am sure she was very kind,
and am very grateful to her,"
1t was impossible that such veteran
society women as their visitors should
not note the almost intense eagerness
with which Miss Maynard seemed to
desire to impress them with her theory
that Miss Baird was in nowise connect
ed with the preparation Of the jelly for
her invalid brother. A quick glance was
exchanged, but no comment made. In
deed, there was no time, for the majors
voice and step were heard at the door as
he came noisily into the hall, ushering
the adjutant and a subaltern or two
who had come to inquire for Maynard
and to pay their respects to the ladies.
They f1ocked into the little army parlor
with the easy confidence Of comrades
sure Of welcome and dropped into seats
wherever they could find them, even
the piano stool bearing its share, and
the chat and laughter rippled on, Miss
Maynard speedily relapsing into silence
and study Of the faces about her with
deep interest, yet with the same inl-
passive, almost solemn visage; old |
Stannard beaming on the party from
the doorway, where he stood in his
habitual OF duty attitude, hands deep
in trousers pockets and legs straddled
apart as though long years in saddle
had rendered it impossible to lounge in
any other pose. Presently he turned and
tiptoed up the narrow stairway, saying
he'd 60 and have peep at Maynard,
who was reported half awake, half
doing and pretending to read.
"Queer we don't hear word from
Barry" said one Of the younger officers,
flushing u bit as be caught the adju-
tant's baleful eye glowering at him for
the omission Of Barry's title at the
hands of one SO many years his junior.
"We dropped in there" he plunged
ahead, in nervous effort to cover the
solecism, hoping to get some news,
but Mrs. Barry hadn't had line for
two days."
did you see her, Mr. Graham"
queried Mrs. Stannard, "or did Miss
Baird receive you?"
"We saw her. She was lying on her
couch before the parlor fire. Mrs. Ray
was with her. We didn't see Miss
Baird" And then young Graham be-
came suddenly aware that the other
three women had not only discontinued
chat, but were listening to him and not
to the other men. 1t embarrassed him
still the more. "She wasn't feeling
very well, " Mrs. Barry said. "She came
home from her walk rather later than
usual and had to go to her room."
II hope Miss Baird is not going to be
ill.," said Mrs Stannard anxiously.
"She has been looking little pale of
late" And Mrs. Stannard did not see
how intently Miss Maynard was eying
her as she spoke.
"Oh, didn't understand that any
thing serious was the matter; only she
didn't come down to tea and Mrs. Ray
was taking her place temporarily"
There was a moment S silence Every ,,
one present except Miss Maynard was
aware Of her brothers. manifest devotion
to Nathalie Baird for two weeks previ- =
GUS to his serious adventure in town, ..
and each and every one was wondering
how much the young girls indisposition
might be due to anxiety on his account.
Mrs Turner was the first to speak, {
"How very queer that she should be ,,
III, don't you think so?" she queried, .
rue to her practice of committing her ..
nearer to some expression indicative of -,
support of-Mrs. Turner's views and !
opinions.
VERY queer, murmured Mrs. Ray =
nond, glancing furtively at Miss May y
lard, whose face, pale and patient, still q
ave no sign. .
"Oh, II don't suppose it's any.
hing seriousr' interposed Lieutenant G
Walker. II met her near the gate as ;. :,
he was coming in. She seemed in
hurry, and I thought she looked more !.
s she used to when l first saw her up y
t Winthrop when I was there on court ~
martial duty. She was looking mighty "
retty last week, but seems to have "