The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1898-05-13

SEEN TEiRoUGH-s
THE SMOKE.
STTrTTTrrTTFTTFFTT~FFFFEF
1T Always wonder why it is you

have never married, Dickf
Itwas Emily who had said these words
some half an hour ago, and Dick had
found no. answer for them: and he
sits by the fire and ponders over them
nightly, trying to find If there is an
answer. Dick is five-and-forty, tall. ro-
bust, with rather handsome face and
ilorid complexion, md with bright gold
en- brown hair; but just where it makes
little crinkles above his cars 1t has tiny
silver threads running through it. An
even rnce now between the gold and sill
yer; but in these days of bimetaIlism
who shall answer for the future?
He is very personable man, true,
honest, good fellow, rather slow ut
grnsping un idea: but when he has
grasped 1t, it is sure TO become a serv-
iceable, clean idea. Dicks grasp. firm
and strong. would always purge it Of
any vice or vulgarity 1t might have
possessed before. He now sits quite
alone in the comfortable library OF his
sisters house. He smokes pipe. and
thinks over that sisters question: II
always wonder why 1t is you have never
married, Dick"
Then a curious thing happens. AS
the smoke of lis pipe rises up in thick
black clouds. ne looks quite through
It back to the ear 1867. and sees him
self again as a boy Of 20. just before he
first salts for India: such jovial. noisy
sort of boy, with q ready smile and.
pleasant word for everyone, Just now
much excited ut the prospect OF the
new life which is to begin with the voy-
age tomorrow.
he is just entering ballroom with
friend Of about his own age. ("Jack
Dufford, who died In China" murmurs
Dick of to-day.) 1t is very large ball
room, brilliantly lighted, and decorated
with flowers and evergreens. It must
be a regimental ball. for there are coll
ors stacked at one end. Dick Of to-day
tries to make them out. but quite fails.
and so turns his attention 70 what
Jack Dufford is saying to Dick OF '67.
.sI want you to dance with my little
sitter Kitty. It is her first dance, and
she's the dearest little thing going"
and he puts his arm through Dick OF
'67's and takes him across the room to
where there stands girl in white
muslin. such dainty. fresh white mus
lin. with little blue bowllnots dotted
over it. and this Is MI that Dick Of '67
sees MS he makes his bow; but when he
raises his head agnin. he meets such a
sweet. dancing pair of brown eyes look
ing at him from such pretty bright
face. with whole mass of light fluffy
hair above and around it; and, later.
when he puts his arm round her and
they dance. and he looks down into the
hair. he sees wee wreath of blue for
get-me-knots half lost and very tightly
imprisoned in its glittering meshes. It
is almost Dick of '67's first ball. too, and
he thoroughly enjoys it. but none Of the
figures are plain TO Dick of to-day save
only the white muslin and blue bow
knot one: talking and dancing with 1t
seem to Al up the whole evening, and
then. when the end comes. Dick Of '6T
rolls It up, o. so tenderly! in warm,
white shawl. and Dick Of to-day feels
his heart beat quicker as little hand
is put into that old Dicks hand. and
low girlish voice says:
"well. goodnight and good-by. Mr..
Kenneth; hope you will like India
Then Dick of '67 goes home, and he
feels nervously excited and cannot
sleep, and thinks it must be from the
uncertainty OF liking India
Tho tobacco smoke clears off. and
our Dick wonders why such an old,
quite buried memory, should revive to-
night; but he has not much time for
wondering. for as fresh smoke rises up
he sees fresh figures forming them
solves behind It. Still himself. but old
er. browner. and more manly Dick,
this time Of '72. A ball again. evidently
in q private house; there is a wide
flight Of stairs, OFF It ut one side con-
servatory filed with flowers and at its
ton wide landing. with the ballroom
cpcning bright, noisy and joyous be-
'irt II.
N ,hc doorway stands the hostess,
~ 80 her guests: Dick of to-day