The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1898-07-07
| MQIG Of Temperament.

look of relief down the steps from the
crowded reception-rooms into the gar
den. He was not musician, and, al
though all that was best and most I'M
pronounceable on the London concert
stage was at present performing In her
ladyship's drawing-room, the only
comment he could md to make to
Philip Rutherford was that there was
too much Of this bsastly adding"
Then he had left Philip Rutherford.
and annexed Miss Phoebe Horton
(much the prettiest Of the three Miss
Hortons), and now passed into the gar
den, looking Is one who passed out Of
the valley Of the shadow. Chinese Ian
terms twinkled everywhere. The gar
den was no wilderness. London gar
dens are not big enough for that-and
at the moment parts Of 1t were densely
populated. but the Major and his com.
panion passed through the groups near
the house into the comparative solitude
beyond. There, as 1t was necessary to
say something to Phoebe, he said that
he didn't care for violin. He was a
man Of few ideas; when he had got one
he never made the mistake Of express
ing It In the same way to q woman as
to man. In a general condemnation
Of the violin Phoebe supported him en-
Enthusiastically, and the walk in the
garden would not have taken more
than three minutes fifteen seconds by
a respectable chronometer. And that
was all there was against the Major
absolutely nothing else. He returned
Miss Phoebe Horton to Philip Ruther.
ford In excellent condition, and sought
out Christine. He found her, and he
Judged by her appearances that there
was a storm gathering. Unquestion.
ably the best thing to do with a gath.
ering storm is to take 1t into supper.
BY the time it has finished its supper
1t has probably forgotten the cause OF
its storminess, and holy calm follows.
So the Major, who, though he had
few ideas, was not an impractical man,
suggested that he should take Christine
In to supper.
mo, thank you," said Christine. Il
don't want any supper"
WELL" the Major said vaguely, lone
must do something"
II don't want to do anything" said
Christine.
WELL" the Major said again, ITS
very hot In here, and this music doesn't
much appeal to me. you know. viii
you come out into the garden?"
Christine got up, sighed, and said
that she only came because she was
tired Of saying mo" to everything.
They passed out together. The gar.
den was almost empty now; nearly
everybody was in the supper-room.
"You like this garden, don't your"
said Christine,
well, yes" he said; these lanterns
and things aren't bad. II you gel
right up to the far end you can't hea,
the music-at least, not enough t.
matter"
did you 60 up to the far end JUS
now?" said Christine.
What do you rnean?"
Nothing"
"Oh, come! One doesn't say those
things for nothing"
VERY we'll, then. For the last hall
hour you've been hiding in the gar.
den."
"Oh, come! You mustn't say such
things"
The passion deepened in her voice.
you've been hiding in the garden
with Phoebe Horton" She tried to
laugh. II thought you'd had time to
EXPLORE It,"
"As matter of fact" said the Major
I don't suppose I was out here five
If I'd been out here for five
'ortnights, what would 1t have matter.
ID to your"
Nothing" she said, drearily
Nothing matters to me now"
Then he observed that things wer,
;rowing more serious. He took hel
|
Tell me-" he said, what is IT."
She began to cry.
-.
An hour and half later Majo,
)wen got out Of a hanson In Jermyn.
t. He paid the man his legal fare
dded another shilling because thu
nan didn't grumble at 1t, and went III
o his chambers. On an ordinary oc
aston, being middle-aged gentleman
I some discretion, he would have gone
traight to bed; this was not an ordi.
airy occasion. He changed his dress.
oat for smoking Jacket, mixed him.
elf brandy and soda, lit cheroot
nd sat down in an easy chair. Blu,
is mind was too disturbed for mac.
ion. He got up again, and paced tho
nou. circling like planet round the
tie table on which the tall glass +
arkled like a star under the electric ,
hit. At last he stood still.
II have done for myself" he said. >
Freedom was at an end. His com. ;
table chambers, that early IN the =
ening he had regarded as his per- I
.nent abiding-place, now seemed the =
fabric Of vision; the a
cath Of Hymen, and they were gone.
Then came second thoughts. Had he -
lily done for himself? Christine was a