The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-09-05

when they appeared al breakfast on Ss7-
urday morning, were obviously strained
and Mrs. Clifford confided 10 ne that she
would give 95 TO know what hal passed
between them since the scene in the Bill
lard ROOM IL struck me that Durham
was excited by something more than :.
| difference with his sister, Tor ne was in
a very nervous. restless mood, and ate
little or no breakfast. 1t was Il very sll-
try, hot day, on which no one cared 10
go out beyond the grounds, for there was
. storm brewing, and the air was charg-
ed with electricity, which perhaps effect
| ed Durham. for his was one Of those high
ly-wrought, nervous temperaments liaole
10 climatic influences
Before IL O'Clock the storm broke. AMI
We were all, except Mr.. Durham, sitting
In the drawing-room, when one Of the
servants brought Mrs. Clifford a letter
From Mr.. Durham, ma am" said The
man. Miss Durham looked at the ht.le
widow. and If a look could have ami
Inflated her, Mrs. Clifford would there and
then have ceased to be. However, she
paid no attention to her antagonist, bit
! put the letter in her pocket, and shortly
after left the room. That il was an cffer
of marriage neither / nor 1 believe anyone
else in the room had any manner Ct
doubt. Miss Durham was, i think, aware
Of its contents. for I heard her mutter 20
herself the ume-hOnored adage that
there is no fool like an old foil" ami it
seemed TO have no application just then
50 opposite as TO her brother. The little
widow so far tempered the wind ID the
| shorn lamb as not TO keep him long IN
| suspense, for an hour later l met her in
the hall. and she asked me to be kind
enough TO take a letter 10 him. She lock-
/ ed very serious, and / sancied she rad
| been crying. / took the letter, and Dur
I ham did not appear at luncheon; indeed,
| did not see him again, for | went for a
| long walk in the afternoon, and when I
came back Warren met me With the news
/ that he had left.
HAS his sister gone with him.
| mo; worse luck. She is going to re-
main. Mrs. Clifford leaves On Monday.
She has refused Durham, OF course. don't
/ you think soy
ut looks like IT," / asserted as l e.
capped, for ! didn't care 20 discuss the
matter any further with Warren.
| could not understand Mrs. Ciiff0rd's
next freak She was very quiet at dinner.
and went TO her own room soon after,
and remained there. On Sunday she came
! down looking so demure that rallied her
about II.
1T is Sunday ! always <esl very gool
/ on Sundays / have been yery wicked al
! the week, | know" she answered.
do you regret IL?
Frankly do: but upon my word dill
I not think ne was In earnest" she said,
I taking IL fer granted that / knew TO
Z -. all
There is some one else in earnes. be-
sides poor old Durham. said I. glane!n5
al Warren.
! ION, 1 don't regret that muea, sad
/ she. with a touch Of seorn-
IL were 10 tell you Warren IL not the
/ only person who IL also in earnestg be-
/ gan tentatively.
/ Please don't tell me anything 50 fool
! ism. at leasi not til after Y o'clock to-
morrow"
May / do so then?'
"You wont want to- laughed she. as
/ she left the breakfast room, before i
could protest that should not only want
to do 80. but should do IL,
/ Warren and 1 were the only occupants
OF the billiard room that evening. and "a
/ we smoked he eOnflesd 20 me hat hs had
proposed 10 Are. Clifford that afternoon.
| Did she refuse your
/ mo" said Warren.
What DO you mean to tell Ee you
are engaged 10 herr
NO. 4hs neither refused nor accepted
! me-" said Warren.
What the devil did she do them ask
| ed.
she told me TO wait TIL noon tO-mOr-
/ row and then she would give me an an
! swer And 10 tell you the truth. Mark
ham. don't think she means % accept
me then"
/ What do you think she means, thspZ'
| "Mlschisf my boy. but what form II Will
/ take the Lord only knows"
| Il don't fancy Il Is the Lord who. has
much 20 do with H." said l.
Neither do 1. Wei. ] wonder what Y