People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1899-01-17
passed before her mind. She was q.
lent for some moments.

NOt tuC 4SdSl UOuDI OI II, the WQOle
affair was excessively silly. 1t was
thoroughly in keeping with the rest
that now this young woman, on the
eve Of marriage with another mana
marriage into which no one had
forced her-should be looking with a
look OF pitiful appeal in her eyes, and
with tears, at man who had firted
with her five years before. Still, silly
as it was, it was so.
ID don't know" he stammered.
Perhaps | ought not to have brought
them. But l don't see why not. I
don't see how could have kept them,
could II"
you might have burned them,
mightn't you?" Edna said, with a
rather mischievous smile.
so l might" Cortrell answered
quickly. Il give you my word, Miss
Barsom-I beg you to believe mel
never thought of that"
Inc manifest sincerity with which
this was said and the ingenious blush
that accompanied the explanation
were irristible. Edna BarsCm burst
into a hearty laugh, which CortreA
was not long in taking up.
But at that moment the street door
was opened, and then the door of the
library, where these two stood laugh
ing over an old paid of gloves, and
the servant girl, in her directed and
distinctive manner, pronounced, Mis-
ter Bristol"
There was nothing really embar-
RAISING in the situation; the embar-
rassment was only apparent. The
event might have been different if all
the persons concerned had looked at
the case as it should have been looked
at. But while the girl, with cAarac-
teristic candor, saw only the reality,
Cortrell was, for some reason, i'm
pressed chiefly by the appearance.
Bristol, perhaps naturally, reflected
Cortrell's view.
He at once walked to the table and,
lifting the gloves, said, with eyebrows
raised, "a present? Won't you let me
into your joke?"
How are you, BRISTOL" Cortrell
said, holding out his hand. Il hope
you haven't forgotten me-"
The worst of it was that Edna was
still laughing. And there were the
gloves. Bristol appeared to think that
the situation demanded a display of
quiet dignity.
81 remember you perfectly, Mr..
Cortrell," he said, bowling slightly.
"May | ask again what amuses you SO
much?"
Edna became serious in a moment,
and, as she became serious she be-
came angry.
ut isn't very much of joke, Mr..
Bristol" she said. 'If you insist on
having it, however, Mr.. Cortrell has
just found an old pair of gloves of
mine and has brought them to me,
because it didn't occur to him to put
them in the fire. Isn't it funny?"
81 hardly think So" Bristol an
swered. Perhaps 1 might appreciate
the joke better if l knew where Mr..
Cortrell found these gloves"
As COrtrell opened his mouth to
make some answer to him, Edna, put
ting up her hand, said: "This is my
business. I'm afraid you will not
have an opportunity of fully appre-
ciating the joke, Mr.. Bristol, until
you manage to get into better hu-
NOR for that sort of thing"
She very carefully folded up the
gloves and laid them behind the clock
on the mantlepiece, while Cortrell
stared at her and Bristol stood biting
his neither lip.
Then there was an awkward pause
for some moments, until Cortrell said
something about going.
"Why, I've hardly had ten words
with you yet, Mr.. Cortrell," Edna
said, with a wicked glance at the
other man. please don't go yet. Per-
haps-perhaps l may find something
of interest to show, if you'll wait a
little longer"
Then perhaps l had better call at
some other time," Bristol said.
1t was very awkward situation in
deed. Bristol could not stay after
this last observation of his, and Cor
trtll could not run away after Edna ,
pressing invitation.
Half an hour later Cotrell said:
What did you mean by saying that
you might find something interesting
to show me?"
'Did II" said Edna. do you hold
me to it? 1t occurred to me suddenly.
Wait here.
DO you recognize this?" and she
suddenly produced an cid faded red
velvet smoking cap. 1t was a Me-
phisto, with sides pulled down and an
absurd brush at one side.
by Jingo!" Cortrell exclaimed.
eyes," said Edna. "You had to 60
home bareheaded."
at was that night, wasn't it, after
we had all been to the mill"
Remember the water rats?"
And you would pull off your
gloves and try to reach water lilies"
Edna nodded. And you wouldn't
give them back to me-"
"Jack stole my cap, didn't he?"
eyes, and l made him give it to me
to keep in pledge for my gloves"
when did you find that old cap,
Miss Barsom?"
about a week ago." Edna said,
looking a little confused. 81 didn't
know you were coming home then"
Hnf a.