The times., 1900-04-01

three and She was fifteen. they had not
seen each other since ne had turned forty
and she had availed herself Of her major
ity to marry foolishly 50 their early rela-
tions. il familiar. were unromantic. Thanks
TO the line Of furebears wearing in sue
cession the wig Of jurisprudence he had
been already bald and serious when she
had cast her child's glance upon him. and
now. a quarter century later. her widow s
scrutiny found him much the same save
that the frame Of his badness. like his
: mustacho. was gray and the seriousness
[ OF his face had become gravity. almost
I steruness
lf he had changed not very greatly ,u
[ the shaded light Of her own strategicauv
planned drawing room she seemed to him
to have aged not AZ all The girl was
grown full woman and indeed. widow
OF forty cannot properly affect ingenious
ness; but her weeds were rather becoming
to her beauty than illumnative Of her
sorrow
They we're alone. and would. intention
ally, remain alone. for the game Of hide
and seek Of chastened hearts is not to be
played in company.
You are looking we'll she observed
Better han when ! saw you last
The occasion TO which she referred was
her wedding breakfast; and certainly the
then captain of foot was not looking his
best that day.
Thank you said he uodding stifiy;
I'm pretty ft And you you're as well
as ever suppose
She smiled az the awkward speech. You
are as ironical as ever, / perceive"
Me ironical," he blurted-"not u But
I thought you seemed so we'll. and re-
member you always seemed well. We're
you not always well2'
She had not intended herself to open a
Irritation with him. but this temptation was
irresistible
She was silent. with fire cast eyes. be-
fore she answered Yes. when you knew
me / was well. little pause. Since
then have not always felt so very. very
we'll" Another brief pause. Then, as the
eyes Travelled sayly from the fire to his
face to fall demureIy on his watch chain:
But you see I am quite myself again.
Colonel Jemmett was entranced; wrinkles
of twenty years standing faded from his
countenance. and he tried to recall
speeches imagined before his wrinkles
came: but the futility of the phrases
crushed him now. and he said. with very
little emotion so you missed grandpapa.
after all?
bStu TO taI you 6iauNIdpd Sut
asked; she really had forgotten it. Why
should have called you grandpapa2"
His right hand ascended TO his crown
Il think. at first it was because Of that,
he said.
begged.
Colonel Jemmeu writhed in his chair.
Because of not having any hair on the
top Of my head ] wasn't so very bald,
don't you know he answered.
Laughter rippled from the window. You
are avenged she said, my own hair
is growing thin now and I'm only thirty
nine"
In spite of himself he started; he had
just ordered bracelet to be given her on
her fOrty-frst birthday.
She saw she had made a slip and
hastened to recover her balance. Don't
tell me you know better" she rallied him
since my birthday is in February may
be forgiven for keeping it only in leap
year. But truly, I shall very soon have /
less hair than you. Don't you believe |
me?"
He shook his head increduIously.
She deliberately loosened some half
dozen pins and took from the center OF
her coifure a plat of not very great pro |
portions. 1T is my own she remarked 7
1t was cut of when / was 3
yery-not very, very WE'LL had it made I
up. Now. come and look at my bald spot"
As one who approaches a shrine Colonel /!
Jemmett did her bidding. Two Of her long /.
fingers diving into her hair discovered to /
him a perfectly bald disk, certainly not I.
bigger than a sixpenny piece; perhaps it I
rad been once tenauted by a coutumacious I
patch of gray.
can you give me nothing TO make it {
grow again" she asked pitifully.
Colonel Jemmett's heart fiuttered as he /
stopped and kissed the place. but the kiss
itself was reverential. The widow sur
prise was divided evenly between his gal
lantry and his austerity. She wondered
what he would do next
Il hope you are not offended with me.
he said.
"Oh, no, dear grandpapa," she answered, ;
with a trace Of malice. Sit down AMI /
tell me all about yourself: about your ex-
ploits in the East. / want to hear particu- (
larly about them; for the newspaper re
ports are so stupid I never can understand I
them"
Exploits" said he colonel; Il never +
had one to my name"
Don't be modest with an Old cr0ny.' 7
she returned Il heard Of what YOU did .
in the Black Mountains-or we're they /.
Bue?-although confess ! could not make .
out exactly what it was
Upon my honor" declared he colonel,
Il never did anything az all"
What exclaimed the widow laugh
iugly You never marched from some .
place to the relief Of some other place .
your guns over snow noun
tain?"
"Ah' know what you're thinking Of "
said tho colonel "It was a man called