The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1900-03-16

| her visit was drawing to q close, he was
no nearer to lovemaking than upon the
first day. She grew trihe uneasy. 1t
was not that she wanted Proctor, but
that she wanted to know she could have
him. So she condescended, in the diem
ma, to speak t.. her host "Mr Proctor
is desperate 1irt, don't you think?" she
asked. 1t was meant to be light, but it
was shade anxious.
That would have been Strong's chance
to have put an end to a joke that was
going too far. 1t had got away from
them, and the man to stop it refused to
arise. Strong funked. He looked mean
and said that he had never known Proc
tor to flirt 'IIe is swathed in red tape,
as n general thing has notions of duty
and the rest of it." Then he went off
and sworc at Proctor in his own breast.
Which is human nature.
Proctor for his part swore Mt every
body else openly. Pm SO far in it now
| that | don't know how to get out" he
| said. And they grinned and suggested
that he tell the truth and shame the
devil.
| And feel more of q COMPOUNDED ass
than l do now"
Consider; you are avenging u.s." cooed
the bachelors.
| lie said rude things about them. They
asked what he would like them to do.
Shall we come in body the next
time you are en- tete-a-tcte and explain,
| or shall we do it while you are absent
and can't defend yourself? Any way
| you put it you will look a good deal of a
| cad, you know" They chuckled.
Proctor sulked. Mrs. Strong has got
| to do it," he announced.
Mrs. Strong won't. She feels about
as small as you do. She goes around
| with the look of n stage conspirator. You
might draw off gradually" they advised.
Il might make a qualified fat of my
| self" said Proctor. 1--WE done it as 1t
is" He departed to keep an engagement
to walk around the island with Miss
Hadley.
When they started, he made the SOL
emn resolve that before they got to the
! quarantine station she should know all,
but she swung into the post as blissfully
ignorant as she had left it. He had
funkcd again.
And at this point fate came to his aid.
They sat on the steps of the Strongs'
quarters resting, when an orderly brought
a telegram for him and a box for Miss
Hadley. The box contained violets. Proc
tor was pleased to think what those little
attentions were costing the other bach
elors, but he glanced ut his own card ly-
ing in the purple fragrance with loathing.
Then he opened the telegram and put it
hastily in his pocket.
Miss Hadley asked what it was. He
said that it was from some one he had to
meet at the train tomorrow.
(Which train?' said Miss Hadley.
H. 4 D.
tor.
She told him that she, too, was going
to the city on the early boat, for q few
hours. I'VE may strike the same one
coming back"
He thought it would probably be his
uncomfortable luck.
And it came to pass as Miss Hadley
had predicted. They struck the samt
boat. She came aboard hurredly, just
as the gangplank was being drawn in.
and she looked about for Proctor, calmly
possessivey, as though he must, OF
course, be there. But he was not to BIZ
seen. So she stood and talked to a group
Of post people, as the boat swung out
into the bay and the foggy wind blew
stitlly about them. She was not sensi
tive, yet she was dimly aware that they
were civil beyond their wont; even there
seemed vague sympathy in their man.
ner. But she was busy and distracted,
watching for Proctor. He might be be
low deck or in the cabin.
At length he appeared from the other
side Of the deck, walking with-another
girl. The girl glanced at her with halt
smile. She was so pretty that Miss Had
lcy'ss lips set, and she forgot what she
had been saying.
Proctor and the girl strolled to the
stern and stood there. Then Proctor
caught Miss Hadley's amazed eye, anG
he raised his hat. But she beckoncd. /:
was assurance, 10 say the very least. bui
he went 10 her, leaving the other girl
The group would have been glad to mel
away. but some way it couldn't.
Then Miss lLadiGy's admirable and pei
feet cool cheek reached its zenith. ''Wh,
is your pretty fgicnd?" she asked. Erum
mel could not have been more superb.
There was Il pause. Some one Nigh
have helped Proctor ont, but no one did
4 smoker came from the group and turn
ed into a cough. Then the man il
Proctor came to his aid. the rca!iza;io!
that it WAS all everybody clsc's fault
anyway-Aliss HaiIry's, in particular
He looked at her in stern reproach
She's my wife, Miss Hadlcy."
The very winds and the screw wcr
huShed In the silence Proctor's eyes be
gan to shift. But Miss Hadlcy's ow!
were on his face, and they never waiver
ed. Somewhere in their limpid depth.
there was twinkle. About the corner:
of her mouth there was an unmistakabl!
amused twitch. She raised bunch O
violets to hide it. They were the one:
that had come the day before. He NOV
ed uneasily and met the eyes peerint
above the flowers again. This time the!
held him.
81 wonder"-Miss Hadley's voice came
slowly, with distinctncss that must
have penetrated even to the stern-'1
wonder whether it is | or you-all, who
feel the most cheap? Take me to meet
your wife, Mr.. Proctor"
And he took her.-Argonaut.