The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-01-21

! With an inarticulate murmur-poor man,
1t sounded like curse-he turned his head
| aside.
- am looking at You, Major Arnott.
she said brightly. St4
Then don't" he grOaned, for II can't
| be a pleasurable sight,
y am looking" she went on, as II he had
not spoken. and si.h her head a little on
| one side, land trying to measure your
shoulders with nIy Incompetent woman
eye They obscure the view" plaintively.
Il wish you'd turn them round
| The broad back was mOtionless. however
IN stake my purse to a penny postage
! stamp she continued, critically. "they're
twenty-five inches across II they're an inch
Plenty of room for the birds to nest IN.
| eh Major Arnott?"
| He turned; deep sigh strangled in a
laugh
Tint try to flatter me into tranquility
and nice behavior. Miss Wolstencroft. I'm
not to h cajoled.''
Nevertheless, his humor palpably light
ened.
And So" he went on, presently, you
are confident of your powers?" He looked
her over. doubtful expression on the
strong, attractive face. That's like youl
You women run your races as you'd fight
| your battles-with your heads. We men,
| having less Imagination, are reduced to the
| vulgar use of legs and arms. That is why
women despise us in their hearts They
| can conceive a victory so much quicker
than can carry II out" He was lighting d
! cigarette by this time. spreading his cost
as n wind-screen, that Miss Wolstencro:S
might successfully apply the Pickering
vesta. Il shall lose my money, but | shall
have bought you a lesson in humility.
| Now. when shall it be, eh?'
She accepted the challenge promptly.
Tonight, by moonlight, when the pier is
deserted. AS for your money, you shall
see
The smile of victory was on her lips.
| The words came trippingly. Major Arnott
demurred in favor of the present
Il feel fey she tolG him: but I'm
not going to make an exhibition on myself
in broad daylight all the same. Frisking
along the pier, kicking up my heels for the
/ benefit of the multitude, would never do
! at my time of life No. must have be-
coming background for my middle-aged
freaks; soft moonlight. ripping water.
stars-if they are procurahle-lights in the
distance. and ships on the horizon. I'm
rather like the elderly fairies in the back
row of the ballet. Major Arnott-as nimbIe
as the best of 'em, and look all right at
night"
She laughed holding up her face to
catch the warm rays of the sun.
You're the youngest woman OF my ac-
quaintance." he said thoughtfulIy regard
! ing her with sober gravity from under
/ penthouse brows.
/ I'm fairly hale and active" was the
cheerful response.
You're younger In thought and mind
--eontinu!ng-''than many forward chits
OF seventeen. When one first meets you.
your reserve chlIl---even while it inter-
ests. But day by day your shyness. indif-
ference, pride Tor WHAT the deuce IL may
bel melts. and one takes a pleasure in
watching your nature unfolding leaf by
leaf. like sunfiowsr turning to and ex-
chin SUDDENLY The longer one knows
you. the younger yoh become could al
most swear that I could count the years
as you slipped them Og-like a butterfly
In the chrysallis stage shedding It's skin
/ an curiously Watching each transit; by
the end of our acqttaint,nce. | expect
II shall have retiirIied to swaddling
clothes, and wave you 'ta-ta' with my
bib in one hand any my gum soother In the
other" Major Arnott looked annoyed as
Hester's laugh rang out. Butterflies and
sunflowers indeed! Donkeys and thistles
It's injudicious iattery that turns an old
maids head"
She turned her and looked at him-a look
that ended in laugh on both sides.
You are the kind of old lady" he said
subsiding into gravity. who is responsible
for deal of mischief in the world. I'm
thinking"
~"
Yes, you" mimicking her tone. Then,
voice and face softening. Your heart is
so tender. so full OF womanly sympathy
and when one tries to express a part of
ones gratitude. you-you leap on the back
of some wild. elfish fancy, and go Gathering
and rearing round our heels till we take
to them at last, dropping our gratitude in
the road for you to ride over I
sometimes feel. he added. when she failed
to answer him. that It would be a pleasant
and invigorating thing TO mount beast OF
the same genus, and go riding with you
Cloudland must be a pleasant place II you
explore IL in company. Oh to mount one
Of the broumsticks of my youth and go
flying through she air again in search of
Tomfoolery Land"
rs there room for me?" quiet voice
1t was. but with i queer little thrill in
1t. that put the question. IF so. take me
up in front of you. My beast is hard to
hold in sometimes. You look so safe. I'd
like to try your broom
would you come wistfully 81
haven't ridden 1t for years"
II shouldn't be afraid Of mounting it
with you"
Il might fly higher than you bargained
for'-his somber eyes were klndllng-
and when you saw us rising higher and
higher above the hOusetops yo., might cry
and beg 10 be put down.
And then you'd drop me-
No" The word shot out charged with
stubborn meaning. III you cuce mounted.
| should hold on tight"
II believe you would" laughing a trine
nervously. You'd finish your race, though
you might drop at the post"
viii you enter one with me ?" His eyes
we're on fire now. "A race with phantoms,
and nothing at the end of it, a wooden
broomstick to carry us, and helpless
cripple astride it to steer you to Tom
fOolery Land?''
Hester, shaking with some emotion.
tried 10 answer lightly:
Your broomstick is almost as uncon-
trollable as nv horse. We mustn't soar
too high. Perhaps carths the safest place
for us poor mortals after all"
THE safest. yes; hut the sweetest?''-
Major ArDott's face was flushed. Hes
tern a whisper-"dear one don't YOU
see? I've mounted the broom and am
head and shoulders into Cloudland already.
Don't turn away. Hester. Why"
Midway up TO her eyes where they were
creeping coyertly. band and handkerchief
were arrested suddenly
You're CRYING, CrvinRt YOU Sion II