The Washington times., 1901-07-28
.GARRISON'S LOVE
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he saw her whir..:.ng around the room in
the arms Of this or that smart young
man. and an even wcr~e ore when her
ahsence. from the room showed that she
was sitting out. OF course 1t was natural
very natural. indeed.
But, oh. the bliss Of dancing with her.
And when she suggested. as she often
did. that the ballroom was hot and
crowded, and that 1t would be far nicer to
sit out. he was in the seventh heaven. t
was on occasions like these that she told
him all her troubles. and 1t was such JOY to
him to be confided in In return he
broached the secretaryship project, and
was amply rewarded when she turned to
him with the sunniest smile. and . cry
OF How good and kind OF YOU What q
dear, true friend you are" -.ls
SO II was arranged. Really It was q
most favorable moment to propose. Dell
cacy. however, required that there should
be some slight preliminary. He was juse
beginning when the Prince OF Marfboiin-
Maravedi came up and claimed her. Then
with smile she was gone and CliHord
Garrison did not see her again that even
ing.
He had not known that she was acc
quainted with the prince. but very soon
he learned that the latter was one of her
most constant and attentive partners
This alarmed him q little. and he tried to
lead her on to talk about the prince She
owned ne was pleasant and danced well.
but showed ro especial interest, and did
not seem to have much to say about him.
On the other hand. she was lavish and
fluent in gratitude for the kindness with
which he had received her brother who
was now installed as private secretary in
comfortable suite of chambers In Cliff
ford Garrison's ample house.
1t was unfortunate that Lord Bloxovef
should so soon have struck up an inti-
macy with the Prince Of Marabolin- Mara
vedi. for the result was that very often
when Clifford Garrison had some plan in
view for Maud s amusement, II turned out
that ''Blox'' had made some arrangement
with the prince, and they were all going
to drive down to birmingham or Rane-
lagh to lunch, or play croquet. or some
thing. Wouldn't dear Sir Clifford come.
too, and join them? But Sir Clifford did
not see his way clear to joining another
mans party--and such very young man
without the mans own invitation
At times he began to wish that he had
not brought Bloxover to town. There had
been none of this scampering about be-
fore that. Really. Lady St. tombstone
oughtnt to allow it. He shadowed out a
hint to that lady, but found her rather
obtuse- 1t did not appear to enter her
head that there could be any harm in a
girl going about II she had a brother to
look after her Further, she appeared to
think the prince charming
III L were as young as / was once, I
should be head over ears in love with
him. and may as well confess that, old
as l am. / should IL it weren't so pain
fully obvious that 1 haven't the faintest
chance"
She gazed at him with a smiling. keen
significance that was quite uninteligible.
But he thought II almost indecent for a
woman of her age to talk In that way
about so young mn. f-~
Clifford Garrison determined on a COUP
de-main- He arranged dinner at Hurl-
ingham, and secured Maud. After the din
ner he would invite Maud for a stroll
round the grounds, and then
The programme worked out with beau
tiful precision. The host and his lovely
guest left the crowded terrace, the hang
ing red and gold lanterns. the peaHng mu-
sic and walked slowly down to the river
Il am SO glad You thought of this" she
said. eagerly. II have something to tell
you which 1 want you to hear from me
first of all. / have sworn Biox and Lady
St Johnstone not to tell. and it won't be
announced in the paper till the end Of
the week No one knows but my own
people and she, and wish you to know
next Of ALL
Clifford Garrison's heart began to beat
hard, as if he had run far and fast He
felt strange fear and queer sense Of
cold Yet it was a warm night, and what
could there be to hear?
You have been 50 kind she continued.
so good. have got to regard you as
dear. kind uncle; l wish you to know Of
my happiness first from me- am engag-
ed to be married to the man love. The
Prince IF. Marabolin- -Marayedi mas asked
me to be his wife and / am the happiest
girl alive Dearest Uncle Clifford, won't
you congra tuiate meZ"
The study of statesmanship for about a
quarter of century helps man to con-
ceal his feelings. and Sir CLIFFORD, aided
by the dusk. did not betray himself He
felt suddenly some twenty years older,
however. than he had done before, and
the sensation was not agreeable. Two
days later he found that his health re-
quired him to leave the cares Of Office for
while and seek change OF air-F,rom the
London World