The suburban citizen., 1901-06-29

ly pearly-IAlE cneek, anu hel CySS
looked large and restless She had
evidently dressed hurriedly. The laces
on her bosom looked as though hastily
adjusted, and the flowers at her belt
were pinned awry. II am late,' she
apologized. She had come up the room
to her husband, and lifted her lips for
his customary evening salute. Il am
sorry to have kept dinner waiting. 1t
Is objectionable, 1t shall not occur
again"
He murmured few deprecating
words, and they went into dinner to-
gether. All during dinner in the rich,
old, dark k-panelled room, where the
golden sunset light poured in through
softening draperies of thin crimson
silk, she was very gay, very entertain
ing. She always was vivacious, es-
peclally when she had anything to con-
ceal under a tide of clever talk or a
sparkling shower Of wit, And David
Farnham was a good llstener-an ex-
cellent listener
When one of his few friends, hand
some, reckless, improvident Ross Len
ard had ended his fit of remorse over
disastrous mining speculations by put
ting a bullet in his brain, letter found
near him asked that David Farnham
would look after the little girl
Farnham had accepted the trust with
the quiet consciousness natural to him
IN matters great or unimpOrtant He
had sent the girl to the best schools.
He had arranged that her vacations
should be safely and pleasurably
spent. He had acted precisely as
though she were a blood relative, legal
ly entitled to his protection and as
sistance. But when she came to him
from school, a quite bewitchingly fair
and accomplished young woman, he
was temporarily dismayed. Whatever
was he to do with such a charming
encumbrance? For a year she lived
with a widowed sister Of his All her
mothers people were across the ocean,
and being strangers to her she re-
fused to go to them. Farnham went
punctually at stated periods to see his
ward and was in every way solicitous
for her comfort. But daily the reall2a-
ton grew on him that she was not as
well and carefully guarded as she
should be- In his perplexity he asked
her to marry him. Now, months after
their marriage, strange emotions
thrilled him when he recalled the
manner of her reply She had turned
her head away for a moment. Then
she had looked up at him, her face
flaming scarlet. Her eyes met his full
and steadily.
"Yes-if you are sure you want me
yes" she said.
Life had been a good deal like a
fairy story to him since then. He
was lord of palace, aud the beauti-
full princess was his-only his! In
all his uneventful, Woodworking life
he had never imagined what it might
be to live in paradise; that its gates
should ever swing wide for him had
not entered into his imaginings.
1T was a delightful drama" she
went on, apropos of the matinee Of the
afternoon. 1T is likely TO have a long
run. Almost every one who is left in
town was there"
81 passed the theatre as the crowd
was coming out" he said. 81 had an
imperative business engagement, SC
could not cross over; but think / saw
you as you left. I'm almost sure II
was you, but you know how near-sight
ed l am. You wore white, did you
nOt-a white coat and hatY'
YES" she said in a breathless sort
Of way. She laid down her roll anG
looked over at him. Yes"
He slipped slowly, almost retrospec
lively. II thought could not be mis-
taken. 1 was sorry 1 had not time tC
make sure-to meet you. Besides, yor
were not alone. You had the carriage
And-there was some one with you
coming out, was there not? \ tai
man. You were not alone. / was no
positive, but it looked like Andrews
Was it Andrews"
Her fork fell on her salad plate will
a little tinkling clatter. "You-yol
are not so near-sighted, after all" she
laughed.
Then It was Andrews|
Yes" she answered. That suddeI
rose color again stained her cheek, He
bright, eager gaze never left his face
Tit was Colonel Andrews"
Then she was off in the sparkling
narration Of the chief comedy scene il
the play, telling it with delicious hu
NOR, inimitable mimicry, and scintil
liant flashes Of original comment. AnC
all was made mesmeric by the CLEAN
ing laughter Of purple-blue eyes, til,
little airy gestures of white, perfec
hands.
And David Farnham, eating hi
fruit and cracking his walnuts list
ened and looked his slow, sweet smile
deepening around his firm lips.
And she was his-his, David Farm
ham's-his wife! this exquisite girl
with the snowdrifts Of her stalnles,
life behind, and the wild rose garder
! Of her beautiful life before. He pu
his hand to his throat at the thought