The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-11-30

died II 1t hadn been for an accident. >
What accident. Mr. Piper?'' came a
pretty voice, like CIarissa Firsts voice
thirty years since. Now will you be
lieve it?-my ancient heart began to
beat. Well, as I say. am still young
man.
Now don't. Job said Mrs. Piper.
1t was the accident. Miss BeIlingtOn,
of waking up one night and hearing
my wife's voice. I listened"
You listened, - said Clarissa Second,
for It was she; and I listened on the
stair
y listened Piper went on. '-to hear
my wife's voice. How do you spell
widow in French?' she was murmuring
in her sleep. Ny haiT-all I have left
stood on end. From that moment I
began to get well, and now"
How can you, Job?'' said Mrs. Pip
er.
head heard the same story a dozen
times. N the perfunctcry laughter
which I was relieved from sharing
thanks to my hesitation on the stair
I entered. making a relieved hush while
CIarissa First (she really was fatter>
/ greeted me- Then 1 turned around to
see her as she was thirty years ago
as she was now. rejuvenated, in Ga
rissa Second Ny heart beat ridicu-
lousy. Can you believe il Of me?
went at it. deIibera teIy-with the
shrewdness OF many, many a4airs-to
outshine that boy. Tom Roaringby-
And did, young Croesus that he is
that is, I apparently did She smiled
on me; she listened to me: she exclaim-
ed at all nv war stories that I had not
trotted out for many a year. She rode
with me, avoiding Roaringby- Jack
and CIarfssa First smiled approval Of
CIarissa Second. They did not think
me dangerous But 1 began to think
I was: this was after some days, you
understand.
Sometimes there was a touch of color
in her face. a glimpse Of a quickly hid
expression in her eyes. Could II be, /
askeiZ She certainly gave me prefer
ence among all OF that house party I
saw that; and Jack and ClaTissa First
never noticed in their sleek IaoS II sus-
picion. It became 2 question TO me
whether I was acting honoraOly1 and
then I forgot all considerations, even
those of the hospitality I was enjoying,
as If I were an unbridIed boy-and I
was an old boy.
Still. there were 10 sentimental
speeches until that fatal afternoon
we were returning alone through the
little wood I heard her sigh
s'Ah, Miss CIarissa." said I
Then she showed me her eyes I tried
to take her hand.
Dear major said she. drawing If
away, this life Is uncomfortable to me-
And why, Miss ClaTissa2" said L
You have everything
Excepting one thing" said she.
My dear young lady. wish were
twenty-thiTty years younger,
you don't look a bit more than thir-
ty-five''
You may appreciate my condition
when say believed her.
You fatter me-
You are the dearest man, Major
wyune"
ooh. Miss CIarissa." said 7. like a SEN
timentzI spinster-
And you always will be dear to me,
major. Il"
What could I say? was in Iove-yes,
I say it frankly, in love as I never had
been even with ClaFissa First.
My dear Clarissa.r said I, taking both
her hands
And you will, MAJOR said she
"What?r said /
-Elope." said CIarissa-
Well, I Dropped her hands I stared AZ
her I never had considered myself so
irresistible as that Yet it might be;
still. as I have stated, an of a passably
good figure
Tonight she went on You viii
major, COW pIease-for me And you viii
be more than nay father"
All, Miss CIarissa," said I. I began to
feel the need OF formaIity
Tears suddenly we're in her eyes.
They are so Unkindt''
took her hand again; yes. kissed her.
And you will help ne. major. Nh. you
wilI'' she sobbed-
"Oh. I wiTI-Clarissa-
And, dear major, he is so nice. SO
BRAVE
Her said I. suddenly suspicious
50 clever, so good
'He?"
Yes. rnajor-dear major-I mean Char
lie Digges-''
I dropped her hands. feIt-now viii
you believe it?-cesentn-nt
And you mean you wish me to help
you to run away rom your fathers house
with young nan Jour father and mother
disarprove Off
Yes. tonight. major" she said, looking
at me rather critically. She had stopped
sobbiEg.
Miss Clarissa-' I began severely.
Now you VIII. major-pIeaseI-'
Her hands were on my shoulders: her
face was upturned to mine; and suddenly
zay resentment-the resentment of
foolish old nan passed. and I felt toward
her as I know Jack. her father, does: !
felt certain yearning-a something as
if she were my daughter.
You viii, major?''
What. Miss CIarissa? ?"
"OnIy this, dear major After dinner.
ask me to take walk No one viii won
der at that. We've often walked to-
gether"
Yes" said L
AT the end of the garden walk there
viii be
Charlie Diggss. AMI a church"
Charlie has Arranged that"
and aftor7-e-f =, NJ or, - 59,, ?