Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1901-02-08
New Lamps for Old
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

y
replied, cordially, looking up.
He ran quickly up the ladder and
caught the hand she offered him. She
could not meet his questioning eyes,
but turned away and dropped into a
basket-chair, under the shelter of the
dtckhouse.
"Well?" she said as he drew up
chair beside her.
well" he echoed softly, and
touched the back Of her hand lightly
with the tip of his fingers. you
are wonderful, Mamie Have you
made a bargain with Time that he
leaves you Unframed by his blight
ing wing? You look exactly the
same as when we parted three years
ago"
"Three years?" she interrupted
quickly "Ohl it can't be as long as
that"
Hasn't the time seemed long to
you?"
"No--yes," she answered, confused
ly. 81 mean--you see, so much has
happened to me since then I've lost
count of time"
"Poor little woman l wish 1 had
been at home during your-trouble;
but there were prospects of fighting
on the frontier, and 1 couldn't get
leave, and as a matter of fact, l
didn't hear of Georges death till
ecember-nearly three months
afterward. Why didn't you write to
me?" he added, reproachfully.
81 couldn't" she said, shortly.
Her mouth was trembling and her
fingers nervously picking at the silk
fringe of her sash. He thought it
trife absurd for an eleven-months'
widow to display emotion at the
mention of husband who had treat
ed her notoriously badly and for
whom she had never pretended the
smallest affection.
She jumped up and stood at the
top of the ladder to welcome the re-
turn of her guests.
81 think you know them all" she
said, looking over her shoulder at
Maj. Tempest; lit is only family
party, with the exception of Sir
Christopher Sheridan and Miss
Baird"
"Miss Baird?' he repeated. what
Miss Baird?''
But Mrs. Lambert was watching
tall, gray-haired, elderly man, who
was still in the boat, and did not an
swer
Anthony Tempest leaned over the
side of the yacht and looked at the
ascending party-two men and two
girls. One of the girls turned her
face up.
"You here1" she cried, smiling.
"Ohl"
Tempest felt his heart beat un-
comfortably fast and the blood sing
in his ears, as he inter opted his
hostess introduction.
''We are old acquaintances. Miss
Baird and met in India last winter"
what is troubling you tonight"
said Sir Christopher, kindly. You
look desperately sad"
He was sitting alone with Mrs.
Lambert in the bows. From the deck
saloon came the sound of music and
laughter. Joan Baird was singing
songs from comic opera to An
thony Tempest's guitar accompani-
ment. There was a little wind, and
the lights of the yachts looked like
low and wavering stars against the
dark sky.
81 am lonely"
"Come to me-"
81 have told you before--I cannot.
Do not ask me again"
''Tell me why. You have said that
you would tell me-now," he urged
"There is some one else" she an |
swered, slowly, dropping her head.
''You know what George was-and
had friend
"He was more than friend.
loved him, and now that am free"
Gle still loves you?'
eyes"
"And you?"
He peered through the darkness
and tried to read her face.
Not now"
"Then come to me-
do you still want me-after this?"
"Yes, If you want to come"
"When viii you marry me ?" he
said, presently.
81 don't know--perhaps never" she
answered, despondently. "Fm not
free"
"But you win be?"
II don't know"
The music ceased somewhat alb
ruptly; the two performers declared
the saloon too hot, and etrolIed out
ON 20 the deck, where thor slowly