The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1901-11-01

Now you must have some tea" she
said ;,afber rather an awkward pause,
laying down her fan, and moving TO
| the table. "Being an old maid I'm
rather fussy, so you must not talk
while I'm making tilt dlstracts my
I attention. she added with forced lit
tie laugh.
He watched her with growing pleas
ure as her hands busled with the cups,
the lamp rays touching the gold In her
hair.
ITS like old times. watching you
make ten, Celia. / wish It would be
my privilege always"
Il told you not TO talk" she said
with playful severity.
"But must. Don't he SO tnntalz-
Ing dearest. I'm not TO touch ten till
/ I'VE had your answer. till you've prom
lsed, In fact" his voice dropped to an
earnest whisper, and he crossed the
room to her side, TO be my wife"
| She glanced at him bcwildercd.
"Er-er-ln fact, Of course, scarcely
In theory" she said vaguely.
"CclIn." be exclaimed. what on
earth do you mean:"
A dend silence followed. She saw by
his face that something was wrong,
and her agitation increased when lie
commenced to pace restlcssly about
| the room, muttcring to himself In an
undertone:
.Ever since I've been abroad I've
lived and 'vorlicd in the hope OF one
day winning you. but now 1t seems as
though
She looked up puzzled. What did
You say?' she asked desperately. 81
did not quite catch it. but 1t Is your
own fault. l told you not to talk while
/ made tea-two Jumps OF sugar, isn't
Il? You sec. I've remembered the cor
rect numbcr-and hall the cream jug
you were always terribly greedy, col.
onel! There" She handed him the
cup aud caught up her fan. Now you
must begin all over again. i don't
think you've lost the spice OF humor."
And she flashed n nervous little smile
over the top Of the fan.
Celia" he said slowly, raising his
voice till It rang through the room,
"this is not time for Joking
The anger in his tone aud his hurt
expression frightened aud bcwildcrcd
her: with gesture Of despair she turn
ed away.
III only It hadn't been for the mus.
tachc.' she murmurcd. half audibly.
"Aiustachc." he exclaimed eagerly,
hopcfulncsS staring into his tonc. is
that your only Ubjrctionl How wish
| had known before came. But I'll
have ii on directly"
lie was standing beside her again,
and nov he rested his hand on her
shoulder: hut she shrank from his
touch and turned away, half crying
and wringing her hands.
II thought | could have managed,
hut shall have to tell. | can't 20 on
like this" she sobbed.
Tell me what? That there is some
one else?'
He turned abruptly away. and flung
himself IN the armchair. burying his
face in his hands,
",Itist my luck" he said brokenly.
but it's hard after all this time, aud
now when 1t seemed all plain sailing
to hear that-thnt-I have n rival.
But" rcproachrully. you needn't have
kept me so long in suspense, Celia
A moments silence followed. Then
she left her seat and walked to the
fireplace and stood looking down ut
him, toying nervously with her ian.
Il can't hear what You say she said
at last desperately. fiinginS the fan
from her. Il should have told you-I
am deaf, but | couldn't bear to use my
ear trumpet just at first, because
thought you would regret having come.
know men have a horror OF deaf old
maids"
She laughed Historically as she pro-
duced the trumpet from the little bag
at her side and adjusted 1t.
at was Just my silly PRIDE" she con
tinucd quickly. land 1 thought could
manage with my fan. You see, II has
this tube in the center. which carries
the sound through my Iips-and then
understand lin rcadIng-if 1t hadn't
been that your mustache conceals
yours
rs That all:" lie interrupted eagerly.
starting M and placing his hands on
her shoulder There isn't anybody
else:"
Anybody else, where?' she asked,
bcwildcred.
II mean any one you care more for
than me-whom you intend marryfnG:"
Mo" she faltcrcd, the color rush.
Ing into her cheeks but what an odd
question"
Not at ALL he answered delighted
". Can't Won guess. Celia. what |