Smyrna times., 1901-11-27
PriSCilla'S
Popularity
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

Ill THESE years! WOuueI WudI ulduc
him write directly he reached South
amptoE!'
Priscilla Baberley glanced inquiring
ly from the open letter in her hand to
the mirror over her drawing room
mantelpiece as though her reflection
might possibly answer the query.
The wistful melancholy of her ex-
preston was due to an illness which
had left her almost totally deaf; though
the fact was scarcely noticeable, thanks
to the knowledge of lip reading she
had acquired, and when this means
failed she resOrted to the use of an ear
trumpet, or an ingeniously constructed
fan.
"Oh, dear! If only 1 hadn't been
deaf; men have a horror of deaf old
maids! But l needn't let him know
just at first-he always spoke distinct
ly and was clean shaven, which means
a great deal to me now. I'm sure can
manage it, she resumed meditatively.
II will set him talking Of his cam
paigns."
She crossed the room and touched
the bell.
Catherine" she said to the maid,
"Major-I mean Colonel Ewart will be
here presently. Send up hot toast with
the tea and extra cream"
A moment after the maid held aside
the heavy plush portiere and a tall,
military looking man, with flowing
gray beard and mustache, filed up the
doorway.
"Good gracious-a beard as welly"
Miss Baberley murmured, horror
stricken, as she caught up her fan and
went tc meet him, holding it graceful
ly to her lips.
"Ah, major-colonel, 1 mean"-she
! corrected herself agitatedly-"d delighted
to see you! It's like your good nature
to call so soon. How you have altered!
l should scarcely have known you"
You haven't changed in the least
degree" lie said gallantly, shaking heI
hand between both his. why, ii
seems only yesterday that we said
'goodby' at your sisters garden party
His tone was gruff, but hearty, and
somewhat above the normal pitch, anG
/ she managed to catch a word here anC
there as she watched his lips anxious
| ly, holding the fan to her own.
"Yes-er-I have a little gardeI
here" she rejoined hesitatingly. 'Bu
come and sit down. l want to hear al
about yourself and your campaigns
OF course l learned a great deal from
the papers, but it isn't the same as ;
personal narrative, so you must jus
tell me from the very beginning" Sb
seated herself opposite him, her eye
still fixed on his face.
REALLY, Celia-I may call you the oil
name. may l not?-there is nothing t.
tell, just the usual changes from hi
stations to the plains, and vice versa
then the outbreak, which we quelle
after some sharp fighting and lOsin
some of our best fellows, and that
all You don't suppose" he resume
in a lower tone, that I've come here
directly l set foot in the old countr!
to talk about my campaigns?"
She heard the note of interrogatiO
and dropped her eyes rather disco1
certedly, murmuring an unintelligibl
monOsyllable.
81 want to talk something far mol
interesting" he continued softly-"thi
concerns you as we'll as myself. You'N
no idea what pleasure it is to see yC
. again-and to find that you-that yC
are not married"
"Really? she exclaimed after
, slight pause, cleverly simulated su
prise in her tone.
"Yas, it has always been in n
thoughts" he rejoined eagerly,
. courage rising. Il should have spok'
I before l went away, but do you I
member remarking once that you nev
\ intended to marry unless the man w
: asked you had something more to
credit than a banking account. Th
4 was why 1 exchanged and we
abroad. ] did think of writing wheI
Z was out there, but until these 'front.'
: affairs were quite settled l thought
fairer not to ask you to tie yourself
J. me, as If I'd been hit 1t might ha
been a blow to you. OF course II
'. was taking for granted you cared
10 tie for me-" And he concluded smili
rather shamefacedly.
"Indeed!' She smiled also, feigni
astonishment.
h. 'Now, confess, Celia, this is not al
is gether a surprise to you. Even If II
lie you do not find it disagreeable?"
st "Dear mellow strange" she
lie claimed hesitatingly, after a sill
lie pause. still keeping her eyes fixed
n his face, while she bit the tip Of
Op fan nervously.
ne She broke the silence at last witt
ed little regretful sigh.
"Is that all? 1t is most interesting
"Ah, Celia" he sighed, ''you are
as tantallzing and stand-offish as e
'se but | like you all the better for
ey And he leaned forward with an adI
Of ing glance at the fair face and shaI
i'd head, crowned with neat dark bro
lse coils.
tor ttXao m.u anaopla laVa fold mo