Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1901-10-31
Priscilla's
Popularity
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

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~Odd to hear from him again, after
all these years! l wonder what made
| him write directly he reached South
ampton"
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 I hadn't been
deaf; men have a horror of deaf old
maidsi But I 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,
"MajorI 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 tall,
military looking man, with flowing
gray beard and mustache, filled up the
doorway.
"Good gracious-a beard as wellr'
Miss Baberley murmured, horror
stricken, as she caught up her fan and
went to meet him, holding it graceful
ly to her lips.
"Ah, major-colonel, mean"-she
corrected herself agitatedly-"delight
to see you! It's like your good nature
to call SO soon. How you have altered!
should scarcely have known you."
you haven't changed in the least
degree" he said gallantly, shaking her
hand between both his. "Why, it
seems only yesterday that we said
'goodby' at your sisters garden party"
His tone was gruff, but hearty, and
somewhat above the normal pitch, and
she managed to catch a word here and
th'.re as she watched nis lips anxious
ly, holding the fan to her own.
"Yes-erI have a little garden
e,1a h0cifo4 n1r p11f
come and sit down. 1 want to hear all
about yourself and your campaigns.
OF course learned great deal from
the papers, but 1t isn't the same as a
personal narrative, so you must just
tell me from the very beginning" She
seated herself opposite him, her eyes
still fixed on his face.
Really, Celia-I may call you the old
name, may not?-there is nothing to
tell, just the usual changes from hill
stations to the plains, and vice versa; !;
then the outbreak, which we quelled
after some sharp fighting and losing
some Of our best fellows, and that's
all. You don't suppose" he resumed
in lower tone, "that I've come here,
directly set foot In the old country,
to talk about my campaigns?"
She heard the note of Interrogation
and dropped her eyes rather discon-
certedly, murmuring an unintelligible
monosyllable.
II want to talk something far more
interesting" he continued softly-"that
concerns you as well as myself. You've
no idea what pleasure it Is to see you
again-and to find that you-that you
are not married"
Really" she exclaimed after a
slight pause, cleverly simulated sur
prise in her tone.
Yes, it has always been in my
thoughts" he rejoined eagerly, his
courage rising. 81 should have spoken
before I went away, but do you re-
member remarking once that you never
intended to marry unless the man who
asked you had something more to his
credit than banking account. That
was why / exchanged and went
abroad. did think Of writing when I
was out there, but until these frontier
affairs were quite settled thought 1t
fairer not to ask you to tie yourself to
me, as If I'd been hit it might have
been q blow to you. OF course that
was taking for granted you cared a lit
tie for me-" And he concluded smiling
rather shamefacedly.
"Indeedp' She smiled also, feigning
astonishment.
"Now, confess, Celia, this is not alto
gether surprise to you. Even if it is
you do not find 1t disagreeable"
Dear mellow stranger she ex-
claimed hesitatingly, after a slight
pause, still keeping her eyes fixed on
his face, while she bit the tip Of her
fan nervously.
She broke the silence at last with a
little regretful sigh.
as that all? 1t is most interesting"
"Ah, Celia" he sighed, "you are just
as tantalizing and stand-off1sh as ever
but like you all the better for it."
And he leaned forward with an admir-
Ing glance at the fair face and shapely
head, crowned with neat dark brown
coils.
"Yes, may people have told me the
same" she replied complacently, catch.
ing the end of his sentence, and, noting
the appreciative glance, she concluded