Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1901-11-29
cooocooooocoocooooooooooos
; PrisCilla's
|, Popularity
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

him write directly he reached South
ampton"
Priscilla Baberley glanced inquiring
ly from the open letter in her hand t.
the mirror over her drawing room
mantelpiece as though her reelection
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 sh'
had acquired, and when this means
failed she resorted to the use of an cal
trumpet, or an ingeniously constructed
fan.
"Oh, dear. If only l hadn't beer
deaf: men have a horror of deaf ole
maids. But | needn't let him know
Just at first-he always spoke distinct
ly and was clean shaver, which means
a great deal to me now. I'm sure cal
manage it," she resumed meditatiyely
81 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 tall
military looking man, with flowing
gray beard and mustache, filed up the
doorway.
Good gracious-a beard as well"'
Miss Baberlcy 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 Observation-Disclosures
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 calamity, 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 word here and
there as she watched his lips anxious
~, holding the fan to her own.
"Yes-cr-I have little garden
here" she rejoined hesitatingly. But
come and sit down. | want to hear all
about yourself and your campaigns.
OF course | learned great deal from
the papers, but it 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 a 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.
u want to talk something far more
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.
"YAs, it has always been in my
he rejoined eagerly, his
courage rising. Il should have spoken
before | went away, but do you re-
remarking once that you never
intended to marry unless the man who
asked you had something more to his
credit than a banking account. That
was why l exchanged and went
abroad. ] did think of writing when l
was out there, but until these frontier
affairs were quite settled l thought it
fairer not to ask you to tie yourself to
me, as If I'd been hit it might have
been a blow to you. OF course that
was taking for granted you cared lit
tie for me-" And he concluded smiling
rather shamefacedly.
"Indeedr She smiled also, feigning
"Now, confess. Celia, this is not alto
yether a surprise to you. Even If 1t is
you do not find it disagreeable?"
Dear mellow strange" she ex-
claimed hesitatingly, after slight
pause, still keeping her eyes fixed on
MS face, while she bit the tip Of her
IAN nervously.
She broke the silence at last with a
title regretful sigh.
rs that all? 1t is most interesting"
"Ah, Celia" he sighed, you are just !
Is tantalizing and stand-offish as ever |
but like you all the better for it."
And he leaned forward with an admir- /
ng glance at the fair face and shapely |
head, crowned with neat dark brown
oils.
Yes. may people have told me the .
Iame." she replied complacently, catch
ng the end of his sentence, and, noting
he appreciative glance, she concluded
hat he alluded to the modern style Of
she had adopted.
But you needn't be stand-otfish with
in old-er-admirer," he added quietly
md reproachfully.
IL beg your pardon-what did you
ay?"
s.nl, ,,o4binr nothing no raSnOud- /