The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1901-11-08
PriSCilla'S
Popularity
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Q
"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 1 hadn't been
deaf: men have a horror of deaf old
maids! But 1 needn't let him know
Just at first-he always spoke distinct
ly and was clean shaven, which means
great deal to me now. I'm sure can
manage it." she resumed meditatively.
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 a tall,
military looking man, with flowing
gray beard and mustache, filed 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, I mean"-she
corrected herself agitatedly-"delight
to see you. It's like your good nature
| to call so soon. How you have altered
I should scarcely have known YOU"
"You haven't changed in the. least
degree" he said gallantly, shaking hel
| hand between both his. why, il
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
| ly, holding the fan to her own.
| "Yes-erI have a little gardeT
here" she rejoined hesitatingly. 'Bu
| come and sit down. l want to hear al
| about yourself and your campaigns
| OF course 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" Sh'
seated herself opposite him, her eye.
still fixed on his face.
Really, Celia-I may call you the ole
| name. may l not?-there is nothing tt
tell, just the usual changes from hill
stations to the plains, and vice versa
then the outbreak, which we quellet
| after some sharp fighting and losin;
some of our best fellows. and that
ALL You don't suppose" he resume,
i'm a lower tone, that I've come here
directly 1 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 unintelligibl
monosyllable.
81 want to talk something far NOR
interesting" lie continued softly-"tha
concerns you as well as myself. You'v
no idea what pleasure it is to see yo
again-and TO find that you-that yo
are not married"
1 II liz Of
slight pause, cleverly simulated SUI
prise In her tone.
"Yas, it has always been in m
thoughts he rejoined eagerly, hi
courage rising. Il should have spoke
before I went away, but do you r.
member remarking once that you neve
intended to marry unless the man VIII
asked you had something more to hi
credit than a banking account. Tha
was why 1 exchanged and Wen
abroad. i did think of writing when
was out there, but until these frontie
| affairs were quite settled l thought
fairer not to ask you to tie yourself
me, as if I'd been hit it might hav
been a blow to you. OF course tina
was taking for granted you cared Ii
tie for me-" And he concluded smilin
rather shamefacedly.
"Indeed.' She smiled also, feignin
astonishment.
"Now, confess, Celia, this is not alt'
gether surprise to you. Even If it
you do not find ii disagreeable:"
Dear mellow strange she e.
claimed .hesitatingly, after a sligl
: pause, still keeping her eyes fixed o
his face. while she bit the tip of ht
fan nervously.
She broke the silence at last with
little regrctful sigh.
is that all? 1t is most interesting
"lth. Celia he sighed, you are ju
= as tantaliZing and stand-offish as eve
but like you all the better for it
8 And lie leaned forward with an admi
Y ing glance at the fair face and shape
= head, crowned with neat dark brow
: coils.
eyes. may people have told me II
same" she replied complacently, cate
:. ing the end of his sentence, and, moth
the appreciative glance, she conclude