The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-12-15
CHAPTER xvIII-continued.


Mrs. Van Cortiandt WINGED little al
these words. but showed nothing by hei
coantenance. which had been schooled
for many years TO guard her secret. Be-
fore she could reply servant entered
and announced Colonel Payton, az which
Mrs. Van Cortlandt rose to receive him.
at the same time wondering that he OF
all men should come on this night. What
mystic connection could there be be-
tween her thoughts OF him and his ar
rival? She dared not venture reply.
even TO herself.
The colonel entered with dignlned ease
snd self command. such as would be ex-
pected from the man OF the world and tho
soldier that he was. Nothing I'm his man
ner betrayed that this was aught but the
most casual call, nor was there anything
in the greeting between him and Mr.. Nit
chel from which one might have suspect
ed that they had seen each other before
on that day.
Advancing toward Mrs. Van Cortlandt.
he bowed low as he said:
MY dear friend. / hope you will par
don me for having remained away from
you for 80 long. II is almost a month, |
fear"
Five weeks, colonel" said the lady.
laughing. II fear time goes lightly with
you In your world OF business and pleas
ure. We two women, alone In a great
house like this night after night, keep a
bitter reckoning Of the visits OF our
friends, do we not, Perdita?"
The colonel was charmed TO find that
In the chronology OF her heart she had
noted the flight OF time between his vis-
it's
Yes. indeed. mother" said Perdita.
advancing. I'VE always miss YOU, colo
mel. when you remain away from US for
q long time"
Ia ~ haN
conner" The colonels voice trembled
little, and IL was with an effort that he
controlled himself He admired the girls
marvellous beauty. and he wondered that
he had taken so little cognizance OF II
hitherto.
''Ah, yesl Indeed we do like 10 have
you here. Your interesting stories al
ways make the evening seem shorter"
so! Is the colonel rcmancer?" asked
Mr.. Mitchell
All had taken seats again. Mrs. Mitchell
having drawn Perdita to a seat beside
her on the sofa. She felt great pity i'm
her heart for this lovely girl. who was
but child. for the relations which exist
ed between herself and her husband
were such that she always knew all o.
his AFFAIRS. In this one she had taken es-
pecial interest from the beginning be-
cause OF the incident OF the abandoned
baby. She was well aware. therefore. of
her husbands object In visiting the Van
Cortlandts, and indeed her own part had
been assigned to her.
"Oh. the colonel tells the most wonder
ful stories,' said Perdita. replying to
Mr.. Mitchell
why, then. colonel have learned
this 30 late that / cannot let another
hour pass without hearing one OF your
narratives Mr. Mitchell laughed pleas
antly as he spoke No one would have
thought that there was any hidden mo-
tive In his words when he added: Tell
us OF your first love affair. I never knew
OF bachelor who has not been In love"
The colonel glanced swiftly at Mr..
Mitchell. hesitated and decided quickly.
You are rigiSt." said he. II think a
man seldom lives alone from choice.
Either no woman will have him or the
one whom he loves Is beyond his reach"
And how was IL with your"
There IL no romance in my case II
was most prosaic. I confess that I did \
love one woman. but I never thought IL /
wise or opportune to tell her. so I lost |
her She married another man without |
having suspected how much ] cared for |
her.
Are you sure OF that?" asked Mrs
Van Cortlandt impulsively and imme-
diately after uttering the words she bit
her lip In vexstion for having permitted
them to escape.
Why. yesl How should she guess?" /
asked the colonel. with the usual stu |