The Press., 1902-03-27

room to her side, ito be my wife,
She glanced at him bewildered.
"Er-er-in fact, of course, scarcely
In theory" she said vaguely.
"Celia.' he exclaimed, what on
earth do you mean?"
A dead silence followed. She saw by
his face that something was wrong,
and her agitation increased when he
commenced to pace restlessly about
the room, muttering to himself in an
undertone:
ever since I've been abroad I've
lived and worked in the hope Of one
day winning you, but now it seems as
though
She looked up puzzled. what did
you say?" she asked desperately. 81
did not quite catch it, but it is your
own fault. told you not to talk while
I made tea-two Jumps Of sugar, isn't
It? You see, I've remembered the cor
rect number-and half the cream Jug
you were always terribly greedy, col
onel! There!' She handed him the
cup and caught up her fan. "Now you
think you've lost the spice of humor."
And she flashed nervous little smile
over the top Of the fan.
''Celia," he said slowly, raising his
voice till it rang through the room,
"this Is not time for joking"
The anger in his tone and his. hurt
expression frightened and bewildered
her; with q gesture of despair she turn.
ed away.
eff only it hadn't been for the mus
tachew she murmured, half audibly.
"Mustache!' he exclaimed eagerly,
hopefulness staring into his tone. els
that your only objection? How wish
I had known before l came! But I'll
have it off directly"
He was standing beside her again,
shoulder: but she shrank from his
touch and turned away, half crying
and wringing her hands.
II thought l could have managed,
but shall have to tell. I can't go on
like this" she sobbed.
"Tell me what? That there is some
one else?"
He turned abruptly away, and flung
himself in the armchair, burying his
face in his hands.
"Just my luck" he said brokenly.
"But it's hard after all this time, and
now when it seemed all plain sailing
to hear that-that-I have a rival.
But" reproachfully, you needn't have
kept me SO long in suspense. Celia"
A moments silence followed. Then
she left her seat and walked to the
fireplace and stood looking down at
him, toying nervously with her fan.
II can't hear what you say" she said
at last desperately, finging the fan
from her. II should have told you'll
am deaf, but couldn't bear to use my
ear trumpet just at first, because I
thought you would regret having come.
know men have horror of deaf old
maids"
She laughed Historically as she pro.
duced the trumpet from the little bag
at her side and adjusted it.
1T was just my silly PRIDE" she con.
tinued quickly. land l thought 1 could
manage with my fan. You see. it has
this tube in the center. which carries
the sound through my lips-and then
understand lip reading-if it hadn't
been that your mustache conceals
yours
lis that all?" he interrupted eagerly,
starting up and placing his hands on
her shoulder. "There isn't anybody
elseY
anybody else, whereY' she asked,
bewildered. b..
Il mean any one you care more for
than me-whom you intend marrying?"
"N-no-" she faltered, the color rush.
| ing into her cheeks: "but what an odd
question"
"Not at ALL" he answered delighted.
~. Cant you guess, Celia, what
have been asking you, Or" and his
eyes twinkled merrily-"shall l begin
all over againY'
But it was scarcely necessary, for
though she blushed still deeper she did
not now resist when he took her hands
In his.-Mainly About People.