Middletown transcript., 1903-06-06
A Delayed Proposal
RyK4TE WHITING PATCH. 7

! ACoNOUc PA
where She had sat, and, if he
was not dreaming, there She was
sitting now!
That slender figure, the droop-
ing head and the hand upon
which it rested--the whole care
less, familiar pose came back to
him with a vividness that hurt.
Mildred! He spoke the name
involuntarily, and the girl started
and looked up. At that moment
a pot of red fire set burning out
side threw it's searching light into
the corridor and caught them
both in its rosy glare. Prescott
saw the face clearly and came
nearer with outstretched hand.
It is you! he said. For a mo-
ment I thought I had seen @
ghost.
She looked into his eyes with
a wonder equal to his own. Dick!
she faltered. Dick Prescott!
For a moment they both stood
gazing at one another in pure as
tonishment, which gradually
gave way to embarrassment.
I was just thinking she be-
gan, as she withdrew her hand.
So was I, he agreed, and then
paused, for suddenly he remem-
bered, and mad JOY was rapidly
transformed to pain.
He drew himself up a little
stiffiy.
How's Williams? he asked. Is
he here tonight?
The red light had died out and
he could no longer see her face,
but he felt the tremor in her voice
as she answered him.
Ned Williams? she queried.
Yes, he is here, I hope, and
and well.
There was a pause. Did you
not know that I broke my engage
ment to him years ago? she
ventured, at length, constrain-
edly.
What! cried Prescott, his head
whirling.
It was a mistake, she said,
cody, I found that out very soon
and he, too, of course. 1t was
a piece of youthful folly which
we must both regret and try to
put away forever.
Well, this is news, exclaimed
Prescott. His knees felt weak,
and he dropped into the seat near
her. How is it / never heard, I
wonder.
His companion smiled.
Did you ever take the trouble
to inquire about your old friends?
she asked, a little bitterly.
was a fool, muttered the man
beside her, a mad young fool.
And there isn't ANYONE else? You
are still Mildred Richards?
Yes, was the constrained re-
ply. Quite an old maid, Nell
says.
Then she sat up and looked out
into the hall.
1t is pretty sight, isn't it? she
said lightly, even if it doesn, t
thrill one the way it used to. The
heat made my head ache, and I
came here to rest while Nell is
taking care of her partners.
Prescott felt decided chill,
but he was no longer a fool.
Did you? he replied; I came
here to remember and to make
myself miserable. The fates are
kinder to me than deserve.
No response; SO he followed
her head.
Is Nell old enough for Glass
Day festivities? he asked.
Miss Richards smiled. She
is twenty and the devoted friend
Of five seniors. lam here merely
as chaperun. Mama is i'll. I
have not been in Cambridge be-
fore for good many years.
NoN /, he said, should not have
come to-day but for the whim of a
young cousin. Being here, I re-
solved to do the whole thing and
see how it felt after ten years.
It is the same, yet not the
same, mused the young woman
beside him.
1t is the same with decided
difference, declared Prescott; at
least it was. Why aren't you
dancing? he asked, suddenly.
She shook her head. Have
you forgotten how to do sums in
addition since you left college?
she asked. gently. I believe you
just said that it was ten years
since you were graduated. Our
dancing days are over, aren't
they?
I am learning how to do sums