The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1904-10-14
ENERAL SIR SAMPSON


doubt. On principle and by long habit
an early riser. he prlded himself on
stealing a march on each busy, we'll
filed day by a good hours work at his
office table before breakfast.
But this morning, for once. his appe-
tite FOR work had failed him. The
sight OF the various neatly sorted pack
ets OF official documents and private
letters which stared him in the face
and lay within touch OF his fingers
filled him with ill-concealed aversion.
lie sighed impatien,ly. hesltated.
pushed back his chair and sighed
again.
The unfortunate Sir Sampson was
thankful when the sound OF the break
fast cong-punctual in his well-ordered
household 10 the half OF a minute
brought him temporary relief from
hls perplexities.
Notwithstanding his age and senior
lty In the service. he was young in the
character OF a Benedick. and. as is
not infrequent In such cases, the lady
Of his choice was more than a little
bis Junior.
With ready-recurring admiration the
general took In at glance her grace
rUl poise OF head and shoulders. her
faultless shell-pink complexion. and
the exquisite garment-he could no
more have named it than he could
have iown-of muslin and lace that
enfolded he: 1t still thrilled him
sfresh to think that this beautiful peer
less creature. so young and tender. 20
blooming should be his and his alone.
What the fond. adoring glance did
not see was crease-it could hardly
DC called frown-that marred the
white smoothness OF her forehead as
she heard his step, and the quick. fur
tive movement that hid the letter she
had been reading. Like the, moment
ary ripple OF the zephyr on the surface
Of q lake they swept by. leaving no
sign TO mark the place where they had
been.
The letter could hardly have been
called a very short one but every word
was indellbly printed on Lady Dooms
memory. and TO her who could inter
pret its meaning by the light OF other
days, IL was forcble and TO the point
The bold familiar writing with its
strong black lines. large capitals, and
thick upward crossed "ts" gave her.
as in a crystal, vision of herself as
she was before her marriage--a pretty
penniless girl with heart full of
vanity and a head full OF ambition,
courted. hattered, sought after. with a
train of admirers, but none wealthy or
important enough to satisfy her mer-
cenary aspirations until the Com
mander in Chief himself fell a victim
to her youthful charms. To n girl Of
her character and bred In n garrison
town. the bait was irresistible. She
jettisoned her fragments OF heart, and
became Lady Doom.
The wording of the letter ran thus:
Dearest Connie;-The last time.
suppose. | shall call you so. After this
/ shall have n wife who will probably
know more about my doings than the
Chief does of yours. | mean no re-
proach. You know your sex and their
little ways-charmiug and otherwise
better than do You will have heard
that | have taken your advice and am
about TO follow your example. Under
the circumstances and the adverse star
which ruled our fate. we have both
probably done the best possible for our.
selves; though sometimes even at this
eleventh hour, | could find il in my
heart TO wish ii different But regrets
are useless. What isis. Let the dead
past bury its dead. for one. won't
dig IL up. But for our old friendship
sake. when the Belsetta command falls
vacant, which it may do any day now,
remember me. l know you can man.
age il IL you will. | leave the details
of the management to you with perfect
confidence
One word more and have done. |
shall never write to you in this strain
again, so. would like to recall to your
remembrance that the breaking Off OF
our engagement was your doing. not
mine. If ever you regret II do moi
blame me. With you | could Tor thinl
l could have faced poverty and shelly
ing. Without you dent mean TO pu
up with either IL can help it-Yours
as in the past.
MAX MELTON.
BY one OF the unwrltten and incom
prehensible mandates OF fashion tina
live for season and vanish into space
the pocket Of Lady Doom's etherea
confection was on the left side. an
her disengaged hand clutched the lctte
that lay in il as she poured out he
husbands tea. The paper crlnkled an
cracked ominously. But her gentl,
languid movements were as compose,
her sweet. musical voice as low an
delicately modulatcd as ever as st
asked:
Have you thought over what "
were talking about last night. Samr
II have thought OF little else da
ling" he answered uneasiIy "YC
know how much would do to pleas
you. and what pleasure II would
for me 10 Go II. but you see, dear, IN
is-er-an Official matter. IL ha'
20 ssy no TO you II will be from sen
of Iufv Vou soo ho~ \ am nlaoo<l