New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-23
A Passionate Arff.sf.
BY KATHARINE lyman.


from the pretty village for several years. but he
found middleton much the same as the day he
had lert II, with one exception. Old Commander
Jones was dead. and his little house with its flag
post and the telescope at the window, occupied
by niece OF his who had been unknown in these
ATTITUDES in the old days
The first morning that Captain Gerald took a
walk down the village street with all his mothers
rabole of dogs at his heels. he observed a subtle
change in the appearance OF The Harbor as the
SUI b nag the spotIessy clean look. as though all
membered But there change Soft. pretty
G ss In ta old days
might deck A basket Of flowers hung in the
glimpse Of ani PIANO and one Gfs York
taede; which had certainly not been there before.
After he had left the little house behind the path
the top covered With Cherries like w tb ie levels OF the
i Araoian Nights, which made an effectual and
srsby: Ae had intention Of pFying but It's little
2ene a hs least ns e@rou nF of
FGE second ne paused and peered above the trss
h dG owe o the cd 6sH Thh held old
snarp 6rsaths OF fragrance over the trells TO the
But he hadn't expected to find that little stretch
OF the garden occupied There lounging
PRINT Rae @ shs bad IN
pad on her knee. Her hat, wreathsd with roses.
pad For the moment the lady had Ceased to writes
ne hs away sh at ss gses s
between her first and second fingers, AS he looked
o1d and then. Withdrawing It. sent out long trail
by Jover" said Captain Gerald. walking on
by Jove! Such a feminine little body too. and
locking as Though she thoroughy, enjoyed IL I've
It before wonder what Muddleton thinks Of IT,
Yet. oddly enough. he did not mention the matter
OF the smoking to his mother. with whom he was
versa ton. Mrs. Porteous hal become deaf when
Ige t % S end Ca5aP Gsr aid had
nsTer forgotten IT. 1t really was an most sharInin
ing. to see his smile flashing to hers and hers
back again to him. and her eyes bright as her knit
sent her, noddins with great satisfaction when he
at ,ee snS 2: n,sse Oh
girl! She wrote books which Mrs. Porteous had
Gerald knew. Perhaps he had come across sems
OF her books. Muriel Francis was her name She
talk on her fingers nearly as wen as Gerald MIN
s as ae s9P t IN sns fnS
her quiet dumb friendship with Mrs. Porteous;
lifted her eyebrows in whimsical wonder as she
said it Perhaps she would como in this after
freshmsnt f to 'i Mrs Perteoas a Hs' V'''S wei"
Mrs Saysr and Jane Green and the Savills girls
and Margaret Webster. They all shrek so in my
iha Ann Rey say such STUPID hs ean
hardly ever hear them. but I know they have some
all like Mrs, POrteous's friendship for Muriel. ap
parenty.
w9athfgy HI, His m 18th knew that enough scandal
eorsa old SAVER Wa, All stS hair
dozen places like Middleton. And these other old
bors what DID they say aSoat ss
All that was something Mrs PorteOus could not
each Of them in turn with her mouth against my
against her. A dear good little sirIla Mrs Por:
her Gerald would see for himself.
1T +b is probably as b the no he thoTgh and
no use telling her Mqrie Francis h Muriol Fran
' ap %hat Rxs not fead great 9r rre He had
found the book of life so profoundly interesting;
little time or inclination for the make-believes Of
dt .G ash OF memory he Placed IT. Why m she had
written The Chastiseme1t, OF Diana" which he
murnuTel by Jove:'' over. as he had done over
But that little girl to write the book-impossible!
His friend Ffolliett who was reading man had
raysd ABOUT H. finally rSaiRs b aEtan GeTa f to
woman to have written; 1t handled fearlessly
posed to be ignorant; but in its fearlsssness
IT was clean and innocent, 1T takes away your
Gerald thoughtful at t, the time line, Of reading
so young as ne had supposed. The small sensitive
delicate. austere face was the face of a woman.
OF squirrels coat the soft, creamily pale skin was
necked here and there with rust coIored freckle
whether pink or blue were the most becoming.
swing his mother looking deughtsuIiy animated
She introduced her handsome son with pride. Cap
Miss Francis with the same air OF proud possessive
He watched with wonder his mother yield her
place to the visitor when Jane brought the tea. It
ra Their Jealous about Now it mIght be a daughter
OF the house who sat there handling the tea cups
The tea tasted like nectar to Captain Gerald.
ha6 ha and aS To he aid H
when he had ENJOYED Gun OF tea t SO much
little attitudes and felt satisfied and rested. She
invalid and he permitted her after faint protest
1t delightful to receive tea cake and thin bread
e him. he saw how bronze the la7hes were owe,
~a Sfter tea 20 his he heard
his mother invite Miss Francis smoke. He could
soul nodding and smiling at him with the air OF
fond rarent whose child shows off some trick. ire
"she is a naughty girl she will do IT." the old
'Caotain Gerald had cigarettes to offer. He
smoked pipe; but he resolved mentally to pro;
cigarettes from the town as soon as possible.
from her pocket and was lighting up with the most
uD-self-cor scious air
said to her, Ito have reconciled my mother.
She really did smoke f with t69rG S ,T
smoke which added to its quiet. restful dreamness
dinner and When the full moon was N up over the
sea CaPtsain Gerald took her back TO her nttis
looked at him though she expected him to follow.
Had better. ne asked heSltatIngly
Do she said. "Oh. you thinking of Mud
deton. I don't suppose they would mind. even If
one cared. am OF an age to receive male visitors
without scandal"
She looked up at him with her candid gaze. He
that she WINGED ever slightly when she
made the allusion to her He followed her
through the door into the hall where there was a
gmmer OF light and into the little sitting
he remembered.
There was only the moonlight in IL now He
stood by while she lit the lamp. and noticed the
sudden illumination of il her hair. The room
was curousy fragrant OF a woman's ownership
now. different from what he remembered it.
Would Captain Proreous like a brandy and soda?