Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1904-03-30

Inere was a long pause. presently
l felt the lightest touch on my arm.
l took no notice. The touch grew
moro insistent.
"Poor boyl" said Daisy. "Dick,
l told her that l thought Mr.. Ford
horrid."
! "Did you?" I cried, my hands fly
ing from my pockets to-elsewhere.
81 wish papa wouldn't insist on
going abroad all the long vacation.
He says he can work better there.
Never mind, Dick. It's only till
October"
"Onlyw said l in tones a Hamlet
might be proud Of
"Will it seem very long," she
asked, dropping her lashes.
GAS if you didn't know"
"Yes-but, Dick, l may like to be
told all the same, you know"
SO told her, and cons and cons
of weary waiting rose before us at
the bidding of my words.
"And in all that time" she said,
care you sure you won't forget?
Oh, we'll, then ! believe you won't.
Think, Dick, what it will be when
you come back! You must look out
of your window all the first day
and nprhans 7 NAV come by."
"And look up?"
perhaps"
perhaps you'll have forgotten"
ooh, Dick, that is hcrrid of you!
never forget my friends"
"Friendsp l echoed Indignantly.
DWELL, you know what l mean,"
said she indulgently.
AS she spoke the great clock in
the tower struck II. She sprang to
her feet.
Don't CO." 1 urged. Daisy, it's
the last time"
ooh, but l must. So must YOU"
She seemed resolute.
DWELL, then, before you 60 prom
isep l urged.
"But l have promised. Well,
then, yes, l promise, Dick"
you'll think of no one else the
whole time?"
"No, of no one else"
The garden seemed peaceful and
quiet. We sat down on the bench
again for a moment-or it was
meant to be a moment. But such
moments are endowed from heaven
with blessed elasticity.
Then, at cry from Daisy, l look
ed up.
A tall, stout man in gold specta-
Giles stood looking down at us, a
curious, only half unkind smile on
his face. 1t was the provost. | felt
crimson all over and sat speeches..
"Pray, what's the meaning of
this, Mr.. Vansittart; z" be asked, the
mixed smile still on his lips.
l looked at him in fright for an
instant; then pride arose in me.
/ cleared my throat and began, "sir,
! am promising
The demon of irony raked up in
the provost's mind the memory Of
his last words to me. Oh, that l
had found another exogiium for my
heroic speech!
upon my word" said he, thrust
ing one hand into his cross cut
trousers pocket and pulling at his
whisker with the other, "you are
promising, for your age. very prom
ising, Mr.. Yansittart."
The bubble was broken. Daisy
hung her head. ! was red and hot
again.
every promising" chuckled the
provost, jingling the money in his
pocket. Every promising indeedp
l could have struck him for his
hooking iteration.
"Daisy, 90 indoors" said he,
"and, Mr.. Vansittart, may | lend
you my key of the garden gates
Pray be so good as to return It to
the porter"
He handed it Ia M, with a polite
bow Daisy was in retreat, hurry
ing in sad shame toward the house.
took the key.
81 meant it, sir" 1 stammered.
"You're a young fool" said b
and held out his hand,
Eyes, a young fool" he said again
as he shooE hands. + went.
He stood, watching my exit. /
looked back as l reached the gate.
He was there still, and behind him.
in the porch, waved handkerchief.
| passed through the gate and lock-
ed it behind me.
And was the long vacation very
long? And did l forget her in the
"long"
| am willing to answer, at any
cost to my own character, all mate
rial questions, but that question is
immaterial, for she forgot 'Ac in
the long.
peer me, ! hope sheE happy
somewhere! - Anthony Hope in
Idler.