The Caldwell tribune., 1905-12-16

tum. he stood iFresolute for no,..,.
!ust INSIDE the window, and then crossed
me room to look more closely 81 his
pretty young guest. vi Il
Sns7s as pretty as a picture, ana as
sood as gold, If know anything abont
physiognomy. She has a trouble OF some
sort poor little child! 1 should like TO
KISS thoSe tears aawy. wonder what
snes worrying about. Perhaps Mallett
Is nard up; he seems a careless soft of a
tellow. III see IL can't help them a
Dig 10 that direction, anyway"
rms was genuine red-letter dav for
g hthel. She was so intensely interested
In the Captains description of his ira v.
e,s that Tor the time she was drawn out
OF herself and her own affairs. Mr.,
Mai!ett' too, was heartily pleased. And
FeiNng was equally satisfied with his
| guests. When the evening was over. he
was surprised to find how well he had
talked, and he felt convinced that sue.
cesstul conversation as often depends or
the quality Of the listener as of the
! talker.
There was not much progress made ir
the ostensible purpose of the visit. see;nc
| that the little sketches'-which turned
out to be rather good specimens Of theil
class--led the way to so much descrip
tion that they looked only at some hall
dozen before they came to one that ere
ated q diversion which lasted until they
started for home.
The Captain had been holding forth OF
the pluck and fidelity of a native ser
want at whose portrait they we're look
| ing, when Ethel said.
| Il wonder you did not persuade him +,
come to England with you. Your rela
tives would have worshiped E:cn IN thei
gratitude for having saved your life q,
often" -- .-...'s a4.
Il have not one relative In the world
Miss Mallett," answered the CaptaiI
gravely.
Etheps glance was full of sympathy.
Il beg your pardon" she put in has
lily; Il am sorry made the remark"
Don't be sorry. I'm very glad. | of
ten long to talk little about myself
You can't believe what an awful feelin
it Is to know that there Is not one Der
son In the world who is sufficiently In
terested In you to care for your privat
concerns"
Decidedly unpleasant" murmure,
Mr.. Mallett.
You'll hardlys believe, Mallett, tha
this 10 the most domesticated evenin
I've spent for the last six years. Joll
hard, when you consider that am nat
uraliy fond of home and all that kind O
thing! was just getting weary of tn
loneliness of this place. but your bein
here tonight has changed the whole as
pect Of affairs. It looks SO homelike t
see you sitting there as If you belonge
to the place, Miss Mallett. Tomorrow
night l shall fancy l see you still there
and be reconciled for a time at least"
You should marry-best recipe in tn
world for loneliness" Mr.. Mallett OF
served, laughingly.
Tried it, and round it failure"
"Eh" Mr.. Mallett sat upright an
stared into his hosts face Il beg you
pardon, Pelling, if 1 have said anythin
unpleasant"
Not at all-ln fact, If shouldn't Dor
you so horribly as to prevent your eve
taking compassion on me again, shoul
like to tell you about my marriage Som'
times l think 1t must all have been
dream, it seems so unreal"
He sat for a moment gazing absent
into the garden, which was beginning t
look dim and shadowy in the summe
twilight, as If he were calling up tn
past from its gloomy depths. Ethel fe
shiver of superstitious awe pass owe
her, and the movement seemed to brin
back the captain from the momentar
reverie into which he had fallen.
(To be continued.I