The Kennewick courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1905-1914, 1906-01-12

tum. he stood irresoiuts for a moment
just inside the window. and then crossed
the room to look more closely at his
pretty young guest.
She's as pretty as a picture, and as
good as gold, if I'know anything about
physiognomy. She has a trouble of some
sort, poor little child! 1 should like to
kiss those tears aawy. l wonder what
she's worrying about. Perhaps Mallett
is hard up; he seems a careless soft of
fellow. I'll see if can't help them a
bit In that direction, anyway"
This was genuine red-letter day for
Ethel. She was 50 intensely interested
in the Captains description Of his trav-
els that for the time she was drawn out
of herself and her own affairs. Mr..
Mallett, too, was heartily pleased. And
Polling was equally satisfied with his
guests. When the evening was over. he
was surprised to find how we'll he had
talked, and he felt convinced that sue
cessful conversation as often depends on
the quality of the listener as of the
talker.
There was not much progress made in
the ostensible purpose of the visit, seeing
that the little sketches"-which turned
out to be rather good specimens of their
class-led the way to so much descrip-
ton that they looked only at some half
dozen before they came to one that Gre
ated a diversion which lasted until thew
started for home.
The Captain had been holding forth on
the pluck and fidelity of a native SER
want at whose portrait they were look.
ing, when Ethel said:
II wonder you did not persuade him to
come to England with you. Your rela-
tives would have worshiped him in their
gratitude for having saved your life SO
often"
Il have not one relative In the world.
Miss Mallett," answered the Captain
gravely.
Ethel's glance was full of sympathy.
Il beg your pardon" she put in hast
lily; II am sorry l made the remark"
Don't be sorry. I'm very glad. l Of
ten long to talk a little about myself.
You can't believe what an awful feeling
it Is to know that there is not one per-
son In the world who is sufficiently in
terested In you to care for your private
concerns"
DECIDEDLY unpleasant" murmured
Mr.. Mailett.
You'll hardly believe, Mallett, that
this 10 the most domesticated evening
I've spent fer the last six years. jolly
hard, when you consider that am nat
orally fond of homo and all that kind Of
thing! was just getting weary Of the
loneliness Of this place. but your being
here tonight has changed the whole as
pect Of Affairs. 1t locks SO homelike to
see ysu sitting there as if you belonged
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 the
world for loneliness Mr.. MaRett OBJ
served, laughingly.
Tried it, and round it failure"
"Eh" Mr.. Mallett sat upright and
stared into his hosts face. Il beg your
pardon, Polling, if l have said anything
unpleasant"
mot at all-in fact, if l shouldn't bore
you so horribly as to prevent your ever
taking compassion on me again, l should
like to tell you about my marriage Some
times l think it must all have BEEN a
dream, it seems 80 unreal"
He sat for a moment gazing absently
into the garden, which was beginning to
look dim and shadowy in the summer
twilight, as if he were calling up the
past from its gloomy depths. Ethel felt
a SILVER of superstitious awe pass over
her, and the movement seemed to bring
back the captain from the momentary
reverie into which he had fallen.
(To he continued,