The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1907-06-14

ham saw that the thing was not to DO
done. Perhaps the tone of her voice
showed him. Better lifelong misun-
Outstanding than INSTRUMENTATION
that. He breathed sigh Of genuine
relief.
"And yet you refused me-" be said,
watching her, and seeing for the first
time that tremulous color. "WhyT
You have right to ask. Yeti ID
plain her reasons"
But you gave no hint In your an
swer. 1t was not that-that am dis
tasteful to your"
His voice was unreasonably anxious,
and he was unable now to take his
eyes from her face. How beautiful it
was in it's unexpected bushes!
"Ah, no! You must understand that
at least it was not that. But surely
we have known each other too long,
you and 1, for any nonsense Of senti-
ment between u.s."
"Our engagement could have been
the shorter" returned Mr.. Sherlngham,
almost gally. Now that his ordeal was
removed, he found himself enjoying
the interview amazingly. "And so, for
this no reason at all, whlm which
you cannot even explain, you have con-
demned me to solitude!' He sighed
with gentle self pity, a mental picture
of his bare bachelor lodging, In con-
trast with this dainty room, coming to
add pathos to words in which already
he more than half believed. "Ah, cruel,
cruel!"
my dear friend" said the widow,
lis it possible that you have not yet
seen the absurdity of wishing to join
your life with that Of an old woman
like myself?"
"Old!" cried Mr.. Sheringham gal
lanty. Perish the thought! you have
the advantage of me by years!" He
meant 1t, too with the danger behind
him, he felt that he could safely allow
himself the luxury of little sentimen-
tai regret. IF you are old, Annette
what of me?"
"A man is different; a bachelor iD
a youth at CO.,
Because he has never lived |"
She smiled, and half held out her
hand as though to place it upon his
then drew it back again. your views
are not altered them" she said softly
after moment (and surely the hesita-
ton might have warned him) "yom
still wish to hear my reason for reply
Ing to you as 1 did,"
"Can you ask it?'
"Then 1 will tell you. 1t was be-
cause, having to answer to you imme-
diately, wrote in such haste that per-
haps'-again she hesitated, then fin
ished in tones that weer barely audi
ble-'perhaps 1 did not wait to know
my own mind"
what" Mr.. Sheringham had BEEN
listening in pleased reverie, soothed
by the gentle murmur of her voice.
He sprang up, white with emotion.
us it so difficult to UNDERESTIMATE
Mrs. Pilkington raised her eyes to hisv
smiling shyly-"the woman's privilege
am an old woman, but not yet, I
fear, very wise one. How astonish-
ed you look. Could you not see what it
was that has been making me so fool
ishly nervous ever since you came INF
lift you, too, had regretted your de-
cision, you should never have known.
But now-now, Augustus, If you still
want me. 1t shall be as you wish!"
Mr.. Sheringham gasped. The come
ly figure Of Mrs. Pilkington danced
grotesquely before his vision, the floor
seemed to be. giving way beneath him.
Only two ineligible thoughts remain
ed in his mind-one was that it was
now become absolutely impossible to.
undeceive his old friend, the other that
somehow, In the last ten minutes, he
had fallen in love with her.
"Annette!" he said, "Annette!" IT.
was the only thing to say, and he fol-
lowed it CALAMITY with the one action
that was appropriate to the circum-
| stances.
How we shall astonish people,
murmured Mrs Piikington.
YES" said Mr.. Sherngham truth
fully, ut is no doubt something Of g.
surprise-for everybody"
"Tell me- Augustus" said his fiances
somewhat later, when they were seat
ed upon the. sofa, 'how came you to,
be at West Point yesterday"
AT West Point?" Mr.. Sheringham
looked bewildered.
yes Your letter-the letter-was
post-marked from there"
"Oh, Of course, yes" said the lover,
''the fact Is ran up to have look at
my nephew, Tom-Mary's eldest, you
know" he explained.
Mrs. Pilkington gazed at him admir-
ingly. How like your kind heart"
she said-"to think of schoolboy-at
such crisis!
Not at ALL" said Mr.. Sheringham.
AS a matter of fact he was thinking.
of him at that moment, but his thoughts
were of too tumultuous and contradic-
tory nature to be expressed In
words.
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