Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1907-06-15


done. Perhaps the tone of her voice
showed him. Better lifelong misun-
Outstanding than a disclosure-after
that. He breathed a sigh of genuine
relief.
And yet you refused me-" he said,
watching her, and seeing for the first
time that tremulous color. "Why"
"You have a right to ask. Yeti Is
difficult sometimes for woman to ex-
plain her reasons
but you gave no hint in your an
swer. 1t was not that-that / am dis
tasteful to you?"
His voice was unreasonably anxious,
and he was unable now to take his
eyes from her face. How beautiful 1t
was in it's unexpected bushes.
"Ah, no. You must understand that
at least 1t was not that But, surely
we have known each other too long
you and l, for any nonsense Of senti-
ment between u.s."
Our engagement could have been
the shorter" returned Mr.. Sherlngham,
almost gaily. Now that his ordeal was
removed, he found himself enjoying
the Interview amazingly. And so, for
this no reason at all, within which
you cannot even explain, you have con-
demned me to solitudey 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,
us it possible that you have not yet
seen the absurdity of wishing to Join
your life with that of an old woman
like myselfY"
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 meT'
"a man is different; a bachelor is
a youth at CO."
Because he has never lived!"
She smiled, and half held out her
hand as though to place 1t upon his
then drew 1t back again. Your views
are not altered then" she said softly
after moment (and surely the hesita-
ton might have warned him) you
still wish to hear my reason for reply
ing to you as l did2"
Can you ask it?
Then l 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 l did not wait to know
my own mind"
What" Mr.. Sherngham had been
listening in a pleased reverie, soothed
by the gentle murmur Of her voice.
He sprang up, white with emotion.
us 1t so difficult to UNDERESTIMATE
Mrs. Pilkington raised her eyes to his,
smiling shyly-"the woman's privilege.
l am an old woman, but not yet, l
fear, a 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 in?
lift you, too, had regretted your de-
cision, you should never have known.
But now-now, Augustus, If you still
1af hoI no I-lof
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!" 1t
WAS the only thing to say, and he fol-
lowed it CALAMITY with the one action
that was appropriate to the clrcum-
stances.
How we shall astonlsh people,"
murmured Mrs. Pilkington.
Eyes" said Mr.. Sheringham truth
fully. at IS no doubt something of
surprise-for everybody"
Tell me. Augustus" said his fance,
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 bewlldered.
Yes. Your letter-the letter-was
post-marked from there"
"Oh, of course, yes" said the lover,
THE fact is l ran up to have a look at
my nephew. Tom--Mary's eldest, you
know" he explained.
Mrs. Pilbdngton gazed at him admir-
ingly. How like your kind heart"
she said-''to think of a schoolboy-at
such crisis
..N-o+ "a all Soi1 Mr. Cl,arf,rIor,