The Nezperce herald. (Nezperce, Idaho) 1900-1957, 1907-06-27

/ Then. quite suddenly. MFR. Sherinss
ham saw thar the thing was not to b.
DONE Perhaps che tone OF her soies
showed him. Better lifelong mssun-
ierstandlng than disclosure after
that HE hreathed sigh OF genuine
RELIEF.
~And ret you refused me" he said.
watching her. and seeing for the first
time that tremulous coIor- ~why1"
You have right 10 ask. Yeti Ia
difficult sometimes for woman to ex-
plain her reasons.
but you gave no hint In your an
swer. II was not that-that am dis
tasteful TO your I'll
His voice was unreasNMtoly anxious
and he was unable now to take bis
eyes from her face. How beautiful II
was in It's unexpected bushes
~Ah. no. You must understand that
at least ii was not that. But surely
we have known each other too long.
you and L. for any nonsense of senfi-
ment between us"
'~Our engagement could have been
the shorter" returned Mr.. Sherlngham.
almost gany. Now that his ordeal was
removed. be found himself enjoying
the interview amazingly. -And 80. for
this no reason at all. within which
you cannot even explain. you have con-
desnned me to soiltuder 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 ;"
sNfy dear friend" said the widow.
SIS 1t possible that you have not yet
seen the absurdity Of wishing to Join
your life with that Of an old woman
like myseify"
~olds" cried Mr.. Sheringham gal
lanty. Perish the thought. you have
the advantage OF me BY years" He
meant IL. 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 mel"
"A man is different; a bachelor Is
a youth at 90"
Because he has never lived :"
She smiled. and half held out her
hand as though TO place 1t upon his
then drew if back again- Your views
are not altered them" she said softly
after q moment land surely the hesita-
ton might have warned hln) /; "you
still wish TO hear my reason for reply
ing TO you as | didg"
can you ask itT'
Then | win tell ron II was be-
cause, having TO answer to you lmme-
dlately. wrote in such haste that per-
haps'-agaln she hesitated- then rn-
ished In tones that weer barely audi
ble-.perhaps I did not walt TO knoy
my own mind"
what Mr.. Sheringham had been
listening in pleased reverie. sooshed
by the gentle murmur Of her voice
He sprang up. white with emotion
is 1t so difficult to understand r.
Mrs. PiIkington raised her eyes 10 bis.
smiling shyly--the woman's privilege
l am an old woman. but not yet.
fear. a very wise one How astonlsh-
ed you look Could you not see what Il
was that has been making me so fool
sshly nervous ever since you came in7
I1-If sou. too. had regretted your de-
cislon. you should never have known.
But now-now. Augustus. II you still
want me- 1t shall be as you wish.''
sfr. sheringham gasped. The come
ly figure OF Mrs Pilkingfon 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 IL was
now become absolutely Impossible 10
undeceIve bis old friend. the other that
somehow, in the last ten minutes. be
had fallen in love with her.
Annette - be said. -Annetfe,- II
was the only thing 10 say. and he fol-
lowed IT calamity with the one action
that was appropriate to the circum-
stances
How we shall astonish people,
nurnured Ssrs. PiIkington-
Yes said Mr.. sheringham truth
fully, ..lt Is no doubt something of
surprise--for everybody
"TeIl me. Augustus" said bis fance.
somewhat later. when they were seat
ed upon the sofa, how came you to
be at West Point yesterday
.At West PointT Mr. sheringhan
looked bewildered-
yes Your Iefter-the Ietter-was
post-marked from there"
-Oh. Of course, yes" said the lover.
.sthe fact Is ran up 70 have a look at
my nephew. Tom Mary's eldest. you
KNOW be explained
Mrs. PiIkington gazed at him admir-
ingIy. How Ike Jour kind heart"
she sald-'+to think of 8 scboolboy-at
such crisis
mot at an said Mr.. sherfngharn-
Az a matter OF fact he was thinking
of him at that moment, but his thoughts
were of too tumultuous and confradic-
tory a nature to be expressed La
words.