Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1907-06-15


done. Perhaps the tone OF her voice
showed him. Better a lifelong misun-
derstanding than a disclosure-after
that. He breathed a sigh OF genuine
relief.
And yet you refused me-" be said,
watching her, and seeing for the first
time, that tremulous color. "Whyr.
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 l am dis
tasteful to you?"
His voice was. professionally 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 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.. Sheringham,
almost gaily. Now that his ordeal was
removed, he found himself enjoying
the interview amazingly. e'And 30, for
this no reason at all, a within which
you cannot even explain, you have con-
demned me to solltudep He sighed,
with gentle self pity, mental picture
OF his bare bachelor lodging, In con-
trast with this dainty room, coming 10
add pathos 30 words In which already
he more than half believed ''Ah, cruel,
cruel ~
My dear friend" said the widow,
"ls II possible. that you have not yet
SEEM the absurdity of wishing to join
your life with that of an old woman
like myselfT'
"Oldi" cried Mr. Sheringham gal
lanty. Perish the thought you have
the advantage Of me by yearsl" He
meant it, 100; With the danger behind
him, he felt that he could safely allow
himself the luxury of a little sentimen-
tai regret. III you are old, Annette
what of me?"
"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 it back again. your views
are not altered then" she said softly
after a moment (and surely the hesita-
tioh might have warned him) you
still wish to hear my reason for reply
Ing to you as l did?"
Can you ask lt7"
Then l will tell you 1t was be-
cause, having to answer to you imme-
dlately, 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 a pleased rever1e, soothed
by the gentle murmur of her voice
He sprang up, white with emotion,
us 1t 80 difficult to understand '-
Mrs. PilkIngton raised her eyes to his,
smiling shyly-''the woman's privilege.
l am an old woman, but not yet,
fear, very wise one. How astonlsh-
ed you look. Could you not see what It
was that has been making me so fool
ishly nervous ever since You came In?
Tiff you, too, had regretted your de-
cision, you should never have known.
But now-now, Aug ustus,, If you still
want me. it shall be as you wish p
Mr.. sheringham gasped. The come
ly figure of Mrs. .Pllkington 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 1t was
now become absolutely impossible to
undecelve his old friend, the other that
somehow, in the last ten minutes, he
had fallen in love with her.
"Annette" he said, '"Annettel" II
was the only thing to say, and he fol-
lowed 1t CALAMITY with the one action
that was appropriate to the clrcum-
stances.
How we shall astonish people,
murmured Mrs. Pilklngton.
YES" said Mr.. Sheringham truth
fully, at is no doubt something of a
surprise-for everybody"
Tell me, Augustus" said his fance,
somewhat. later. when they were seat
ed upon tfiss 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,
1.-THE fact is ran up'to have a 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 a schoolboy-at
i such a crisis!
mot 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-