Henderson daily dispatch. (Henderson, N.C.) 1914-1995, 1937-05-17

Lutman pursed his lips and con-
tinued his scrutiny.
Its difficult to put ones finger
on it, Mrs. Smith," he said. "but
there is definitely a lurking charm
in the place. It is, perhaps, just
that unmistakable touch Of a cul-
tured woman that even the drab-
mess Of a furnished room cannot
entirely destroy"
tits not the sort Of place I've
been accustomed to-" Mrs. Smith
informed him. with a pathetic note
in her voice. "But I try not to
complain. After all. it isn't the
material things Of life that really
matter. One can get accustomed
to sacrifices. I'm sure I've had 80
many baths in tepid water that I've
almost forgotten what really hot
water feels like"
II know" murmured the Colonel
sympathetically.
But the spiritual things :"
said Mrs. Smith, paused, and filled
the hiatus with a sigh. spiritual
suffering is so much harder to
bear. Haven't you found that's
true, Colonel"
The Colonel nodded.
IT understand" he said feeling
ly.
1.-THE loneliness" added Mrs.
Smith. "These last few days since
Jacqueline has been gone-I don't
know how l should have got
through them without the help
you've given me. You've been so
kind, so sympathetic, so under
standing. Such charming little
dinners, too. I'm afraid you must
have found it very dull taking an
old woman like me out to dinner"
my dear Mrs. Smith," inter-
posed the Colonel. IT have been
observation-disclosures. And to
call yourself an old woman. -
He shook his head, smiling at her.
I'm afraid you're much too
modest. You don't realize, per-
haps, how attractive you are. 1t
is, I fancy, just that delightful
lack of self-consciousness - that
girlish righteousness, if may say
so-that appeals to me so strong
i y. Don't you realize, my dear
Millicent-you must forgive me
for that liberty, but always think
of you as Millicent-dOn't you
realize that you are a very beauti-
full woman ?"
Mrs. Smith made the most tell
ing reply: she averted her face and
said nothing. And this time there
was no question about it; her heart
did f1utter. And Colonel Lutman
as though in some subtle way he
was aware Of that fact, chose this
moment to lay hand on her knee
every beautiful indeed-to me-
he said softly, and smiled as he
saw a faint flush spread over Mrs
Smiths cheek and heard her catch
her breath sharply. Then, after an
adequate pause: 'Millicent, my
DEAR" he said, "I can't bear to
think Of you being unhappy and
lonely, going without things-the
spiritual things, mean, as well as
the material. And as things are
there is only loneliness ahead Of
you. Jacqueline, I'm afraid. will
not come home again now. She
will have her work to do and hel
own life to live, and you must face
the fact that she will not be here
with you. In any case, she will moi
be long unmarried"
Mrs. Smith sighed.
my dear Colonel, Jacqueline has
been unmarried an appallingly long
time already. And I'm sure it's moi
my fault. IF ever a mother made
sacrifices so that her daughter
might have every chance Of max
ling a good match. =. :"
IT know" said Lutn1an. "Bu'
there's no need to go on making
sacrifices, Millicent. You have
done with the rough places of life
I trust, and are now going to en-
ter on the smooth. Tonight. whel
, I was out on the river-I often gt