STORT STORY.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 122, 15 February 1908, Page 10

STORT STORY.

PRISCILLA'S PECULIARITY. "Odd to hear from him again, after all those years! I wonder what made him .unto immediately after ibis-arrivalsin port?"-. . Priscilla: Maberly. glanced, enquiringly from, the'open letter in- lier hand to the ltnrrui over her . drawing-room. . las though her reflection might possiblyanswer tho query. ' Certainly , a touch of p stole into tho soft,' pale -cheeks, and her ojesbrigktencl, 1 though, she' had reached tlin.period in lifo designated as .."tho youth of, old age, .and. a* single, and f .for the- past -fivo; yoars, ..very socluded had . .molded her,, into a rather, prim and prosaic old maid.-. , ;: •Tho wistful: melancholy of hor, expression, was' duo to an illness which had loft.-.her .al-,, most totally d<yf, though tho fact was scarcely not-iceablc, .thanks to tho knowledge of'lip reading sho had acquired y.-anjl when, this means failed sho. resorted to. the uso ot an ear trumpet* or' an ingeniously constructed fan. t < Sho perused tho letter . again, ■ thoughtand then . resumed tho . study; of : her reflection.' >■,■■■ :i;> -■. ■ „ : "I expect- timo will have altered, him, , sho murmured; "active-servico and, a hot climate age oue, but even then — Un, dear 1 If only I hadn't been plen have a horror of deaf old maids ! •V ShO'broko'off with' a little sigh, resuming, however, in a more hopeful strain, i... ... . ■: f'But. I needn't A let -him, know , justj. at. first—ho always .spoko ,distinctly, and, was. • clean-shaven, which moans a great ,dpaJ to mo now. It ho has a drooping moustache, ' instead ;of tho ear tnitnpofc—why,l, musu amply uso mr fan — 1 And she took a little fan from tho table, with an odd-chapod stick m the centre terminating 111 a tort of mouthpieco in tho handle ~ , ' ', "I'm sure I can iranago k, sho resumed, meditatively.' "I will sot him ; talking .of hii> : she . crossed, tho. room, and I touched the'boll. ; ■...: . o ■ •' "Cathonno,". sho said -, to .tho. . maid,. "Major—l mean Colonel Ewart—will be hero presently. Send-up hol vrith tho tea and extra cream " < ' , _ : Slipping the ear trumpet into a little silk ' bag- at her side, -sho-proceeded. to placo , an ■ armchair near : the fire for herprospcctu o > visitor/'and another:opposite.for.horsclf, and '• arranged, tho lamp. so that .tho light ..-would. ' fall on his face,'wnilo leaving her m. shadow.; v- A'moment afterthe maid, held aside,,,,tho, heavy plush portiore, and . a, . tall, milltary- : looking .man,; with a': flowing, grey beard .and moustache,.filled up the doorway.. "Good gracious 1-a beard a3 • well! ' Miss Maberly murmured, horror-stricken,., as. sho caughti up/her•'fan and-twent;• to' ■ reeet, hiiu>; •holding it .graciously to lier, bps.. ... "Ah, major'—colonel, I n can"—sho corrected' 'herself,"' agitated)?—''.'delighted ,to' : sep you! It's.flike your good; nature to .call ■ so. , soon-' ' How you havo . altered! .1 should scarcely have known jou " * ; :f You haven't changed v. in tho• lajst degree," he said, gallantly, . shaking her hand between? both his.' . "Why, it vseems .only yesterday we -said , 'Good-by' ~at.. your, sister's garden party.".'.- -• . « ~ 1 -Histonewas gruff,' but heartyyand somewhat above the,normal pitch,: and sho ■.managed- to' catch' a .word- here i and : thero. as sbo. wat«hod'his hps, janxiouslyj holding the fan to her own. "Tos —er —I have ■ a-dittls garden here," /, come ,a.r|d •sit down, I s want to • hear .all: about, yourself and i your campaigns.' 1 :0f. course, 1 ."learned Wg'rpat '.fromV /• , youjfeustViust®ll';.^nip / fijom ■the.'vory?Jjegiih Vning/;v: ! .X:will^promiso/' not'/ito/H.jnternijity" ; she' added, playfully,'; as.''sho : opposit6 :him, her oyes still 'fixed on his face - "Really, Celia—L may call you tho old ; ; name,, may. I-not ? '.Thore jis "nothing ■ to'toll, Just v tho usuaFchaJigos from lull-, stations ; break, which: -..wo: quelled rafter some, sharf fighting;: and: losing 'some of- our best fellows, nnd that's all/ . You don't suppose," he re: ■ sumed, in a lower- tone,; "that I'vo comt ;';here;./directly.vl set" mj ■ birth,".'to talk about-my campaigns?"- • Sho heard tho. noto of .interrogation,:; anc dropped her. oyes rather disconcertedly; mur muring an unintelligible monosyllable; ,l •' - "L.want to; isomething, far,more 'in: : :. teresting," : .he';continued',.--..softly,'''"that\coii : corns vou :as well .as myself. .You'vo nt ■■■■ idM -what- a;;pl€as}irp:;it,'is- ro. _sce. you agan -.—and ,to fina--.^Kai' ; '..yottH i HiaC'ifbu' aro nomarried." ' , , 'f.'V^niealte?3':-?sho : '.ra6laim'M^''af^j:af;' : slißhi ;• tone. ■ j - , - - "Yes, it lias:alwnys beeri- in.my .though-tai,' hey rejoined, s eagerlyii, his; courage, rising;'. .'.■;Bh6uld ; havo'ispokon,beforei'l : . : weuf:away,^ • > -db;'.you 'Tememher.'.ro'mMking-iOT^ never- irifended toTmarry/unless'theimah wh' • asked you, had somethbig-nioro' toi.his .credi ' tlmh a bank-accountP , ,Tliat jva.s wliy I sx ' changed;.and- went ■ abrbadi'j and <it "was, an! : last' year that !my chaneo ; -. yoii-';know—^' "I;.,conside <: myself;:Worthy.iof.you, oven addeti • hastily; /and,;despite;the:bronzing of ■th sun, & -blush' overspread t-he big, kindly face . ... and, seeing -his . 'ombafrassment, :. . she , woe .':' dered; vaguely; bdultl, b'o. ?'•' "I .did thmk""flf.i,i^tiiig.";-^eh^*iJ. ; 'TWas..:-jii i.--therq,";'ho. resumedj''as ; she; (lid hot answer ; until -tlieVie; frontier: a(fairs >.were .quit .^settled;;!-:thought ■ it .fairer ;not ;.to tie-yourself 'tO'.me,;.'^ ;it :-'might ,hpyo : "ypu- jrc course," for.,'granted,:'yo me/.' and 'ho ■cqucludw - smiling'rather;shamo-facodlv: . ■ , '/• --V ?Indeed?!'|;;,'sKpV i sntil«l;'. aKoj"-'feigning': a; ionishmont... . •' : . -> Celia,, , this.:.'is,..not--'alt) f ether la.'surprbei .to. • jrau"; ' Eveii '-if o.paused,;and-his-tonP wasTagairi ahteiTi .._: : gativ(^"ypu , db'.ript Ifind ; it';disagr(»abl(j? ,: •iVDoar-me-T-how- strange I"-,.she oxclaime* hesrt-atingl.v, after n sli^htVpau'se.':-'still'/kocj ing fixe<l on his fa'ccj -whilo shd'-b tho tip,of-her.fan- nervously.' .. v .jA.' Seijio. of uneasiness [crept,, over 'him 'als niid.-'ho leaned ;back-. in I ,his, chair ;to'' avo: her-steady jjiizo. .■ , •!, •' A. dead jsileneo fpllowctl, l which ahe ib'rol

at.lnst, with a little; regretfuli si^li '■' "Is : 'that'nll? It- is nxistHric'rosting." • ."All. Celia," he sighed. "you are just as . tanttlisirip aiid. siandroflish. as'^oveT—hut—l . . Jil?o.you all,tho,better.for. it." -and/lie leaned forward:'..with.aii. admiring; glanco-at' tho' fair ;faeoi : and;,Bhapely. ( head,vorown^ : ';mtli heat V- . coils. "Yes,' .niaiiy •. peoplo :ha'vo";- told me the same,'.' she replied, .'.complacently,- catching ~. tho/.end., ; of. his.,:.sentenco: and,.; noting'tbo. appreciative glance, concluded that lie u!-' » luded' tq.:tho modern style of hair< dressing.: she had adopted. • . : - "But you.needn't be stand-offish witlv an . old—er--a'lmiror,'' he added, quietly and reproachfully. . "I—l beg your ..pardon—what did yon . .say?" sho-asked, nervouslv;. ' "Oh, nothing, ■ nothing." he responded,' ;• hastily, foaring. he-had been too -precipitate. : "What a . charming room this is I"' '■ -'.'Now,. you - must : havp some 'tea," " ' iihe said,' i aftor rather an awknrd; pause,' laying: down her fan, ami moving to tho table. ; "Being ;an;'old maid,: J'ni, ratherfussy.. so • you must ' not. i'allc; wjiilo I'm making 'it^—' yit.distracts.m'y attention,":she added, wit-lr a forced littlo laugh. • : Hp watched her'with, grownig pleasure' as' ■ her with t,h<s cups, tho lamp touchingTtho gold: in her-hair. .'lt's _like, .old, times,...watching vou -make te:i. Celia. I wish it would bo my privilege ". alw/iivs,". ho. said,.at lonctli. : • ;'She . caught? the : sound of his voice, and glare'".' l ! up momentarily. _ v ; , 'l..told you.nofc to ■ talk," she said, with • ' playful ;soy6rity.. ;-; t "Hut I must., Don't be. so tantalising. • dear'ost, I'm -not to touch ten; tall I'vo had youranswer)-.till .-you've promised, in fact" —his voice dropped-to an earnest whisper, and hn crossed the room to her side—"to bo • mv wife." . : ' ■■■ ■ 1 !•■■■■. She glanced at him, l»wildbred. ; , "Kr-Vcr—in. faot, of .course, scarcely in theory." she said, vaguely/ . • • : "Celia!" 110 exclaimed, very quietly and stornlv. "what on earth do you mean?"

■ A dead silence" followed- ■ She saw by his face that southing ,vwas wrong, and nor. agitation liieroaswl when ho commonced to pace restlessly about the room, muttering to lunisolfm an undertone: _ ■ "Ever' Mnco'l'Vo been abroad Ivo Uvea and -workedi in jtho 'hope of ; ono day winning you.i but 'now lfc'seams' as though —— Breaking friff, suddehly,' ho paused beside hor'again t:.' . . • •• • Sho lookednp'T>uzzl(:d. 'What, did you .say?" sho asked f ..<k.sporateJy.. I didnot :quito;oatfch itj but.-Jt is your, own tault, 1 told yon not -to.irtalk:' while 1 made tea— two lumps'of "sugari'nisnt -it. you see, I romombor tho corroct number—and half tho .Tsgro :al.ways. terribly greedy, -colonel! There!"..Shehanded him tho cup ,and' Caught»up'her'.#nV ' Now you must b°gin all ovci again..,m,';l don't think you vo . lost .fcherold.;spico,". of,:, humour, and she •flashed a nervous. little snnlo ovor the lop •of her. fati.v-T- 1 ". .. . •;.. ■ ' "Colin," ho said, slowly, raising. Jns_ voice till it rang through, the room, "this is not :a time for joking."; ; . •" Tho (l auger ; -in.;!nsV tono and his hurt oxprossion frightened and bewildered her. Wuh ■ a gosturo.of despar sho turned away. I; ; "If only,,'itrJiadn?tn> been, for the mous'taehal"! sho tnurniuredy.half audibly, i : "Moustache!',' ,;.tosexclaimed, eagerly, irhopof ulncss starting into his tono. "Isfch&t jn-ir 1 wish I . had it known bofore I came. ... But I'll have it off idirpctly."., t i" ' , I. : Ho was-standmg-Abesido her again, and now,, hp,. rested,, liixwlwrid on lier shouldor; ' hut sho shrank fro.nu.ljis touch, and turned I awav half crying, and .wringing her hands, i'-'I-thought Ivcould;-have managed, but I shallhavc to'tell.'~ ; l;can't go on like this," ivsho sobbed.. ' ' I ' "Toll mo what? That there is some ono eW "• . . , - Hoiyaltflhed-hpr-.faca appeahngly, with tho hope-of reading contradiction in hor eyes; . and .sho,'neither ackiiQwfedg«l-nor tdonied tho chargei. • ' Ho - turned abruptly away, , and • flung him-. ' self m \ho .armchair,,, burying his face in his hands.-, ■ ■-/ "•' . !;jast t '.my luct/' h©; said,; brokonly. "But ' it's,ihaW;.after., all.thisit.imo, and now, when it .sopicpcl; all. plain, sailing, to hoar that-r ■that—l thavo a' ! .lival.. .But," reproachfuijy*f':"you' needn't- 'havo 'kepti' mo so long "in suspense,:-Celia." ■ • ; A'rflqmeij,t!s siJeiipq; Mlowbd;' thon she-left '-her/seat;andjirajkffllto tho, fireplacfc,• . and. • stood~looking'down -- at him, toying nervously with. her. faiw,, r ' "I can't .hear what, you say," she said, at the. fan from her; ■•"L sKolild' haVo; told- ypu—I 1 am' deaf, but' I couldiVtkliear.' forjriTOvimy; ear, trumpet 1 just •at.first,. bccause I thpuKht. you would regret :having.;;qomo,,:,:;:'l; kripTy men;havo. a'hprror of deaf old maids.'' ■, '

Sho laughed .-hysterically as sho producod the .t-i^mpi;t,,from ..tho'rlittio bag'at her side and'atjjnstKlit. : : '4!. - my; silly ■ pride," she con."quickly,.,,"and*„l' thought ••'•1, could ma.nagc„jYit-h. ,mj-.fan. M You seo, it has this "tubo-iii tlio. ; centre;';Tyhich, carries' tho, soiihd' , through/'myXlips^aiy" then—l understand lip ; reading-rrif ijt' ihadn't ;been that your jpurs—I—'V1—'V : ..i'ii'.'-|is a<6 all rhe eagerly; ,sta'i'tiKg"„'iip his liands on 'her' ~shojil(!ers,; , - ".Xh'ej'O iaii t' anybody else?" ', 1 . -"Anybody- she asked, bewildered. '■ ' ',l,Vm'Mn,i a'ny.i6ue. : 3 , du . carp for more''than the .colour rushing into her cheeks; "but. what-on : odd' qties.tion.":;;' ' :';''v.v delightedly; ;• "Can't :l^pu r guess,VCelia, ..what. I- havo been twinkled mer■;rih"—'.'shnJLl begin .all. over ngam?" 1 . ■i.-But it was scarcely.^eceasary, 1 . fori't-hough ishe . blushed'' stall; 'deeper,'<she • did not" now ; he;';tbfik 'iberhands : in - his.—B., ; CJliffo.,Da^vsoiiV iij, th^i ; ;, York • Weekly.''-/,