Man and Maid

"She is, George."

"My best wishes, Nicholas. I think you are wise, probably wounded as

you are, it will be nice for you to have an agreeable companion," and he

sighed.

"You have quite finished with Violetta?"

"Now that is the odd part," and he actually removed his cigar from his

lips. "I thought I had, but when I went to see her with the certain

intention of deceiving her and backing out gracefully,--that vixen

Carmencita was drawing me so strongly!--I found Violetta quite tranquil.

She said she had realized that I was cooling off, and her rule was to

hold nothing which did not wish to stay, so she was quite prepared to

part from me. She was very tender, she looked beautiful, and you know

when it came to saying farewell, I found myself quite unable to do so! I

had prepared a lot of lies about my not being justified in giving the

time from my work, but before I could tell them Violetta had forestalled

me by assuring me that she knew I must really stick closer to my office,

and she would no longer expect much of my company. You know, Nicholas, I

suddenly found her charm renewed tenfold, and I could only congratulate

myself upon the fact that the affair with Carmencita had not gone far

enough to amount to anything, and now I am in pursuit of Violetta again,

and 'pon my soul, Nicholas, if she only keeps me wondering, I believe I

shall be really in love!"

"Shall you marry, George?"

He looked almost bashful.

"It is just possible,--Violetta is a widow."

Then our eyes met and we both laughed aloud.

"You can contemplate happiness, George with your widow, because you feel

that she now knows how to handle you, and I contemplate happiness with

my little girl, because I respect her character and adore every inch of

her, and by Jove! old man, I believe we shall both get what we are

looking for!"

Then our talk drifted to politics and the war, and it was just about

midnight before old George left, and when he had gone I opened the

window wide, and looked out on the night, there was a half moon almost

set, and the air was still, and very warm for the beginning of November.

There are nights like that, mysterious and electric when all sorts of

strange forces seem to be abroad. And something of romance in me exalted

my spirit, and I found myself saying a prayer that I might be true to my

trust, and have strength enough of will to wait patiently until my

Alathea comes voluntarily into my arms.