MISS CANDACE AND THE MAJOR.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 319, 10 December 1910, Page 2

MISS CANDACE AND THE MAJOR.

The sisters stood in their front window idly watching the passers-by. Suddenly their attention was attracted to an old man who, stopping, hung his cane upon his arm, and drawing an old-fashioned wallet from his pocket, abstracted a bit of paper, and began to read. Then he looked up in the window, and Miss Alicia, the elder, drew back, trembling.

"Oh," she cried., : "you don't suppose ha's coming here about " Miss Candace peeped quickly out, then, in an awestruck whisper "Yes, I really believe he's coming about the room."

"But a man, Candace, surely, we can't rent the room to a man."

"No doubt he wants it for a relative. I'll see what he wants, anyway." "I've called in answer to this advertisement lor a room ; may I see it?" courteously lifting his hat.

"Why—yes we have a room," admitted Miss Alicia unwillingly, "but

"I'll show it to you if you'll come in, sir," hastily added her sister. Upon reaching the stair top Miss Candace pushed ahead and opened the door to the front room. "This is not the one,we prepared to rent," she said to him, "but I think you'll like it better."

Looking at the heavy mahogany furniture, the old oil paintings on the walls, and the open fireplace surmounted by the white marble mantel, he said —

"H'm, very pleasant ; I'll take it I'll send my things in the morning."

Wh:n the final arrangements were completed, and the front door closed upon him, the elder sister exclaimed sharply—"Oh, Candace, how could you let our mother's room ?" "Why, I thought it a shame to make him climb another flight of stairs." "And then, a man—we hadn't thought of having one in the house. "Well, I rather like the idea," replied Miss Candace. They fell into the habit of listening for their lodger's steps on the stairs as he went in and out, and at last Miss Candace suggested timidly— "Don't you think we might invit( him to call some evening ?" •. "Perhaps. He appears a perfect gentleman." The invitation was accepted and Major Campbell became an enthusiastic cribbage player with the elder sister, the younger sitting demurly by, making tatting and sometimes offering suggestions about the game. It pleased the sisters to hear his oft-repeated delight in their old furniture. "It is strange," he said, you've not been tempted to sell.it."

"You see," explained Miss Candace "our grandfather built this house for grandmother, and in his will left it to her and to her heirs with the proviso that they occupy it themselves. Sister and I are the last of the family. When we die it will go to a certain charity. And though we are at liberty to sell the furniture if we choose, I think we would almost •Tatlier starve than do so. We were born in this house." "You must have seen many changes in New York in all these years," said the major.

"Yes, yes," Miss Alicia sighed, "but the worst has teen to see our dear old street desecrated with signs and occupied by such an inferior class of people. Some of the bestknown and most liighly-respected families in New-York had their origin in this quiet, sleepy o'.d street. When we were children there were not so many houses, but larger grass plots. There were a number of double houses like ours. Now it is the only one left." One afternoon some weeks later Miss Candace went alone to "walk in the park. Reaching the far side of the triangle, through which ran several paths, she spied the major approaching, and her heart began to flutter strangely. She did not know of his walking there before, and wondered if she should not return to the house at once. Yet whsn he asked if he might join her, she replied—"Why—yes, certainly," and begat searching her mind for a precedent. She could not remember of having walked, with a gentleman for many years, and waited nervously for him to begin the conversation. After speaking of the great convenience of having a park, however small, so near the house, the major paused. "It gives me great pain, Miss Condace, to be obliged to tell you that when ths week is up I shall have to give up my room," he said, slowly,

"Oh," she cried, turning to him, "just when we have become so well acquainted ! Sister and I thought you were perfectly satisfied." "Satisfied, my dear lady, I am more than satisfied. Your house is the first real home I have known. I could ask nothing better than to pass the remainder of my days there."

'"Then why—o pardon me—but could you not reconsider your decision ?"

"It is impossible," he said firmly. "I may a3 well tell you, madame, that lack of funds is what compels me to give up my room. Misfortune of various kinds -has reduced my income so thore is now little besides my pension."

"But perhaps wc might let you have the room for less," stammered Miss Candace, looking at the ground.

'"No, I could not agree to that. You are letting the room too cheaply now. Tf I had been able to pay more I should have insisted upon doing so. You can, no doubt, easily find a desirable ledger," i .

"Sister will be so sorry, ' at last said Miss Candace, "she enjoys the 2venings when you come down to play cribbage with her." "And how is it with yourself, Miss Candace ? I hope my company is agreeable to you also ?" "Oh, yes, yes indeed," and she began to tremble. Suddenly turning away she added, "It is getting chilly, I think I will return to the house." She told her sister the news. "Why it will be just like losing a member of the family ; I shall hate to see another lodger in his room.

"In our mother's room you mean," corrected Miss Alicia.

"Yes, certainly," admitted the younger sister, "but really, the three mcnths the major lias been with us have been the pleasante.st we have known in many years."

Miss Alicia sighed. "Such a perfect gentleman," she said, "so refined I should be proud to be related to him."

That evening the major remained upstairs, and the sisters after making a pretence of reading, retired.

The next morning . the postman called with a registered letter for the major. Miss Candace started to call him, but met him coming downstairs. "Well, well, what's all this, a letter for me, you say? 1 ' After one glance at the legal looking envelope from Washington, his hand trembled. With difficulty he signed the card. When the postman had gone, he turned to the sisters — "If you ladies will permit me, I will just step into your sitting-room to look over this. I may have something to say to you." "Certainly, major, and I hope you will find the news good," said th< elder.

1 'Good," he repeated, after a hasty scanning of the enclosure, "more thai good. I couldn't wish for better. My dear ladies, I shall now be enabled to remain with you —if you are agreeabli to the plan I put forward. I have receivbd notice that back pension money which was due me will be paid at once. I find myself attached to this house and—and to you ladies. Now I've been wondering if we can not make some permanent arrangement —ahem, I mean a —You see you have the house for life, and I the pension money: Nov/ if " "You mean," at last began Miss Alicia, and suddenly stopped short. "Yes —if one of you ladies, Miss Candace, for instance, would be willing to take my name, it seems to me it might make things pleasant all around. What do you say, Miss Candace ?" turning to her. "Is the proposition agreeable to you ?" "Am I to consider this a proposal of marriage, major ?" faltered th{ lady. "Exactly, the tender of my heart and hand," he assured her. "And of your pension money, also, I suppose," added Miss Alicia with a whimsical smile. "It is that which makes the tender of the other asssts possible. I have long wished to speak ot the matter, but my poverty withheld me. How is it, Miss Candace, will you take pity upon a lonely man ?" The little spinster's eyelids fluttered. Then suddenly she extended her hand, to him. "Yes," she said simply, and smiled up in his face, "sister and I have become so used to a man in the house that it will be delightful to make the arrangement permanent."— "Bostor Globe."