" He paused a
moment, and then glancing down at the table added, "I was captain of
the eleven on which Walton played at Exeter."
* * * * * *
After the guests had gone, Virginia, her father, and Mrs. Van Vleck sat
for a few minutes in a small apartment between the drawing and dining
rooms. The girl's eyes were bright.
"Well, father, I actually believe you could have knocked me down with a
feather to-night."
Mr. Howland drew his cigar-cutter from his pocket and slowly inserted
the end of a perfecto.
"I suppose you refer to Merrithew."
"Certainly," said Mrs. Van Vleck; "why in the world didn't you tell us,
Horace?"
"Yes, why didn't you?" The girl had arisen and approached her father's
chair. "You might have known, father dear, that both Aunt Helen and I
lay awake nights wondering whether he would bring a boat-hook or a
sou'wester to the dinner, and do--oh, all sorts of outlandish things,
making us the joke of the season. And to think--a football captain in
Percy's class at prep school, quiet, easy-mannered--"
Mr. Howland snapped the end from his cigar and placed the cutter in his
pocket.
"Are you quite through, Virginia?" he said.
"Quite," replied the girl, who thereupon disproved her assertion by
beginning where she had left off.
Pages:
83
84
85
86
87
88
89
90
91
92
93
94
95
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107