"Stayed over to celebrate, my dear," the Colonel answered. "Stayed to celebrate the victory." With a beaming face he advanced upon the lady, plainly planning an embrace.
But she eluded him. "Wait a moment, Colonel. On what did you celebrate?"
The Colonel laughed. "Oh, I didn't forget. I celebrated on ginger-ale and soda-pop."
Miss Alathea smiled with happy satisfaction. She eluded him no longer, but, herself, went to him and bestowed the kiss.
"I doubt if my stomach ever recovers from the insult," said the Colonel, delighted by the kiss but remembering the mildness of the beverages which had marked his jubilation. "Miss 'Lethe, a julep—a mint-julep—before I perish."
With a smile she crossed the room to where, upon the side-board (a side-board is an adjunct of all well-regulated libraries in old Kentucky), a snowy damask cloth concealed glorious somethings. With a graceful sweep she took it from them and revealed three juleps in their glory of green-crowns. "Look, Colonel!"
"Three! Great heavens!" the Colonel cried, delighted. He took one and disposed of it in haste.
"I mixed them myself," Miss 'Lethe said.
The Colonel drank another, but less rapidly.
"Remember," she said, warningly, "three and no more!"