The Camden journal. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1866-1891, 1879-06-12


toilet next morning with the athletic de-
termination to 60 in and win" at all
hazards.
Uncle Joshua and his party were not
due until the Sd. so he had day in which
to look about him and elaborate plan
of campaign. Entering the breakfast.
room, the first object his eyes encountered
was Allibone Crosby himself, coffee-cup
in hand. He greeted Ned cordially
enough, but without affecting surprise at
seeing him.
"When did you get in? 1 heard you
were expected about this time"
Last night. How long have you been
here?"
about a week. Where have they
seated you? l say, Julia" ITO the wait
ress-"put MIR. Banks here, will you?
Mrs. Reeves won't be back for another
fortnight; he might as we'll have her
seat till she comes"
I'll take it for to-day with pleasure,
but tomorrow I expect some friends, "
said Ned.
"oh!" replied Crosby, with sort Of
rapid CLINT in his eye. "Well, sit down
now, at all events, old fellow"
The "here" indicated was seat next
but one to Crosby's own, round an angle
of the table. The chair between, as well
as that on the other side of Crosby, was
tilted forward to indicate pre-engage-
ment. Ned ordered his breakfast, but
before it appeared, two ladies entered,
and advanced at once to the reserved
seats.
They were so much alike as to be evi-
deRtly sisters; but while one had the air
and bearing of a youthful matron, the
other was as unmistakably a young girl.
This latter took the chair next to Ned,
and Allibone Crosby, after a moments
low-voiced conversation with the older
sister, leaned forward and introduced
them.
miss Darbelle, may I introduce my
friend Mr.. Banks, of New York."
Then to Ned, After breakfast I shall
have the pleasure Of presenting you to
Mrs. Peters, Miss Darbelle's sister; just
now you seem at an unapproachable
distance"
Both ladies bowed, Mrs. Peters lean
ing past Mr.. Crosby, and smiling bright
ly as she did so; Miss Darbelle with a
shy, upward look out of a pair of brown
eyes.
She was a brown little thing alto
gether, was Ned's first reflection, for her
hair, evidently all her own, and bound
in q great knot at the back of her small
head, was bright hazel in color. the long
lashes which shaded her eyes had a
bronze-like glitter, and her skin was the
richest brunette, with lovely pink in
the cheeks, like the hue OF sun-ripened
peach. Even the delicate hands were
brown, and the slender arched throat
(which rose above the dainty ruffle: and
rs ifto enhance the. effect, the dress was
hbfeYn also-a-sale cream, relieved with
knob. of ehestnut-c colol ed ribbon. The
extreme finish and delicaey of every line
and tint in both dress and wearer gave q
piquant and striking effect to the whole,
which amounted to absolute beauty, as
Ned presently decided; and the i'm
preston deepened rs conversation
brought out a saucy glitter in the coffee
colored eyes, and smiles revealed the
flash of pearl-white teeth. Miss Oar
bellies voice, sweet and low, had that
musical semi-Southern intonation which
is so charming to the unaccustomed ear.
She was very easy and natural, and alto
gether Ned found himself so well enter
tained rs to prolong his breakfast to IN
unconscionable extent. 1t was not till
Mrs. Peters had inquired, more than
once, in a tone of slight impatience,
Haven't you finished, Essie?" that at
last Miss Darbelle. with demure little
salutation, rose and pushed back her
chair.
Ned followed, of course. "What else
was there to do in that stupid place."
he asked himself. The ladies were
going to walk with Mr.. Crosby, and he
went too. What between the rocks and
the beaches, hours sped rapidly away.
There was a row in the afternoon, n
game at tenpins later. Il chat on the
moon-lighted piazza. We all know how
such things so at q watering-place,
where the business of life is simply to
live and enjoy the passing moment. 1t
was but for day. Tomorrow Uncle
Joshua and.his heiress would arrive to
claim Ned's- time and devoirs. Mean
time Miss Darbelle was very pretty, and
there was no harm in getting what fun
he could out of this extra day. The
graver business of life would be along
soon enough.
Alas for the mutability of human
plans! Next morning brought the fol-
lowing telegram:
Delayed few days. Stay where you
are. Will write. j. BANKS"
"What can have turned up?" asked
Ned of himself, but he submitted to the
delay philosophically. The hotel proved
very comfortable; the weather was de-
licious; there might easily be found a
worse place to wait in than South Cove
even without Miss Lowell to add to its
attractions. He telegraphed an answer !:
"All right; will wait" and resigned
himself with happy ease to the situation.
A letter from Uncle Joshua came next
day. Mrs. Lowell, it seemed, had been
taken ILL.,; nothing serious, but it might
detain them two or three days-perhaps
till Thursday. It'll Thursday then,
Ned felt himself to be off duty, and he
utilized his reprieve in the manner most
agreeable to himself-by seeing as much
as possible of the Baltimore ladies. Its
a kind of prelude TO the real thing he
told himself, ".keeping my hand in, SO
to speak, and will be all the better when
the other girl comes to the fore" Ned
had probably heard the adage about
edged tools and the dangers of playing
Herewith, but it did not recur to his
mind just then.
Mr.. Banks Irritation with the pretty
Miss Darbelle became the mild excite
ment of the season ut the South Cove
Morning after morning the cream brown
costume was to be seen on the rocks in
close proximity to Ned's suit of gray
tweed or spotless duck, the afternoons
saw the two together on the water, the
evenings in close conversation in the
dimmest and most remote corner of the
long piazza. Mrs. Peters looked on
without interference, tolerant, like al
Southern women, of the progress and
evolution of love making in its incinient