Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1879-05-27

through the open window. The idea OF
possible rival stimulated his interest in
Miss Lowell amazingly, and he made his
toilet next morning with the athletic de-
termination to "go in and winn at all
hazards.
4 Uncle Joshua and his party were not
due until the Sd, 50 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 inp heard you
were expected about this time.n
/" Last night. How long have you been
here?n ta
about week. Where have they
seated youp / say, Julia ITO the wait
ress-'' put Mr.. Banks here, will you?
Mrs. Reeves won't be back for another
fortnight; he might as well have her
! seat till she comes"
:. I'll take it for to-day with pleasure,
but tomorrow / expect some friends, y
said Ned
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-
IDENTIFY 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 moments
low-voiced conversation with the older
sister, leaned forward and introduced
them. s
Miss Darbelle. may introduce my
friend Mr.. Banks, of New York?''
Then to Ned, AFTER breakfast l 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 pair of brown
eyes.
gether, was Ned's first reflection, for her
| hair, evidently all her own, and bound
in 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 ruffie: and
as If to enhance the effect. the dress was
brown also-a pale cream, relieved with
knots OF chestnut-coloIed ribbon. The
! extreme finish and delicacy of every line
and tint in both dress and wearer gave a
| piquant and striking effect to the whole,
which amounted to absolute beauty, as
Ned presently decided; and the i'm
preston deepened as conversation
brought out saucy glitter in the coffee
colored eyes, and smiles revealed the
flash of pearl-white teeth. Miss Dar-
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
tanned as to prolong his breakfast to an
unconscionable extent. 1t was not till
/
once, in a tone of slight impatience.
Haven't you finished, Essie?" that at
last Miss Rarbelle. 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, a
game at tenpins later, chat on the
moon-lighted piazza. We all know how
such things go at watering-place,
where the business of life is simply to
live and enjoy the passing moment. 1t
was but for a 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. re
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"
w hat can have turned uppn 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 watt" and resigned
himself with happy ease to the situation.
A letter from Uncle Joshua came next
day. Mrs. Lowell, it seemed, had been
taken i'll; nothing serious, but it might
detain them two or three days-perhaps
till Thursday. ''Till 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. " It's
a kind of prelude to the real thing,n he
told himself, excepting my hand in. SO
to speak, and will be all the better when
the other girl comes to the fore.n 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 at 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