Louisiana capitolian. (Baton Rouge, La.) 1879-1881, 1879-09-27
Have l shocked anybody I" she

Have | shocked anybody I" she
asked, lightly.
Come out on the beach," / wills.
pered. And when we were alone,
said, "Tell me about it, Miss Carew.'
It was in substance what l had
heard once before that afternoon.
She cared nothing for the boyisl
lover, and was glad to have tho en-.
gagement broken, but the insolent,
unjust words Of Mr.. Skidmore had
hurt her cruelty.
why she said, suppose he hates
me as he hates no one else in the
world
And do you dislike himi'
Miss Arden, despise him.
Il am very glad to hear it, believe
me- and a tall figure strobe past ne
down the beach. Miss Carew burst
into = laugh.
4 have added the last straw now
she said.
After that there WAS not even the
semblance Of politeness between
them. Each ignored the others OK.
istcnce. We walked and talked and
played croquet indolcntly, as before,
Mr.. Skidmorc was always with Vic
toria Derry, and was drifting into a
dangerous liking for ono of our com
pany, n man with neither money MOI
good looks. l think we were all
moderately happy, but | was alarm
ingly so. All through the month We
were favored with fine weather. May
Derry said she was full to bursting
of pure delight. Living was a pleas
ure, and lifea grand holiday. Once
or twice we all went to Brunswick
for drive, but the most part of the
time were lying under trees, or in the
warm sand, Crusoe-like, reading OF
thinking. All the fishermen have
high tenor voices at Harspswell, and
sing songs of the sea, and wear old
straw hats and look picturesque. II
was pleasure enough to sit on the
rocks and hear their melody rising
free and unrestrained, while they
mended their nets. 1t was beauti-
full, too, to watch the shadows COM
ing over the sea, and the moon rising
over the tree-tops, and the hush Of
night falling on all the land.
Onenight we were out in the boat,
and Mr.. Price drew in the oars and lot
the boat drift. It happened unfor-
tunately that Annie Carew was
placed beside Mr.. Skidmore, making
it uncomfortable for both. l soon
forgot it, however, in watching the
beauty of the beach and ocean in the
mellow softened light, and drinking
in the sweet fragrant mir.
Such scene as this brings up
sleeping memories said Mr.. Skid
more. with the glamour Of this
soft beauty on man he might be for
given for almost any rashness. am
almost susceptible to moonlight and
the fragrant spring air. Miss Carew,
won't you favor us with a song and
break the spelli'
1t must have affected him indeed,
to cause him to speak like that half
tender voice, to Annie Carew.
4 shall be happy to obligc you il
you really desire it,
ooh, yes, do sing, Miss Carew,
said several voices.
She sang little boating song, all
waves and 'ripples' and 'the sands
upon the Shore and she sang it beau
tifully. l felt like falling in love
with her, she looked so handsome,
and there was a haunting patlos in
tho voice. Certainly Annie Carew
was not plain girl. She was a dan
gerously fascinating one. l realized
it fully, as she sat there in the moon
light, her splendid eyes sparkling and
her clear voice touching ones heart
strings SO closely. Bohemian she
might be; she was more beautiful in
that tender, gracious moon than any
woman | had ever seen.
There was silence for a moment
then Mr.. Price said
you sing like the sirens of old,
Miss Carew, if one can Judge from
ideas. The tears almost came, in
spite of my endeavors to be many
She laughed softly, and Miss Derry
said in an earnest way, Il do really
believe l have fallen in love with
her.
That made us all laugh, and the
little craft was turned homewards.
Mr.. Skidmore walked up to the
house beside me, and | asked him il
he liked Miss Carew's singing.
eyes, | did," he answered; "aud
wish | could understand her real ma.
ture."
He was more polite and friendly
towards her after that, and l began
to hope for an established basis OF
good feeling between them, when an
unlucky accident set them on the
old path.
l was tying up n rosebush one
morning, and had nearly finished
when my supply Of string gave out,
Mr.. Skidmore put his hand in his
pocket and drew out handful OF
different sizes of cord, when q little
ribbon tluttered to the ground.
oh, that's Miss Carew's bow" cried
May. Miss Carew, he has had it all
the time.'
A flush rose to his face, as he said,
in an annoyed tone: ''rhe very fact,
of its being in my possession shows
that | had no idea what it was"
ooh, but you did know, Mr.. Skid
more, for told you about it the day
she made the sketch. Don't you re.
member the bird took it in his bill
from the umbrellas Where did YOU
find itF
Miss Derry, really have no idea
how the thing came in my pocket.
assure you should not have cher
| :,lnl l,ol -