The Republican journal., 1881-01-27

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OF course she was greatly angered at this
persistent impertinence, and turning upon
him with flashing eyes, she said;
81 thought | had said enough, sir, to
put gentleman on his honor. You place
me in a false position. Your imperti-
nence is extremely distasteful to me.
Please leave me-
SO said her tongue Her eyes said
you haven't got the nerve to 90 any
further" He said (as by this time they
were walking slowly along):
"l on miScOnstrue me entirely Let
me explain my motive that you may un-
derstand my apparent rudeness. [ am a
stranger here. | have been unfortunate.
There was such a kind, womanly eX-
preston in your face-please don't turn
away. Thank you. Apart from the con
sideration that you should have an escort
over the Guadalupe bridge"
'Nou know where live then, it seems "
"Certainly; and your name also"
''And you are a stranger here p
"Absolutely'
There was such delicate little com
pliment concealed in this that she was
tlattered.
II was saying" he continued, "that
apart from the necessary consideration, |
did not think it would be wrong, or that
| was lacking III respect to speak to you,
to be with you few minutes and then
leave you forever. Iput to you, as a rea-
sonable, sensible woman, whether or not
| appear to do anything in violation of a
mans proper regard for things that should
be handled tenderly and sacredly. | am
separated from every face and scene that
has heretofore made life pleasant. am
a stranger in a strange country, and it is
with shame that admit that the appear
, ance | make precludes my entry into So
clety congenial to my tastes am lonely
and desolate, hungering for kindly look,
and it is only desperation on that account
that forces me to approach you. And
then Your face reminds me SO strikingly
of my mothers that could not resist the
desire to hear your voice"
This fellow was a dimomat: The g.rl
was about eighteen or twenty years of
age of course she was handsome and
had asweet face. The young man had the
bearing OF polished though unfortunate
genteman proud, but with pride tinct-
urcd with sorrow and loneliness; calm,
SLOW, erect, and possessed Of that ability
to look steadily and undauntedly into
the eyes OF woman that has more
weight rs expressing power and superb
ority than all other things combined
The Girl was touched with pity, and
Spurred by a desire for an adventure
She had a strong sef-reliance- the ruin
of ninc-tenths Of the California girls that
are ruined
II really don't know what to do,' she
said.
II don't believe" said the stranger,
''that a woman with as much strength OF
character as | see in your face would nat
urally lay as much stress on convention
alities as would those OF shallower feel
ings''
During this time they had advanced a
few steps. The girl looked at the ground
confused. The man at her side was evi-
IDENTIFY a gentleman. He was in Distress
was reminded by her Of his mother, had
no perhaps was in want Poor
think Of such an escapade? Neverthe-
less, after hesitating a moment, she adj
mitted she had been conquered, by say
ing:
"I'll grant your strange request, sir,
though I'm afraid I'm doing wrong"
1t is somewhat singular that, at that
particular moment, it did not occur to
her that the street cars passed over the
terrible Guadalupe bridge. Furthermore,
nobody was ever known to require escort
over it. After introducing themselves,
she commenced to tell him about her fear
in crossing the bridge alone at night and
he said yes, that he had heard it was q
dangerous place. They were both terri
bic liars.
His name was Hardy hers Sophronia.
Her fathers name was Morris. He was
a rich, kind-hearted old gentleman, who
had mansion on the Alameda.
AS they passed the post-ottice corner, a
pair of bleared eyes winked quietly, and
a couple of Whiskey tasting lips grinned
sardonically, They belonged to "Taran-
tula joe"
As soon as the couple cot under the