Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1882-12-21
"a supercilious Peacock. /"

1t was at Bar HarbOr, and In the
month of August,
"He's supercihous peacock" said
Molly. digging her parasol into the
sand.
She was sitting on the rocks, below
the town, with her sister,in-law, Mrs.
Randolph At little distance was
the f1Ve-year-old daughter of the lat
ter, with the Indispensable wooden
shovel and pail, as irrepressible little
witch as ever lived, nicknamed, in the
family, Toots.
"My DEAR" said Mrs. Randolph, ex-
postulating.
"Yes, a supercilious peacock" re-
peated Molly, tapping her foot impa-
tiently.
1t was only the day before that they
had arrived, and already Molly had
nearly broken her sister-in-law's heart.
This was especially hard on Mrs. Ran
dolph, who had left her favorite Sara
toga because Molly had said: "I de-
test fashion, and want to go to some
place where people live sensibly in
summer. Mount Desert, everybody
says, is just such spot; let us go
there"
So to Mount Desert they had come.
They had arrived to find Bar Harbor
crowded to overfiowing. Philadelphi-
ans; pretty Baltimoreans; aesthetic
Bostonians; young gentlemen in knick-
erbockers; young ladies in navy blue;
all stood crowded on the Rodick house
piazza watching the new arrivals when
Mrs. Randolph and her party ap-
peared.
Molly had preceded her sister-in-law
few steps-for the latter had stopped,
for a moment, to give directions about
the luggage-when suddenly our hero
inc heard voice close at her ear.
by Joye," it said, "what pretty
girl r
Molly turned, angrily, and saw a
handsome young man, who looked
quite thoroughbred, yet also more con-
tented with himself, staring decidedly,
almost r,lda1v at hnr
"The impudent puppy" she said to
herself, a hot flush crimsoning her
cheek. The next instant the offender,
recognizing Mrs. Randolph, advanced
eagerly, both hands extended.
"Can believe my eyes?" he said.
You here, Mrs. Randolph? And
outside the pale of civilization, as some
people might thinkp What has induced
you to desert Saratoga"
"Oh, Mr.. Peabody ! I'm so glad to
see you. But thereby hangs, not a
tale, but great many" she replied,
laughingly. "I'm too tired. however,
to talk. Come to see me, this evening,
and I'll tell you all about it.
"Well, congratulate you that you
are without party, or a dozen de-
butantes in tow" he said for he had
failed to connect Molly with Mrs
Randolph, supposing that our heroine
belonged to some other of the arrivals.
"You don't know what it is here.
Such swarms Of girls seeking hus-
bands" with shrug Of the shoulders.
s'The grasshopper plague was nothing
to it."
Molly heard all this, and turning
fixed pair Of stern, indignant eyes
on the speaker; for was not she de-
butante-this the first season since she
left school? Fortunately for the
young gentleman's peace Of mind he
did not see this by-play.
But he was made to realize that
something was wrong when in the
evening he came to pay his respects to
Mrs. Randolph. That lady, after
shaking hands again. sank into an arm
chair and tapping her fingers with her
fan, said, indicating Molly with a gest-
ure
"My sister-in-law, Miss Randolph.
Molly, Mr.. Peabody"
Molly rose and took the offered hand,
but frigidly; her bow was as stiff as
the Arctic circle.
Connected fop,' she said to herself.
+" He thinks he has only to throw his
handkerchief and any girl will be glad
to pick it up"
His soliloquy was not less to the
point
! my beauty Of the afternoon She
overheard me, that is plain. What a
/ mess I've made Of it. She'll never for
give me-"
| But neither by sign nor word did ne
! Indicate this. He was too much of a
veteran in society matters for that.
9 WHAT he cried, with great ELUSIVE
ness, your sister-in-law, Mrs. Ran
dolph. of whom I have heard SO much !?