The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-07-28
The Heiress.

Adele Fayton gave vexed little toss of
her head gesture intended to he awfully
annihilating to Mr.. Harry Browne, standing
on the lower step of the piazza at the Sea-
side house
Every well; go, of course, Mr. Browne, if
you prefer; but really think it is too bad of
you"
''Of course it ISL added pretty Miss Hun
ter, with the golden locks and baby blue
eyes that were considered irresistible by the
generality of the sterner sex. "Of course it
is too bad, when you know that to dozen
ladies staying at the Seaside there are only
such few gentlemen. l know what the
trouble is, though, don't I. Mr.. Browne?
You are tired of us-the same over and over
and you are reseryjng your forces until the
much-talked.of and anxiously-expected
beauty and heiress arrives upon the scene"
Harry turned lazily around and smiled.
81 am afraid shall have to incur a great
risk in contradicting a lady," be said good
humoredly.
Naughty Adele Fayton flashed him half
indignant, half-sarcastic glance from her
black eyes and said:
"And when this hei-ess has arrived dare
say Mr.. Browne will lose all interest in his
solitary boat rides and fishing excursions.
while we forloIn maidens get through the
day as well as we can for lonesomeness Mr.
Browne, you are SELFISH
well. yes, rather, if always wanting the
best OF everything concerned il what you call
selfish. But will redeem my character by
proving to you that which will doubtless set
your heerts at rest don't believe in your
wonderful coming beauty and heiress 20 be-
gin with, and in the second place / would
commit harikari before I'd marry an heiress
Now, am / vindicated?'
He bowed and walked off. lust little to
the discontinue of the ladies on the piazza
went of to the beach where his boat and
fishing tackle awaited lin, with more of a
disguised, impatient look on his face than
was customary with him.
What a lot of idiots fellow comes across
in the course of his life Because a lot of
pretty girls lose their heads when wealthy
beau comes along, they argue, with a WON
ans senseless persistency, that the men are
as mercenary as themselves Marry an heir
ess! not if she were as beautiful as-as
Venus, and every word she dropped was
transmitted into koh-i- noorr'
MIR. Browne pushed off in his surf-boat,
dashing and plunging through the breakers
like sailor born and bred. He rowed out
mile or two to another fishing boat con-
tanning couple of barefooted boys, and 10.
with wlde-brimmed hats, and bright tanned
faces and brown eyes. A tall lad of 16.
worried and anxious looking, who was evil
IDENTIFY dismayed at the increasing swell of
the sea, and the freshening south wind, was
OF this company, and a-so young girl, with
lovely dark gray eyes, grave and thoughtful
yet bright and flashing as she looked at Har-
~ while he rowed nearer and nearer in re-
spouse to ze halo of the boys.
A decidedly nice-lookitg girl, hardly what
one would call handsome, and yet the pure.
fair complexion, ever so lightly sun-tanned,
the scarlet mouth SO tightly closed, the way
inc deem gold -0olOrod hai
and hanging down to her waist, and the
glorious gray eyes made whole that Harry
Browne quite thoroughly admired as he
pulled alongside and spoke to her.
You seem to be in some difficulty" he
remarked touching his hat oourteously.
She bowed.
"Joe is rather demoralized, 1 think.
There is DO danger, is there?'' Harry glanced
at Joe's scared face, and the restless antics
of the boys in the tiny boat.
IF you had a man in charge who knew
his business there would be no shadow of
danger. AS it is, this yozng man has no
excuse for verturng SO far OUT
"We were fishing" she said, in a pleas
ant, apologize way, "and didn't realize how
far we had gone. WE'LL" with a troubled
look that was more anxious than fear. 1--WE
must do the best we can. Perbaps Won
would tell Joe what to do with the boat?;'
Harry replied, ''If you will allow me to
exchange places with your pilot. will row
you ashore. am Harry Browne, of -.
brokers, - street, at present staying al
the Seaside house,
You are very kind, Mr.. Browne, and |
VIII thankfully accept your offer. My name
is May Harper"
She laughed as if the oddness of the mu-
tuai introduction amused her, and Harry
made up his mind that she was the verv mic
est girl he had met in many a dav.
swell, then, Joe, jump In here and row
yourself to the shore. You won't have onv
trouble to take yourself only, will youP,,
The alacrity with which the lad CHANGED
from the Bella to the Tadie was sufficient
answer, and neither Harry nor Miss Harper
could help smiling as Joe put for the shore.
II dare say he thought it was all right"
May said, alphabetically.
'Had no business to think so, though
Shall l take you straight back, Miss Harper,
or would you rather fish awhile longer?n
''If you please, will 90 back. Aunt Jane
will be worried about me.''
She leaned against the side of the boat,
trailing her hand in the water, while the
children sat quiet as mice, watching Harry
with awe and admiration, as he pulled long,
steady strokes that sent them spinning
along, while Harry thought: "She is the
most sensible girl ever came across. Pref
ty, modest, dignified, pleasant, with no
sham reserve about her, any more than too