Daily Republican., 1883-07-13
GERALDlNE'S LOVER.
BY ANNABxL DWIGHT

They we're dancing In the big, cool pavilion
at Granite PoiEt. gay party from the Eagl
House.
The place was lighted by Chinese lanterns
the band was famous enc from the city ,ane
the night was perfect, one of those jun
nights with cool sweetness In the air, re
minding one VI September.
Only few feet below the revelers the set
moaned despairing protest to the gay music
and the sweep Of dancing feet.
| A million stars in the vsulted sky KEEP
watch over the dark waters Of the Atlantic
rolling outward to the mysterious horizon.
Ardrey Sotherby, looking Ian uidly IT
through the open side of the pavilion became
conscious Of a slight figure near him, evil
dently u loOker-On also.
And much more animated one than he. fol
the small, dark face was smiling and wistful
and the slim hands tightly clasped one with
In the other.
At a little distance from this girl who VA
yet in her teens, man lounged and smoked
man who had seen his best days, for hi
WAS undeniably seedy, although he carried
himself with sort Of iaunty gentili:y.
He must have been handsome once, befor,
dissipation had worn those hagg .rd lines IL
his dark face and brought those gray hair
about the temples.
The girl was like him, although she seemed
to possess no great beauty with the exception
of pair OF great, velvety, black eyes.
Audrey remembered to have seen these tw'
on the boat when he came down two days be
fore.
They seemed to be quite alone. The mar
looked like an adventurer ; but the girl look
ed innocent enough.
She was dressed in pretty, though mex
penslve suit of gray pongee, with broad hal
pushed back from her face.
A sudden movement In the crowd above
them jostled him against her, and as he tooh
Oft his hat with a courteous apology, sht
smiled up at him with a certain child-likt
frankness that was very taking.
"You Ike danciny?' he made bold to say,
after watching tbs wistful look grow in the
dark eyes as they went back to the dancers.
"Oh, yes" she returned, revealing set o.
white, even teeth. "Don't you:" ith de
liyl.ttul unconsciousness Of any impropriety
In conversirg SO freely with stranger
"That depends" said Ardrey, laughing
"upon wh0m have for n partner. If might
be bold eoough to request you to dance with
me-
"Uh, thank you would like to very much
If papa is wiling
She turned appealingly to the man behind
her.
1--WE haven't the honor OF the yentlemaL's
acquaintance, Jerry" began he, with an alb.
surd dignity which amused Sotherby, who
glancing about him, saw the proprietor Of
the Eagle House.
bliss" he called. "be good enough to in.
trOduce me to this gentleman and his dauyh-
ter"
"Mr. Sotherhy,o of Boston, Mr.. Curtis Miss
Geraldine Curtis, Mr. Sotherby," said the
smiling landlord, whispering in Sotherby's
ear as he passed on through the crowd "1he
old fellow is a beat which Audrey had
been quite sure of before.
Nevertheless the daughter was very charm
ing in her frank. child-like manner, and it
was with real sense of delight that he
swung out upon the broad floor with his arm
about the girlish waist.
There was spice of recklessness in Ardrey's
nature which the slightest opposition always
intiamed therefore as he noticed the looks OF
astonishment and hauteur on the faces about
him, he became more than ever devoted to
his partner.
When he led her back to her father, he
found that gentleman, who had been making
inquiries during the dance, so overwhelming
ly gracious, that it was with some difficulty
he succeeded in tearing himself away; and
when he returned to the hotel the landlord
advised him to keep clear Of Mr.. ca rtis.
"He is IL good -for-nothing fellow: an ad.
gambler, sponge, what not. The
little girl is innocent enough, AMI pity her.
They have the little cottage on the Nec.'
Curtis may pa the rent and he may not,
hope he will for the girls sake. He is an oily
tOngued chap, and can put on more airs than
a Kings son; but look out for him -
Sotherby shrugged his shoulders with a
laugh rs he went eff to his room; but his
heart was full OF pity for the bright, young
creature whose light figure had whreh with
him through the dance that night and whose
dark, smiling eyes seemed TO haunt him.