San Marcos free press. [volume] (San Marcos, Tex.) 1877-1892, 1883-08-16
A SHOT IN THE DARK.

It was a 22.caibre, and carried q
.eaden pellet about the size of a pea.
It did not look very formidable, and
in fact, it was not, but when Eva put
it into what she was pleased to call
her pistol-pocket, in the rear of hel
dress, she felt as safe as if she had
the escort of regiment.
"What are you doing with that pop
gun?" asked Cousin Jack, one morn
ing as he observed her putting her
armory in her pocket preparatory to
going out
"That's my beau, if you please, sir;
he sees me safely along those four
dark blocks when l come home at
night" 49,,
"Just let me look at that gun, will
you?" said Jack. "Pshaw! you could
not hurt mouse with it. Come, III
let you shoot at me allday for nickle
a shot. Hurt me! Not a bit. But
why in the name of the guardian an
gel of all young women do you want
carry pistol?"
well, Cousin Jack, you know that
il is late when I leave the store, and
l cannot always have company. It's
dark walk from the cars over here,
and l thought I saw sneaking fell
low follow me one night. The next
time l shall be ready for him. I do
not intend to be bothered or robbed
if I can help it. Don't think l can't
shoot. Ihave been practicing little,
and shall make it very uncomfortable
for the coming sand-bagger as sure as
my name is Eva"
But you couldn't hurt anybody
with that thing you know"
Couldn't I? Don't you get in
front of it, that's all. Goodbye, l
must hurry along"
Jack looked after her as she tripped
down the steps, and laughing, said:
"'She's dandy and no mistake"
Then as he caught sight of a dainty
boot with little CLINT of white above
it, as she crossed the street, he re-
peated: "A dandy, well, l should say
she was, and as pretty as q picture.
What shall we do with our girls?"
Eva Barton was %, and q saleswo-
man in the establishment of Her
schell, Shield and Co. She was rather
under than over the medium size,
somewhat slight in figure but COM
pactly formed, every gesture and
movement denoting energy and char
acter. Her cheeks were like lilies,
and her eyes were of that impid blue,
such as Solomon would have describ-
ed as being like the fish pools of
Hesbon by the gate of Bathrabbin,"
chat divine blue capable of expressing
every passion of the soul.
1t was more in her expression than
in her features that she was beautiful.
She knew how to dress, and had the
art of bestowing the simplest ribbon
or flower on her neck or hair in such
a way as to lend elegance and re-
iinement TO her toilet. If she had
been French they would have said
she had chic. No English phrase
can exactly describe what chic is, but
we all know it when We see it. 1t is
style, and something more. tits the
linack of doing or of being il the hes;
form. 1t is not fashion, but it is to
fashion, whatS poetry Is 10 prose. 1t
is entirely feminine attribute, but
all women do not possess it. When
a woman has chic
.se rannNt wither her. nor custom stale
Hsr infinite variety: other women
CIoy IN appetite they Feed bai she makes hungry
Whom size saiisiies-
Eva had chic.
She had come up TO the great city
to make her own way III the world;
not that she was obliged to, but be-
cause she wanted TO. Her mother
vas dead. Her fathers second wife
was one Of her sehoOl-mates. Home
vas pleasant enough after fashion,
out a glimpse Of the great world and
business ways Is great thing for
sensible girls. So Eva came and took
up quarters with aunt BascOm. Hav-
ing some knowledge CT nbbOn and
dry goois.she gotta place IN HerscheI,
Shield, and Co., commencing a. s.
a week; she was nov getting twenty,