Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1883-08-29
The Heiress.

OF Der head-a gesture INTENDED 10 De
awfully annihilatipg 10 Mr.. Harry
Browne, standing on the lower step OF
the piazza at the Seaside House.
VERY well, 60, Of course, Mr.. Browne
If you prefer; but, really, 1 think it is
too bad you
OF course it is,' added pretty Miss
Hunter, with the golden locks sud baby
blue eyes that were considered irresisti-
BILE by the generality of the sterner
sex. 'Ol course it is too bad, when
you know that TO a dozen ladies stop
ping at the Seaside there are only such
a few gentlemen. l know what the
trouble is.lhough, don't l Mr.. Browne ?
You are tired oil us-the same over and
overland you are reserving your forces
until the much-talked.of and anxlously-
expected beauty and heiress arrives
upon the scene
Harry Browne tuned lazilY around
and smiled.
Il am afraid 1 have TO incur a great
risk in contradicting a lady, he said,
good-humoredly.
Naughty Adele Fay flashed HIM a
half INDIGNANT. half sarcastic glance
from her black eyes, and said;
And when the heiress has arrived, l
dare say Mr.. Browne will suddenly
lose all his interest IN his solitary boat
rides and fishing excursions, while we
forlorn maidens get through the day
as we'll as we can, for lonesomeness.
Mr.. Browne, you are selfish
We'll, yes, rather, if always wanting
the best of everything is what you cal!
selfish. But will redeem my charac-
ter by proving TO you that which will
doubtless set your hearts at rest. 1 do
not believe in your wonderful coming
beauty and heiress, to begin with. And
in the second place. 1 would commit
hari kari before I'd marry an heiress.
Now am yindicated?'
He bowed aud walked off, just little
to the discontinue Of the ladies on the
piazza-went off to the beach where
his boat and fishing tackle awaited him,
with more of disgusted, impatient
look on his face than was customary
with him.
What a lot Of idots fellow comes
across in The course Of his life J Be-
cause lot Of pretty girls lose their
heads when a wealthy man beau cones
along, they argue, with a woman's
seuseless persistency, that the men
are as mercenary as themselves. Mar.
ry an heiress? not If she were as beau
tiful as Venus, and every word she
dropped was transformed into a koh-i-
noor.'
Mr., Browne pushed off in his surt-
boat, dashing and plunging through the
breakers like sailor, born and bred
He rowed out a mile or two to another
fishing boat, containing a couple Of
barefooted boys, eight and ten years of
age, with wide-brimmed hats, and
bright, tanned faces and brown eyes.
A tall lad of sixteen, worried and anx-
ious looking, who was evidently dismay-
ed at the increasing swell Of the sea
and the fresheuing south wind. was Of
this company, aud also lovely young
girl, with dark gray eyes-gravc and
thoughtful, vet bright and flashing, as
she looked at Harry while he rowed
nearer and nearer in response 10 the
halo Of the boys.
A decidedly NICE looking girl hardly
what one would call handsome, and yet
the pure, fair complexion, ever so light
ly sun-tanned, the scarlet mouth 80
tightly closed, and the waving deep
eold-colored hair, thicklY braided and
banging down to her waist, and the
glorious gray eyes, made whole that
Harry Browne quite thoroughly admir-
ed, as be pulled along the side and
spoke to her.
You seem to be in some difficulty
he remarked, touching his hat courte-
ously.
She bowed.
she is rather demoralized. think.
There is no danger, is there2'
Harry glanced at Joe's scared face
and restless antics Of the boys ia The
tiny boat.
IF you had man IN charge who
knew his business, there would be no
shadow Of danger. AS 1t is, the young
man has no excuse for venturiRg so far
OUT
we we're fishing she said, in a pleas
ont, apologetic way, and didn't realize
how far we had gone. Well,' with q
troubled look that was mvre anxiet,
than fear. perhaps you would tell Joe
what 10 do-wlth the boat