Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1884-08-19
1ales aud Sketthes.
MISS ELTON.

/ Neither tall nor short. neither dark nor
/ fair, with hair between blonde and brown,
( and ewes that left q doubt as 10 whether
7 they were gray or hazel. She was just
+ such little bundle OF uncertainties and
contradictions as led the Imagination cap
tive at the first glance, and offered a con-
slant lure to anticipation.
Whether she spoke or remained silent.
whether she walked or sat, expectation
hung breathless upon her next word, her
next pose. Her eyes, varying as seemed
their hue, shone, none the less. with can
did ray that seemed the very light of truth.
and her fresh mouth. with its milky teeth
showing between the not to smiling lips,
irresistably suggested the sweetest uses to
which lips can be put.
J The heagily-moving steamer had plOwed
/ through half the great Atlantic rollers,
and the few passengers had all grown
heartily tired OF each other. when she
suddenly appeared for the first time upon
deck quite alone, vet calm and self-cen-
tered as the small birds that sometimes
poised themselves upon spar or bulwark
! TO gather breath for fresh flight.
( It was Julius Hilder who first disc)v-
cred her. leaning against the companion
way railing, with the air Of having just
come up or down, he could hardly deter
mine which, looking absently at the
tumbling waves.
Julius and his friend, Austin Drake.
were seceders from gay party who had
made the tour of southern Europe to-
gether. 1t was Julius VINO had instigated
/ his companion to desert the others, and
take the German steamer for New Orleans
direct, which then touched at Havre, in
stead Of crossing by a Cunarder; and it
/ had all grown out OF the obstinate deter
mination on the part of his sister to attach
her party to that of Mrs. Smollett.
/ Mrs. Smoliett was his choicest aversion,
pretentious intriguing woman. in whom
the matchmaking instinct had been so
developed by the effort to establish her
own five daughters, that it could not rest
satisfied with the accomplishment of that
gigantic task. She seemed to have an
endless supply of nieces, adopted daugh-
ters, or proteges OF some sort, whom she
dangled ostentatously before the eyes of
all eligible bachelors. She had improved
chance meeting with Julius to announce
10 him a new acquisition, lovely young
creature, whom she was taking home with
her from a Swiss pension.
"Mr. Smollett's own niece, Mr.. Hilder,
and quite like my Fanny at her age You
remember Fanny? She was Your first love
believe" she said with her oglinr dow
ager smile, and Julius had felt himself
seized at once with an insurmountable
aversion to the fair young niece of Mr.
Smollett.
In the first heat of this Indignation
against his sister. he had conceived this
notable scheme of crossing by the Havre
steamer, and though it had not in its de-
velopment proved to be eminently anus
ing, he had never omitted to congratulate
himself and his companion, night and
morning. upon the good sense they had
displayed in adopting it.
mo chattering girls, or designing
dowagers, he would say, as he yawned
over his book or the dull game with which
they strove to believe they were amusing
themselves, gives man time to pull
himself together and take account of stock
as it were Still, when on one OF those
aimless pllgrimages below. which formed
the only break in the monotony OF this oc.
cupation, he had nearly run over this pref
! ~ young creature leaning against the rail
/ ing, a thrill of undeniable pleasure had
coursed along his nerves. and he had tell
himself blushing with pleased surprise.
Fortunately, the sea-tan had rendered
/ the blush indistinct. but over the light that
shot into his gray eyes the Sea-tan had NJ
power, nor yet over the tongue that STAN
mered as he tried to convey his apologize.
for nearly upsetting her. and his offers o
service in conducting her to a seat.
Thank you.' she had answered cooilv
YOU did not startle me. as | saw YOU com
ing and am not sure that | want a seat. >
/ There was no more to be said, and hel
maid appearing at the moment with
bundle of parti-colOred wraps. Julius coulC
only lit his hat again, and carry out hi.
purpose OF going below. As he had NJ
reason tor going except that he was tree
of staying on deck, and as the deck haC
now acquired a paramount attraction. he
was soon back again.
In the meantime the Young lad,
had made up her mind about the seat
and had one for herself close against the
ships side. on the weather quarter. II
was not pleasant location, but as she
had chosen it. and had wrapped large
SndWl dutut ueI III an exclusive SOTt OF
way, he saw no plausible ground for inter
fering, Nothing could have been more
discreet and retiring than Miss Elton's be.
havior. but the perseverance of a man who
finds himself bored by too much of his
own and his alter ego's society. is an meal
culable force against which no woman car
successfully iutrench herself and so IT was
not long before Drake found himself elm.
mated, as a supertiueous factor. from the
sum of his friends enjoyment. whenever
Miss Elton appeared above deck. Hi:
success, however, was more apparent thar
real. for although he knew her name, and
was allowed to carry her book and her
shawl. and arrange her chair in the most
comfortable position with reference to the
wind or the sun. he had really made ne
great progress in her confidence. Who
she was. or why she had chosen to make
the voyage in this unconventional and &c.
centric way, remained as great a mystery
rs it had been on that memorable first
day. 1t was the close of the tenth dav.
dating from that of his discovery, aud
Julius sat beside her in that intimate fash.
ion bred of the isolation of the sea
He had been reading to her, but the
story was finished. and silence had en-.
sued, she appearing to be wrapped in
thought, and he watching her face with
half yelled chances
ssThraa mora davS and ua shall ha %,