Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1884-05-16
OUT OF THE FRYING.PAN INTO THE
FIRE.

OUT OF THE FRYING-PAN INTO THE
FIRE.
Neither tall nor short, neither dark
nor fair, with hair between blonde and
brown, and eyes that left doubt as to
whether they were gray or hazel. She
was Just such little bundle of uncer-
tainties and contradictions as led the
imagination captive Mt the first glance,
and offered constant lure TO anticipa-
ton. -
Whether she spoke or remained 81
lent, whether she walked or sat, expec-
tation hung breathless upon her next
word, her next pose. Her eyes, vary
ing rs seemed Their hue, shone, none
the less, with q candid ray that seemed
the very light of truth, and her fresh
mouth, with its milky teeth showing
between the not too-smiling lips, ire
sstibly suggested the sweetest uses TO
which lips can be put.
When the heavily moving vssel 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, yet calm
and self centered rs the small birds that
sometimes poised themselves upon spar
or bulwark to gather breath for fresh
flight
1t was julius Hilder who had first dis
covered her, leaning against the COM
panionway railing, with the air of hav-
ing just come up or down, he could
hardly determine which, looking alb
sently at the tumbling waves.
Julius and his fran1 Austin nraEo
were seceders from gay party who had
made the tour OF Southern Europe to-
gether. 1t was julius who had insti-
gated his companion to desert the 9TH
ers and take the German steamer for
New Orleans direct, which then touched
ut Havre, instead of crossing by Gu
harder; and it had all growa out of the
obstinate determination on the part OF
his sister to attach her party to that of
Mrs. Smollett.
Mrs. Smollett was his choicest aver
sion, pretentious, intriguing woman,
in whom the matchmaking instinct had
been so developed by the effort to es-
tablish her own five daughters that it
could not rest satisfied with the ac-
complishment of that gigantic task.
She seemed to have an endless supply
of nieces, adopted daughters, or prote-
ges OF some sort, whom she dangled os-
tentatiously before the eyes of all eligi-
BILE bachelors She had improved q
chance meeting with Julius to announce
to him new acquisition, a lovely young
creature, whom she was taking home
with her from n Swiss Pension.
"Mr. Smollett's own niece, Mr.. Hill
der, and quite like my Fanny at her
age. You remember FannyP She was
your first love, l believe" she had said,
with her ogling dowager smile, and
Julius had felt himself seized at once
with an insurmountable aversion to the
fair young niece of Mr.. Smollet.
In the first heat of his indignation
against his sister he had conceived this
notable scheme of crossing by the Havre
steamer, and though it had not in its
development proved to be eminently
amusing, he had never omitted to con-
gratulate himself and his companion.
night and morning, upon the good sense
they had displayed in. adopting it.
"No chattering girls or designing
dowagers, he would say, us he yawned
over his book or the dull game with
which they strove to believe they were
amusing themselves, "gives a man time
to pull himself together and take ac.
count OF stock, as it were.' Still
when on one of those aimless pilgrim.
ages below which formed the only break
in the monotony of his occupation, he
had nearly run over this pretty
young creature leaning against the rail.
ings, a thrill of undeniable pleasure had
coursed along his nerves and he had
felt himself blushing with pleased sur.
prise.
Fortunately, the sea-tan had rendered
the blush indistinct, but over the light
that shot into his gray eyes the sea-tan
had no power. nor yet over the tongue
that stammered as he tried to convey
his apologies for nearly upsetting her
and his offers of service in conducting
her to seat.
"Thank you," she had answered
coolly, "you did not startle me, as saw
you coming, and am not sure that
want seat"
There was no more to be said, and
her maid appearing at the moment with
bundle of parti- colored wraps, Julius
could only lift his hat again and carry
out his purpose of going below. AS he
had no reason for going except that he
was tired OF staying on deck, and as the
deck had now acquired paramount at
traction, he was soon back again.
In the meantime the young lady had
made up her mind about the seat, and
had found one for herself close against
the ships side, on the weather quarter.
1t was nota pleasant location, but as
she had chosen it, and had wrapped q
large shawl about her in an exclusive
sort of way. he saw no plausible ground
for interfering.
Nothing could have been more dis.
Greet and retiring than Miss Elton's be-
havlor, but the perseverance of man
who finds himself bored by too much oi
his own and his alter ego's society, is
an incalculable force against which nc
woman can successfully intrench her.
self, and So it was not long before Drake
found himself eliminated, as super
fluous factor, from the sum of his
friends enjoyment, whenever Miss Ell.
ton appeared above deck. His success,
however, was more apparent than real,
for although he knew her name, and
was allowed to carry her book and hel
shawl, and arrange her chair in the
most comfortable position with refer,
ence TO the wind or the sun, he had
veally made no great progress in hel
confidence. Who she was, or why shs
had chosen to make the voyage in this
unconventional and eccentric way. re-
manned AS great mystery as it had
been on that memorable lirst day. II
was the close of the tenth day, dating
from that OF his discovery. and Juliui
sat beside her in that intimate fast lof
bred Of the isolation OF the sea,