Weekly Chillicothe crisis. (Chillicothe, Livingston Co., Mo.) 1878-19??, 1884-08-14
CAUGHT.

Neither tall nor short, neither dark
nor fair, with hair between blonde and
brown, and eyes that left II doubt as to
whether they were gray or hazed. She
was just such Il little bundle of uncer-
taintcs and contradictions as led the
imagination captive at The first glance
and offered constant lure to anticipa-
ton
Whether she spoke orremained silent,
whether she walked or sat, cxpccta-
tion hung breathless upon her next
word, her next pose. Her eyes, vary
ing as seemed their hue, shonc none
the less with candid ray that seemed
the very light of truth, and her fl csh
mouth, with its milky teeth showing
between the not too smiling lips, ir-
rcsistibly suggested the sweetest use to
which lips can be put.
The heavily moving steamer had
plowed through half the great Allan
tic rollers, and the few passengers had
all grown heartily tired of each other,
when she suddenly appeared for the
first time on deck quite alone, yet calm
and self-centercd as the small birds
that sometimes poised themselves upon
spars or bulwark to gather breath for
fresh flight
1t was Julius Hildcr who had first
discovered her, leaning against the
companionway railing, with the air of
having Just come up ordown, he could
hardly determine which, looking alb.
scntly at the tumblns water.
Julius and his friend, Austin Drake,
were seceders from a gay party who
had made the tour of southern Europe
together. 1t was Julius who had'in-
stigatcd his companion to desert the
other and take the German steamer for
New Orleans direct, which then
touched at Havre, instead of crossing
by Cunardcr, and it had all grown
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, pretcntious, intriguing woman,
in whom the matchmaking instinct
had been so developed by the effort to
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could not rest satisfied with the accom-
plishment of that gigantic task. She
seemed to have an endless supply of
nieces, adopted daughters. or protegcs
of some sort, whom she dangled osten-
tatiUusly before the eyes of all eligible
bachelors. She had improved chance
meeting with Julius to announce to
him new acquisition. Il lovely young
creature, who she was taking home
with her from Swiss Pension.
"Mrs. Smollett's own niece, Mr.. Hill
der. and quite like my Fanny at her
age. You remember Fanny? She
was your first love, | believe, she had
said, with her ogling, dOwagcr smile,
and Julius had felt himself seized at
once with IN insurmountable aversion
to the fair young niece OF Mr.. Smollett.
In the first heat of 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.
mo chattcrng girls or designing
dowagers, he would say, and he
yawned over his book or the dull game
with which they strovc to believe they
were amusing themselves, gives 4
man time to pull himself together and
take account of stock, as it were v
Still, when on one of those aimeless
pilgrimages below, which formed the
only break in the monotony of this oc.
cupation, he had nearly run over this
pretty young creature leaning against
the ratings, n thrill of undeniablc
pleasure had coursod along his nerves.
and he had felt himself blushing with
pleased surprise.
Fortunately the sea tan had rendered
the blush indistiuct, but over the lighI
that shot into his gray eyes the sea tar
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 services in conducting
her to a seat.
"Thank you" she answered. coolly
"you did not startlc me, as / saw yor
coming; and | am not sure that IVAN
n seat
There was no more to be said, ant
her maid appeared at the moment will
n bundle of parti-colored wraps
Julius could only lift his hat again ant
carry out his purpose of going below
As he had no reason for going excep
that he was tired of staying on deck
and as the deck had now acquired ,
paramount attraction, he was soor
back again.
In the meantime the young lady hat
made up her mind about the seat, anC
had found one for herself close agains
the ships side ON the weather quarter
1t was not a pleasant location, but a!
she had chosen it, and had wrapped ;
shawl about her in an exclusive sort O
way, he saw no plausible ground fol
interfering.
Nothing could have been more dis
Greet and retiring than Miss Elton
DcuuNlul, Duu bhc p'looNOlbiSo Vi WV
man who finds himself bored by toC
much of his own and his alterego's so
ciety is an incalculable force agains
which no woman can successfully en-
trench herself, and so it was not Ions
before Drake found himself eliminated
as superhuous factor from the sun
of his friends enjoyment whenever
Miss Elton appeared above deck. Hi
success, however, was more apparen
than real, for although he knew hel
name, and was allowed to carry hel
books and her shawl, and arrange hel
chair in the most comfortable position
with reference to tho wind or the sun
he had really made no great progress
in her confidence. Who she was, o.
why she had chosen TO make the voyage
in this unconventional and eccentrl,
lway, remained as great q mystery a