Delaware weekly Republican., 1884-07-31

II tureF 0f f7ff{5lys
July came burning. sultry, unendui
able.i The big mansion at Croyland
was 4reary enough TO It's solitary own
Yer. de missed his sons CHEEKY pres
enoe and the throng of visitors tina
slYays were there at Ralph's pleasure
Pei decided he needed change an,
nfdst have 1t. Accordingly he packet
his port-manteau and started for fort
nights soiourn at one of the mammoth
hotelsat Cape May.
1t was bathing hour and the surf wa
alive with bathers of both sex young
middle-aged and old, arrayed ii
costumes pretty, novel, gay and gro
tesque. Forms Of every size and variet,
were seen disporting themselves In reclS
less abandon In the blue, salt waves
Among this motley crowd was Giuera
Croyland, enjoying hugely his romI
with old oceans foam-crested breakers
and laughing heartily at the variou
pranks they played with the mex
perienced, who screamed, and splut
tered and splurged around him.
The surf was unusally strong, and
many ladies unable to Withstand itl
force were constantly being lifted of
their feet and left to regain their footing
as best they might. After the passage
of one immense wall of foam what wal
the Generals surprise to find, clinginl
convulsively to him, young and beau
tiful girl.
IT beg your pardon" she said re-
covering her balance and endeavorinR
TO eject the salt water from her eyes
and mouth. "The breakers are
so strong couldn't help it. thought
! was drowning and grasped at the
nearest object of assistance, which hap
pened to be you"
!" am very happy to have been of
SERVICE" responded the General gall
lantly. Whenever the waves become
captious again, and am within reach,
don't hesitate to accept any aid can
afford you"
"Thank you,'' sue returned, "I
trust may not trouble you often, at
least not again to day, for l intend to
return to the hotel. That last breaker
has exhausted my strength, tind," and
nodding her head ripple of laughter
fell from her lips; she turned and walk
cd over the beach in the direction of
the hotels.
The General, Watching her. thought
how shapely her form, even in that
most ideous OF costumes,a % wet bathing
suit.
This, however, was not the last view
he was was TO have of the lovely water
nymph, for on taking his seat at one of
the long, well laden tables of the Wind.
sor that evening, he found her his right
hand neighbor; and beside her, a pleasant
faced, eldery woman, clad In respeota-
BILE black, whom he heard her addresses
as Aunt Siler ce.
She looked mp carelessly, recog.
nized him and smiled, and the bright
glance, 20 entirely free from coquetry or
self consciousness, struck the General
like ray ofsunshine.
All through the meal he could not
avoid glancing furtively at the pure,
high bred face, with its delicate brows,
sweet, serious lips. clear complexion, and
broad, low brow, whose ivory fairness
was hidden by no disfguring mass OF
hair, denominated bangs" Her eyes,
when she raised them, he noticed, were
regular, blue gray, Irish eyes, frank
and fearless as a child's, and sheltered
by lashes black as midnight. From her
face his glance fell on her hand, that
index of true lady. 1t was small and
dimpled, the fingers tapering, and the
nails rosy--a seulptor's model. He no
ticed also that with the exception OF
one curiously chased ring, her hands
were devoid of ornament, another mark
of favor In the Generals eyes, as he by
no means favored The American girls
tendency for decking her person like an
Eastern odalisque.
Her youth aud his advanced age
made 1t no impertinence for him to ad- |
dress a remark to her occasionally, and |
she, conscious OF this, answered with a |
freedom she would not have used to-
ward younger man.
Are you an adept In the study Of |
2" inquired the general, /
as he gazed at the motley assemb blage |
gathered to satisfy the inner man. "If |
so, you have q good field ofobsegvation.
| regard a hotel table second only to a
l find the study of faces interesting.
| can scarcely call myself and adopt |
though, " she answered.
Let us see look at that gentleman
opposite you on the right. What would
you say was his probable calling"
She looked In the direction indicated,
then laughed.
his coffee,I should say he cam
not forget his Office down town.
he has Important business
on him indelibly. That is ap-
parent to the most careless Observer"
she replied.
Very good 70 was the amused an.
'wer. !" Now the man on his left, If
you will" r
" All, now, you have given me a
harder task" She said slowly. "He
bas long, pale countenance, a would
De-sanctimonous sir, and a dropping,
snakoy eye. He might do the dirty
work around apol,tical office, or he
might be modern church revivaiist I" !