Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-05-19
IN SPITE OF HIMSELF.

Neither tall nor short, neither dark nor
fair. with hair between blonde and
brown, and eyes that left a 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 at the first glance.
and offered a constant lure to anticipa-
ton.
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 a
candid ray that seemed the very light of
truth, and her fresh mouth, with its
milky teeth showing between the not
too-smiling lips, irresistibly suggested
the sweetest uses to which lips can be
put.
The heavily 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, yet calm ard self
> -yCnfercsi as the small birds that some
times 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 compan-
ionway railing, with the air of having
just come up or down, he could hardly
determine 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 who had insti-
gated his companion to desert the Others
and take the German steamer for New
Orleans direct, which then touched at
Navre, instead of crossing bya Cunarder; !;
and IL 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 aversion.
apretentious, 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 nieees, adopted daugh-
ters, or proteges of some sort, whom She
dangled ostentatiously before the eyes of
all eligible bachelors. She had improved
chance meeting with Julius to announce
to him new acquisition, lovely Young
creature, whom she was taking home
with her from Swiss Pension.
Mr.. Smolett's own niece Mr.. Hilder,
and quite like M, Fanny at her age.
You remember Anyl She was your
first love, | believe she had said, with
her ogling dowager smile, and julius
had felt himself seized ut once with an
msurmountahle aversion to the fair young
liece of Mr.. Smollett.
In the first heat Of his indignation
fgainst his sister he had conceived this
Notable scheme of crossing by the Havre
steamer and though it had not In its
development proved 10 be eminently
amusing, he had never omitted to con-
graduate himself and his communion.
night and morning, upon the good sense
they had displayed in adopting it.
No chattering girls or designing
dowagers, he would say as he yawned
over MS book or the dull game with
which they stroye - believe they were
amusing themselves. gives man time
! to pull himself together and take account
Askock, as it were Still, when on one of
4 lose aimlcSs pilgrimagcs below which
Inellil the only break in the monotony
Qru9 occupation. he had nearly run
vour s. pretty young creature leaning
and 4 the railings, a thrift Of undeni-
Measure had coursed along his
md he had felt himself blushing
eased surprise.
mately. the sea-tan had rendered
ID indistinct, but over the light
pts into his gray eyes. the sea-tan
power. nor vet over the tongue
n1hered as he tried to convey his
: for nearly llpsetting her, and
NAof service Ia conducting her
= yon. she htd answered
on did not statt ae IA / sw