Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-11-05
AT SAN PEDRO.
[From the Argonaut.]

He saw her the first time in Mission
street-car, and his impressions wore no
prepossessing. There was something toe
| imperious in the quick wave of her hand as
she signaled the car, and her step was very
positive and aggressive. The perfect health
which blossomed in her cheek, sparkled ir
her eye, and revealed itself in the easy car
riage of firmly nodded figure, in his
sight possessed an element of unlady-like
audacity.
David Woodbury. had been in San Fran
cisco only fortnight, but he had already
made up his mind, with the swift decision
which sometimes characterizes Massachu-
setts men, that he did not admire the wo-
men of California. They were an innovation
upon the type of womankind to which he
had been accustomed. The women of his
family and OF his acquaintance had all
partaken, more or less, of certain delicate;
spiritual cast not uncommon among New
England families. He reflected now with
an invalid fretful presistency, that he
could not recall one who even remotely ap.
preached the buoyant health and generous
physique of this girl.
Forhe was an invalid. His stalwart form
and iron muscles had prove of no avail to
resist the pitiless onslaught of hereditary
disease, and the deceptive flush upon his
cheek was buj the presage of decay. Yet
he had. so far, attained only the interesting
stage of sick mans existence, when the
tender sympathy and concern OF friends
creates subtitle separation between him
and the outside world, and the nerves are
easily Jared by contact with the unaccus-
toned or unexpected.
Lost in reflection, he failed to observe
that gray-haired woman, meanly clad and
carrying a heavy bundle, had entered the
car, and stood leaning wearily against the
door. The car was closely packed from
front to rear. There seemed singular
lack of the customary gallantry which ap.
pears to be second nature to most Cali
fornians Several newspapers were lifted
higher to shut out the appealing glance
from their readers line of vision; few
neil gazed stolidly through the windows.
Several well-dressed women, occupying
seats, smiled in superior way.
There was a swift movement opposite.
David Woodbury. raised his eyes to see the
old woman gently urged into the seat the
youne w lady had vacated, and to be himself
included in a scornful glance which swept
the car from end to end Other men obsti-
nately retained their seats in very lauda-
BILE effort to maintain consistency, but this
Massachusetts man, feeling an obligation
to vindicate his own gentility in defiance OF
his bodily infirmaties, arose and rendered
his seat to the combative young woman
The courtesy was firmly repulsed.
"You must take my seat cannot al
low YOU TO stand" he said, clumslly
enough.
81 would not deprive myself OF the
pleasure for the world returned the girl.
The voice was surprise-muslcal and VI
brating, with intonations that he had been
accustomed to associate with ideas OF cul-
ture and refinement. But he at once real
lied that he had blundered. This daunt-
less creature, with the self consciousness
characteristic of Western girls, had
promptly attributed his courtesy to the ln-
fluence of her charms. He wrlthed be-
meath the consciousness all the more be-
cause of his utter inability to defend him.
SELF The very triviality of the episode
rendered him powerless.
The recollection of this vexatious incl
dent still pursued him six months later,
when he returned from the Sandwich Is
lands, his fair skin tanned and burned py
troI ical sun, but with health restoI ed ana
ready for season of relaxation before re-
turning to New England He was at'an
evening party one night in March, convers'
ing idly with lady acquaintance, when DIS
attention was attracted by couple VINO
had entered the room and stood cna6tine
with the hostess. He saw dignified gen