The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1884-01-03
nobody but papa; II is cruel Of herr she


that its owner did not share my opinion.
81 do not believe that I speak English
with such a bad accent" she said, pouting-
ly; "do o find that I do, monsieur?-
what do you hinkp'
Because 1 laughed she turned away her
head vexedly, the truth being that what l
did think was that this was the most be-
witching little monkey l had ever in my
life come across. 1t was my first expert
ence of innocent, childish coquetry, and
the fascination was irresistible.
"You laugh at me,' she said, reproach-
fully, "and that is what they will all do. 1
told papa so, and he said no. He likes the
English; that is whyI got into this carriage
with you; he thought perhaps you might
be going the whole way-are your"
"Yes, 1 am going to London"
$50 am l."
"Then we shall cross together"
"Cross the seal" She clasped her hands
tightly. 30! I am SO frightened of the sea
the thought Of being alone on the water
t~erriies me-"
"But," 1 said, "you won't be alone-that
is IL you will permit me to take the charge
of you."
Shs shook her head doubtfully. so,
thanks! but I should not dare TO trouble
me, 1 cannot help it. Isay to myself, this
time 1 will be brave; but my foot on the
ship, ali !"-her face expressed nov her
courage melted-'if I cannot find some
body whom 1 can hold on to tight, l feel I
must die"
death!" 1 said, laughing e~ncouragingly.
"We are due at Dieppe by two O'Clock;
that gives us plenty of time for a good
luncheon before we start" Something in
her look made me add: 80! you must
eat; besides, you tell me you have had no
breakfast-that you are hungry"
"Yes, I am; only papa said I was to go
on board immediatelV.O
every likely he forgot about your want.
ing something after this journey"
"No, 1 don't think it was that" she said,
with sly hesitation; shut, frankly, mon.
sieur, we are not rich, and before saying
yes, l think l must count my money"
Already I had closed my hand over hers
and the shabby little purse it held, which,
while speaking, she had drawn out of her
pocket. "Now,, / said in return for the
|care I mean to take of you, you must dc
must know, and very seldom get the chance
of a young lady's society; whenever | do |
always make it a point that she shall have
luncheon with me-"
"Really! but that is very nice of you"
"Oi Pm a despot in that respectl"
"But it's very fortunate for me that you
are so"-and she clapped her hands gaily-
"for do you know that l could eat you, and
1 have nothing but a packet of bon-bons in
my pocket to satisfy me;" and dived her
hand down in search of them. what
did 1 do with my money!" she exclaimed
suddenly. "Ahl here it is; 1 get into such
a fright because I think l ave lost it.
Papa told me to be very careful, and so I
am; but I don't know where to put it,"
SIT often strikes me that ladies are very
badly of for pockets" l said.
"But, mol" and she pointedt to the sides OF
her jacket. 81 have one there, one there
and one il the skirt of my dress-how
many have your"
30! the number of mine is LEGION" and ]
pointed to my outer coat; "not that ]
should think of carrying money about with
"Wouldn't your Where would you pu.
it, then?"
took out some of the loose coin I had
and held it in my hand to show her.
"What, without any purse"
81 never carry a purse with me-"
"And all the money you have you carry
like that?n
"Yes, all that 1 want for daily use I do.
OF course, in travelling one is forced to have
more about one, but that I keep in a place
of safety"
"Out Of sight-hidden away" she said,
c~onfidentially. "Yes, that is what I ought
to have-a pocket that no one could get at
and it might be lone in this lining, I shoul
say"-and unbuttoned her jacket SO that
I might give an opinion.
Perfectly; you have only to stitch q
oOO4O VA o0oAL O4 bAo0 AOA v W. oSSt
"Yes-it would bulge out, though"
Not If done properly" a
doesn't yours?"
"No-mine seems fiat enough; I" and 1 fur
Their turned open the flap of my coat, a lit
tie amused at her curiosity. The little
nimble fingers had half drawn out my
pocket-book: and then, looking up, she sud
denly recollected herself. 40, pardon,
pray excuse me! for the moment I Forgot
I am so accustomed to papa that" She
hesitated, and l found nothing to say. Pos
itively for the first time in my life the
point into me. Of course, a girl of that age
would loo pom me as her father-why
shouldn't shef
Fearing tina my silence would make hel
think that she had offended me, l pulled
the note case out and opened it wide.
"You see," I said, "that mine is a more
portable form of money!" and l unfolded
the roll of crisp notes that had been given
at the exchange Office. But her propriety
had evidently taken fright, and though sht
smiled at me, she cast no more han &
glance in the direction of the money.
What an u~naccountable being is man
full of strange surprises for himself a.
well as for other people. Here had I beer
running at large for six months or so, see
ing every day fresh faces and beins
brought into contact with women, young
pleasant, good looking, who had made no
the slightest impression on me, had failed
even to whet my curiosity to the point O
asking who they were, or wanting to know
what had become of them, and suddenly
| after a few hours spent with this cho
girl, / was Observation-Disclosures with he
society; and felt miserable to think how
soon 1 should have to part with her.
I expect the waiter reckened me up to
farthing when he spoke of madame" t.
me; and didn't the fellow Singer in hi
| sleeves at the liberal tip I gave him? A
| the time l was vastly amused by the idei
of his supposing such a child could be m,
wife; and I should not like to be bound b.
a solemn affidavit to affirm that no blusl
warmed my cheeks at the supposition tina
it wa my wife she was taken for.
1t was but natural that / should give he
my arm, for we were just going on boar
the steamer, where I had promised to tax
care of her; and never did bridegroom
young or old, go more fussily about fror
b could want, and ask after every posi-
BILE thing to obtain for her. A rug, a foo
stool, a wrap for her shoulders-for th
wind blew keen, and she hadno better coy
ering than this thin cloth jacket on-nott
ring was forgotten; and then down I ga
Tom Noddy of eighteen. 1 had quite fol
got how 1had valued the superiority of m,
single estate on other occasions; it neve
entered my head to wonder what the othe
passengers thought of me-; they Nigh
think what they pleased, 1 did not care
sharing the rug between us, and as we &c
further on, an extra wrap, too-the enjoy
ment of the passing hour was enough fo
me; a. little golden head rested on m,
shoulder, and every now and again Their
smiled up into my face two eyes of heav
enly blue.
"9 on are not frightened" I often viii.
pered.
'sNot a bit.n
"Didn'tI tell you so? There is nothin,
to be afraid of on the sea-"
Mot like this there isn't" she SAID
naively; 81 should not mind going ever S
far with you."
Although 1 did not say so, my own incl
nation echoed the sentiment.
SIS my head too heavy? Am I leanin
too much" she asked, anxiously.
"No; what makes you suppose so?"
because l hear your heart beating S
quickly-that is your heart. isn't it," an
she stretched out her hand, patting wit
her fingers gently.
Somewhere about that spot-at least"
added, calamity" that is the spot where
used to be-"