National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-08-09
CAUGHT.

they were gray or hazel. She was Just
arch N Iitt,a bundle of uncertainties and
euoa n'io D. a. .,..,s..,.
con'rauio''on' Us i'u s"o ,"an o"p
tive ut the nrst glance, anu onereu con-
,tant lure to anticipation.
whether sho smoke or remained silent.
.,o.,or aha ,vail,ad nv sot oxnaotat;on
whesnoi .h1 "ae 'a' .Ap D. 49,.
huhg orea'niess upon nor neA' "oru' NO,
next pose. Her eyes, varying as seemed
their hue. shone mono tho less with a
candid raw that seemed the very light of
go ii h.. f-.aL ,,o,,.h ,,;th TIA
-, A., a..
milky teeth showing oet"eeH 'no NV wv
smiling lips, irresistibly suggested the
sweetest uses to which lips can be put.
Tho heavily moving steamer had
,,or,had thror,h hale tho oreat Atlanta
p'V.k'u '.e. . WV So III, III
rouers' anu .he low passengers n"'i "'
grown heartily tired OF each other, when
upon deck quite alone, yet calm and self
centred as the small birds that sometimes
poised themselves upon spar or bulwark
to gather breath for fresh flight.
1t was julius Hilder who had first
discovered her, leaning against the COM
paniopway railing, with the air of having
lust come UP or down, he could hardly
determine which, looking absently ct the
tumbline water.
Julius and his friend, Austin Drake,
were seceders from gay party who had
made the tour of southern Europe to-
rether. 1t was julius who had in ti gated
Ris companion to desert the Others and
take the German steamer for Now Or
leans direct, which then touched ut
Hayre. instead of crossing by a 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,
pretentious, intriguing woman, In whom
the matchmaking instinct has been so
developed by the effort to establish her
own fiye daughters that 1t could not rest
satisfied with the accomplishment of that
gigantic task. She seemed to have an
endless supply of nieces, adopted dauRh-
tors. or protoses of some sort. whom She
dangled Internationally before the owes of
ali eligible bachelors. She had improved
chance meeting with julius to announce
to him a new acquisition, a lovely crea-
ture. whom she was taking homo with
her from a Swiss pension.
"Mr. Smollett's own neice, Mr.. Hilder.
and quite like my Fanny at her age. You
remember Fanny? She was your love,
believe" she had said, with her oeling,
dowager smile, and julius had felt him
self seized at once with an insurmounta-
BILE aversion to the fair young niece of Mrs.
Smollett.
In the first hoat 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 ominently amusing, he had
never omitted to congratulate himself
and his companion, night and morning,
upon the good sense they had displayed
in adopting 1t.
mo chattering girl or designing dowa-
gers" he would say, and he yawned over
his book or the dull game with which
they strove to believe they were amusing
themselves, gives q man time to pull
himself together and take account of
stock. as it were" Still, when one of
those aimless pilgrimages below, which
formed the only break in the monotony
of this occupation. he had nearly run
over this pretty young creature leaning
against the ratings, q thrill of undeniable
pleasure had coursed aloifE his nerves,
and he had felt himself blushing with
pleased surprise.
Fortunately the sea tan had rendered
the blush indistinct, but over the light
that shot into his gray eyes the sea tau
has no powor, nor yet over the tongue
that stammerod NJ he tried to convey his
apologies for nearly upsetting her and
his offers Of service in conducting her to
a seat.
THANK you," she had answered, coolly;
'you did not startle me. as l saw you
y coming; and am not sure that want q
seat"
There was no more to be said, and her
maid appeared ut the moment with a
bundle Of party-colored wraps. Julius
could only lift his hat again and carry
out his purpose of going below. AS he
had no reason for going except that he
was tired of staying on deck, and as the
deck had now acquired paramount at
traction, he was soon back again.
In the meantime the young lady had
made up her mind about the seat, and had
found one for herself close against the
ships side on the weather quarter. 1t
was not q pleasant location, but, as she
had chosen 1t, and had wrapped q shawl
about her in an exclusive sort Of way, he
saw no plausible ground for interfering.
Nothing could have been more discreet
and retiring than Miss Elton's behavior,
but the perseverance OF the man who
finds himself bored by too much of his
own and his altereRo's society, ia an in
calculable force against which no woman
can successfully entrench herself, and SO
it was not long before Drake found him
self eliminated as superfuous factor
from the sum OF his friends enjoyment
whenever Miss Elton appeared above
deck. His success, however. was moro
apparent than real, for, although he
knew her name and was allowed TO carry
her books and her shawl and arrange her
hair in the most comfortable, position
with reference to the wind or the sun, he
had really made no great progress in her
confidence. Who she was or why she had
chosen to make tho voyage in this I'M
conventional and eccentric way re-
manned as great a mystery as 1t had been
on that memorable first day. II was tho