The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1884-09-12


I'D give anything if | hadn't begun
it," she admitted to her friend as they
mounted the stairs to their own room;
''but I'll carry it out to the end now,"
she added, defantly. "If / only knew
who that dreadful Tom Harding was!"
Two or three days glided by in une-
ventful comfort. Mrs. Harding, nee
Morgan, and Miss Ford loitered about
the queer old streets and whiled away
pleasant hours in the bric-a-brac shops.
1t was in one of those that they heard
of museum kept by a sea-Captain's
widow, and decided to visit it. The
little room well filled.
"Come right in, young women" said
a hospitable voice as they passed in the
door. "Young man, hand those women
some chairs"
They were seated, and after a mo-
ment's pause the lecture went on.
''Barnacles from a ships bottom"
said the lecturer, displaying some speci-
mems as she spoke, of which they form
themselves on the ships bottom and
prevent it from sailing"
Amy stifed laugh behind her fan,
and looking around to avoid meeting
her friends eyes, encountered those Of
the young man who sat opposite them
at table. They exchanged glance of
sympathy and amusement
''This," Said the widow, sis the head
dress of a chiefs daughter worn at
boat-racing, of which the materials are
found in The palm-tree, and a very
beautiful head-dress 1t is. Will thee
put it on, my dearp" addressing Amy.
After moments hesitancy, Amy
complied, and the curious structure
proved not unbecoming to her glowing
face and dark eyes.
Behold thy face,
And think no Disgrace
quoted the lecturer, offering a small
hand glass as she spoke,
When the exhibition was over, Amy
and her friend fingered to ask ques-
ton or two, aud were called upon to
register their names.
Zone would think everybody here
kept an intelligence office,'' grumbled
Amy, as she again wrote her friends
name and her own baleful title.
And she babe good bye to her hostess
"a formality carefully observed by all
visitors-the old lady detained her.
''Where does thee live, nv dearp'
she asked, looking kindly at the pretty
young face.
Il am visiting in New York with my
friend Miss Ford" answered Amy with
an attempt to draw Bel into the CONVEX
sation, but the young lady was intent
on some ivory carvings, and turned
deaf ear to the appeal.
sis thee a married womanPn next
inquired the old lady.
Poor Amy looked up to find the ewes
of the young man fixed upon her with
decided interest.
''Yes, think so," she said, con-
fusedly, and was fain to get away.
HAS thee good husband, NV
childP'-but the young man came to
her rescue.
"Good-bye, madame he said, hold
ing out his hand. Il have enioyed the
afternoon greatly"
II am glad thee has, friend, I like
thy face. Come again and see me.
What is thy name, SO that l may re-
member theeP"
He cast look of mingled depreca-
ton and amusement at Amy's retreat
ing figure and answered distinctly:
Harding, Tom Harding, from Tennes-
see.'
Amy did not appear at supper that
night, and Miss Ford in answer to MIR.
Harding's question said briefly that she
was tired.
- As they sat in their room that even
ing, they heard the twang of guitar
in the parlor below, and snatcfes of
song sung in fine baritone voice.
''Oh, we had such a treat last night.
Mrs. Harding" said one of the ladies.
meeting her on the stairs next morn
ing. ''your husbands singing is charm
inrgi,, we were so sorry you were too
tired to join u.s."
81 haven't any husband, " cried AMY.
fiercely. THAT isl she added, lamely.
she isn't here.''
"Oh," said the lady, with a certain
infection. ''We all thought from your
having the same name, and COMING
from the same place, and eating at the
same table, you know. 1t is odd, isn't
ltP Quite coincidence! One of your
husbands cousins, 1 suppose?' she
added, insistently,
my husband has no cousins" said
Amy, and the lady passed on to confide
to another guest that she thought
Syoung Mrs. Harding was, to speak as
mildly as possible, odd"
Amy said nothing to her friend of
this encounter, but proposed visit to
Wauwlnet and Coatue in search of
shells. AS they glided along over the
blue waters in the yacht Lillian, she for
got for the nonce the troubles of matri
mony and the inconvenient presence of
Mr.. Tom Harding from Tennessee.
Coming home toward evening, thew
were met in the hall by the waitress
who handed Miss Ford card.
He asked particularly if one of YOU
ladies wasn't small, with big dark ewes
and told him yes, and then he asked
if there wasn't Miss Morgan here with
Miss Ford, and / said, no, there wasn't t..
and he seemed real surprised when
SAID there want only you and Mrs.
Harding as come together, and he said
he d call this evening, and he hoped
he'd find you as he was going away to-
morrow"
Having thus delivered her message.
the girl went away, and left them alone.
Bel held the card out silently to Amy.
She took it mechanically from Miss
Ford's hand, looked at it helplessly a
moment, and then dropped it on the
floor with little gesture of despair.
1t bore On its smooth, white surface the
inscription" Harry Thorndvke, New
York.
They ate supper in pensive silence,
broken now and then by remark
from Mr.. Harding and q brief reply
from Miss Ford.
The young man glanced now and
then at Miss Ford's companion, but
beheld nothing but downcast lashes for
his pains.
i shall be sick this evening, Bel, p
said Amy, decidedly, as they paused q