The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-05-29
HOW HE WAS CAUGHT.

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Neither tall nor short, neither dark
nor fair, with hair between dark and
brown, and eyes that left doubt as to
whether they were gray or hazel. She
was lust such little bundle of uncer-
tainties and contradictions rs led the
imagination captive at the first glance,
and offered constant lure to anticipa-
ton.
Whether she spoke or remained si-
lent, whether she walked or sat, expec-
tation hung breathless upon her next
word, her next pose. Her eyes, vary
ing 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. ire
sistibly 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 y appeared for the
first time upon deck quite alone, yet
calm and self-centered 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
companionway railing, with the air of
having just come up or down, he could
hardly determine which, looking alb
sently at the tumbling water.
Julius and his friend, Austin Drake,
were seceders from gay party who
had made the tour of Southern Europe
together. 1t was Julius who had insti-
gated, his companion to desert the 9TH
ers and take the German steamer for
New Orleans direct, which then touch
ed at Havre, instead of crossing by
a Cunarder; and it had all grown out
part of his sister to attach her party to
that of Mrs. Smollett.
Mrs Smollett was his choicest aver
sion, a pretentious. 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 accom-
plishment of that gigantic task. She
seemed to have an endless supply of
nieces, adopted daughters, or proteges
of some sort whom she dangled osten-
tatiously before the eyes of all eligible
bachelors. She had improved chance
meeting with Julius to announce to
him q new acquisition, a lovely young
Creature, whom she was taking home
with her from a Swiss Pension.
'sMr Smollett's own niece, Mr.. Hill
der, and quite like my Fanny at her
age You remember Fanny? She was
your first love, l believe" she had
said, with her ogling dowager smile,
and Julius had felt himself seized at
once with an unsurmountable aversion
to the fair young niece of Mrs. Smol-
lett.
In the first heat of Indignation
agaist 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 emf
nently amusing. he had never omitted
to congratulate himself and his COM
panion, night and morning, upon the
good sense they had displayed in adopt
ing it.
'.No chattering girls or designing
dowagers," he would say, and he
yawned over the book or the dull game
with which they strove to believe they
were amusing themselves, "give 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 ran over this pretty young
creature leaning against the ratings,
a thrill of undeniable pleasure had
coursed along 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-tan
had no power, nor yet over the tongue
that stammered as he tried to convey
his apologies for nearly upsetting her.
| and his offer of service in conducting
| her to a seat.
'"rhank you," she had answered
coolly, "you did not startle me, as
saw you coming; and am not sure
that l want seat. y
There was no more to be said, and
her maid appeared at the moment with
a bundle of parti-colored wraps. Ju
lius could only lift his hat again and
carry out his purpose of going below.
AS he had no reasons for going except
that he was tired Of staying on deck,
and as the deck had now acquired par,
amount attraction, he was soon back
again.
In the meantime the young lady hat
made up her mind about the seat, anC
had found one for herself close agains
the ships side on the weather quarter
1t was not a pleasant location, but AS she
had chosen it, and had wrapped large
shawl around her in an exclusive sor
of way, he saw no plausible grount
for interfering.
Nothing could have been more dis
Greet and retiring than Miss Elton
behavior, but the perseverance, of the
man who finds himself bored by too
much of his own and his alter ego's so
ciety, is an incalculable force agains
which no woman can successfully en-
trench herself, and so it was not Ions
before Drake found himself eliminated
as superHuous factor, from the sun
of his friends enjoyment, wheneve
Miss Elton appeared above deck. Hi
success, however, was more apparen
than real, for although he knew he
name, and was allowed to carry he
book and her shawl, and arrange he