The N.C. Republican, and civil rights advocate., 1884-05-22
TN SPITE OF HIMSELF.

Neither tall nor short, neither dark nor
fair, with hair between blonde and
brown, and eyes that left a doubt as to
whether they were gray or hazel She
was Just such little bundle of uncer-
tainties and contradictions as led the
imagination captive at the first glance,
and offered constant lure to anticipa-
ton.
Whether She spoke OF remained silent
Wheeler she walked or sat, expectation
hur Breathless upon her next word, her
ne1 osc. Her eyes, varying 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, irrcsistibly suggested
the sweetest uscs 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 appeared for the first time
upon deck quite alone, yet calm ard Self
ccncred as the small birds that some
times poised themselves upon spar or
bllwark to gather breath for fresh flight.
1t was Julius HiIder who had first dis
covered her, leaning against the compan-
conway railing, with the air Of having
just come up on down, he could hardly
determine which, looking absently at
the tumbling waves
Julius and his friend, Austin Drake.
were seceders from gay party who had
made the tour Nj. Tnrthern Europe to-
r~E. Tf.-5-j..45u- ..I. sS.9 ,1,..st
gated his companion to desert the others
and take the German steamer for New
Orleans direct which then touched at
Havre, instead Of crossing by a Cunarder;
and it had all grown out of~the obstinate
determination on the part Of his sister to
attach her party to that Of Mrs. Smollett.
Mrs. Smollctt was his choicest aversion,
pretentious, intriguing woman, in whom
the match making instinct had been SO
developed by the effort to establish her
own five daughters that it could not rest
satisfied with the accomplishment Of that
gigantic task She seemed to have an
endless supply Of nieces, adopted daugh-
tcrs, or proteges Of some sort, whom she
danglcd ostentatiously before the eyes OF
all eligible bachelors She had improved
a chance meeting with Julius to announce
to him new acquisition, lovely young
creature whom she was taking home
with her from a Swiss Pension.
"NIr. Smollctt's own niece, Mr. Hilder
and quite like my Fanny at her age
You remember Fanny She was you
first love, | believe" She had said, Will
n T,,lI,
had felt himself seized at once with al
insurm0untahle aversion to the fair younI
niece Of Mr.. Smollett.
In the first heat Of his indig3 hit hit
against his sister he had cor .I .eeu 4S tnns
notable scheme Of crosslnb It'll It'll Ala, I'D u
steamer, and thougr u m ho nn,;nnnti+ till II I'll
development .PGr(c never omitted to con, Il
ollluslns, Himself and his companion,
gia.uliastd morning, upon the good sense
TIT Ilgs pdd displayed in adopting it.
spNo chattering girls or designing
.owagers," he would say as he yawned
over his book or the dull game with
wnch they strove to believe they were
lnusing themselves, "gives man time
to pull himself together and take account
stock, as it were.n Still, when on one OF
those aimless pilgrimages below which
formed the only break in the monotony
Of this occupation, he had nearly run
nXer this ,Eett,, .ss.,c - -;
against the ratings, thrill Of undeni-
able pleasure had coursed along his
nerves and he had felt himself blushing
with pleased surprise.
Fortunately. the sea-tan had rendered
the blush indstinct, bnt over the light
that shot into his gray eyes, the sea tar
had no power, nor yet over the tongue
that stammered as he tried to convey hi:
apologies for nearly upsetting her, anc
his offers Of service in conducting he
TO a seat
''Thank you,n she had answered
coolly, ''you did not startle me, as saw
you coming, and | am not sure that
want a seat. \"
There was no more to be said, and he
maid appearing at that moment With
bundle Of parti- colored wraps, Juliu
could only lift his hat again and carr
out his purpose Of going below AS b
had no reason for going except that h
was tired Of staying on deck, ana as tn
deck had now acquired paramount at
traction, he was soon back again
In the meantime the young lady ha,
made UP her mind about the seat, an'
had found one for herself close agains
the ships side, on the weather quarter
1t was not a pleasant location, but as sh
had chosen ii, and had wrapped a larg
shawl about her in an exclusive sort 3
way, he saw 40 plausible ground for in
terfering.