The Washington critic., 1886-03-19
TWO STRANGE MEETINGS.

oHC was sluHulHS W luC uppTOuCn VI
the suspension bridge in bitter, blind
ing snowstorm.
Her umbrella was inside out; her
wrap had broken from its fastenings.
and was flying in the wind; the icy
brcezes and fine particles of snow were
whistling up her sleeves, while her
bonnet and hair were in white,
feathery tangle, becoming momcntarily
more pronounced as the fierce blizzard
swept across It from the river.
She was trying hard TO hold herself
together, looking despairingly around
the while for some means of getting
across the terrible bridge in safety.
What could he do?
He was not the man to look un-
moved upon such picture of distress,
especially such a pretty picture. For
she was pretty.
A petite, compact figure, with un-
mistakable evidences of refinement in
every curve and outline; bright,
dancing eyes, all the brighter in con
trast with the glowing red cheeks;
small, firm mouth, and chin abso-
lutely trembling in its soft nest of
feather trimming.
He took in all these details at q
glance, saw that she was in real trouble,
stopped, and said:
"You had better wait for street car.
You cannot walk across the bridge this
morning. There is blast coming up
the river that cuts like u million
knives"
II cannot help it.. have to be at
the depot at 0 clock, and there are no
street cars in sight" was the breathless
reply, as she struggled with her unruly
umbrella.
He took the umbrella from her and
as he forced 1t into its proper shape,
said
Then you had better let me pilot
you across"
She turned her eyes full on him and
| looked searchingly into his face for
nearly half minute.
She saw tall, handsome, brown
bearded fellow, the bronzed cheeks
| tinted with rosy hue that indicated
the lover of outdoor life.
She saw that the bronzed face had a
kindly, honest expression, and as q
proof that her inspection had resulted
satisfactorily she put her daintily
| gloved little hand on his arm and said
quietly:
"Thank you!''
So he held the umbrella to wind
ward, and, with the compact little fig
ure tucked under his arm, and the
wind hooting and groaning its disap.
pointment as it tried to get under and
around the umbrella at the dainty bon
net and hair still in u tangle, he pushed
boldly across the bridge, with his heart
humping sympathetic accompani-
ment TO the pattcring feet of his com
panion.
Then, as he handed her the umbrella
and raised his hat, she said;
"Thank you very much for your
kindness. lshould never have crossed
the bridge by myself, am afraid"
When the young lady got home that
evening and told the assembled family
how she had crossed the bridge In
company with strange gentleman
there was general uplifting of eye
brows and Struggling of shoulders
though no one was very much sur
prised.
Kate Selby had all the Independent
spirit of her age, sex and nativity, ant
rather enjoyed defying the prophetic!
when 1t could be done with moderate
safety.
Perhaps it was this Independent
spirit that made her adopt such an un
usual plan for getting into the house
of Mrs. Douglas on the night of tht
fancy-dress party q few evenings
later.
This party had been the talk of so
ciety for weeks. 1t was expected to b,
something unusual in its gathering o
wcll-known people, not only in society
per SO, but IN tn G professions of medi
cine, law literature, music and art.
The costumes were to embrace every
known covering for the human form
and the whole affair was to be an even
to be remembered.
The Douglas and Selby residence
were each surrounded by large lawn
divided only by an imaginary boundar.
line.
Miss Selby had chosen for the part.
simple country girls costume, an(
very pretty she looked as she stood il
the parlor showing herself to her father
whose tiresome, wounded foot-a re
minder of gettysburg would not ALLOW
him to go out tonight.
A light calico, with white apro
and pink ribbons and bows, and smal
basket in her hand made Kate Selb
as sweet a picture, la Vatican, a
, ever met the gaze of a connoisseur.
= Five minutes later Kate Selby wa
standing in small grove at the side o
, the Douglass mansion watching tn
dancers tlitting past the long window
, reaching to the ground.
She could see nearly all over tn
? room from where she stood,
A All were masked, and rs they moves
in rhythmical cadence to the music O
the orchestra Kate felt that creepy SCI
sation which the sight of tw o scor
people with hidden faces, but piercin
, eyes, so often produces,
; She turned quickly and--loolSed int
the face of red. bearded, dirty-face
! man, with black eye and Il livid sea
, across his cheek, which did not in
i prove his naturally repulsive appear
. ance.
{ The man was intoxicated, Kate sa'
that at the first glance.
She stepped to one side, with an il
.. dignant flash from her gray eyes at tn
Il. fellows insolence in looking at her ;
y ALL and was about to run toward Il
c side door when he placed himself d
e rectly in her path.
5 mo SO fas' -hic,-m' dear, | wal
= shome re funsh-hic!-an I'm goin'
y dansh wiz you. Amt |, BlllyY"
Heavens There was another one!
A bundle Of rags, whose shiniu
e black face and close wool showed |