Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1890-03-13
FIRST IMPRESSIONS.

flkOl lMTkESSl0NN
sThe bridge broken? How provok-
ing r" And Barbara Lynn leaned from
the carriage window to speak to the
brown-faced boy who had volunteered
the above piece Of information.
Yes, ma'am; the freshet carried the
timbers away day before yesterday.
But how are we to get across? We
are going to visit Miss StaPleton, at Sta
pleton park"
@They keep ferryman there, ma'am,
with little boat. He'll take you acress !;
and if you'll drive around BY Uncle Ez-
ra's he'll send your trunks BY the noun
tain road.
very well driver, follow the boys
directions
Close under the green clump of water
willows lay littls boat, fastened by q
rope to the upright post which alone re-
manned Of the destroyed bridge. and ten
anted by one man in a picturesque straw
hat whose broad brim Swallowed his face
altogether.
Hes reading, declare, instead Of
minding his business and looking out for
passengers. A literary ferrynan!"
sneered Edna Carson. Miss Barbara
made no verbal comment, but walked res
olutely down to the landing and reused
the absorbed man from his studies with
the point Of her pa-asol
Bring your boat around, f" she said
sharply, I'VE want to cross the river.
Be quick.
The boatman pulled back his broad
brimmed straw bat, with a look half
puzzled, half amazed, that made Barbara
Lynn turn toward her companion with
the petulent words:
Il believe he's an idiot.
asked the man after they had safely be-
slowed their multifarious founces upon
the seats, not without many complaints
ut the smallness of the accommoda-
tons.
ITO Stapleton park landing"
As the oars flashed through the bright,
tideless water Edna Carson drew q deep
sigh of relief.
well, we shall be there soon, hope.
If you had only written, Barbara, Mis-
Stapleton wonld have sent some one to
meet us perhaps that astonishing
brother Of hers"
@Yes, said Barbara, curling her lip,
sand nice first appearance we should
have made, tired and dusty, with our
dresses all crumpled and our hair I'M
curled. No, choose to meet Harry
Stapleton en- grande toilette when 1 do
meet him. Everything depends on first
i'm oressions, you know"
Edna put up her little hand to hide q
yawn.
"And you really mean to captivats
him?"
Il mean to try"
How do you know b will make a
good husband?"
what difference does that make?
He's rich"
The boatman stepped ashore, and,
doffing his hat, pointed to a superb gray
mansion whose gables and mullions
cleaned through groups Of trees just be-
yond, saying:
@There is Stapleton, ladies you will
have no difficulty in finding it.
Barbara tossed piece of silver to him
See that our trunks are brought up Is
soon as they arrive, she said lsftily.
"And now, girls, get ready fer dinner
Is soon as you can. said Miss Stsplston,
as she ushered her guests into dainty
little dressing-room all panelled in oak
and gold green, with curtains ef pale
green silk2nd mirrors that reached from
the ceiling to the floor, Il have de-
ightful party of guests stopping here.
and want you both to look a. lovely rs
possible. Remember our old school COM
pact, Barbara-you are to captiyate
Harry"
Barbara did look lovely IS she entered
the drawlng-room. where lights and
flowers, and delicious perfumes made a
sort of fairyland. She was dressed In a
rose-colored tulle. caught up with bou-
quets Of moss rosebuds, and branch Of
trailing roses and buds fastened in her
glossy curls as carelessly Is if it had fallen
from the vine. Edna was pretty, too, in
her white muslin and lilies, but Edna's
beauty was to Barbara's as twilight to
sunshine-pearl to the imperial diamond.
Anna Stapleton's eyes Frightened as she
came forward. leaning on a gentieman's
arm, to greet her guest
Miss Lynn-my brother, Mr.. Staple
ton.
And Barbara's cheeks blazed into scar
let fire, as in the calm glance Of the gen.
tleman bowling before her she recognized
the dark blue eyes that had beamed SO
beneath the shadow of a ferry |
mans straw hat. She was literally
struck dumb-she could not have spoken
to Save her life, but Harry Stapleton
was less embarrassed.
I'VE have met before. he said, with
half a smile. 1T was my first appear
ance in the title role Of ferryman. /
hope it gave satisfaction. Everything
depends on first appearances, you know.
Pardon me for not disclosing my name,
Miss Lynn, but your orders were too im-
given for me to disobey."
He stopped abruptly, for Barbara, over
come with shame and modification, had |
tainted away in his sisters arms.
And then and there ended all her |
hopes of ever becoming mistress Of Sta
pleton park. Alas! what radiant Wis
ions alittle mistske" will sometimes
overthrow.
Count Herbert Bismarck, during his |
soiourn in the Orient, learned new
proverb, which he repeated in recent
speech: There arc three things with
which no man should play: Tho fire, BE-