Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1890-03-08
FIRST IMPRESSIONS.


brown-faced boy who had volunteered
the above piece of information.
Yes, maam 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 across;
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 little boat, fastened by
rope to the upright post which alone re-
manned of the destroyed bridge. and ten
anted by one man in 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 ferryman!"
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 parasoL
Bring your boat around, she said
sharply, 1--WE want to cross the river.
Be quick.
The boatman pulled back his broad
brimmed straw hat, with look half
puzzled, half-amazed, that made Barbara
Lynn turn toward her companion with
the petulent words:
Il believe he's an idiot.
"Where do you wish to go, ladies?"
asked the man after they had safely be-
slowed their multifarious founces upon
the seats, not without many complaints
at the smallness of the accommoda-
tons.
ITO Stapleton park landing"
AS the oars flashed through the bright,
tideless water Edna Carson drew deep
sigh of relief.
"Well, we shall be there soon, hope.
If you had only written, Barbara, Miss
Stapleton wonld have sent some one to
meet us = perhaps that astonishing
brother of hers"
---"Yes, said Barbara, curling bar 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 I do
meet him. Everything depends on first
impressions, you know"
Edna put up her little hand to hide
yawn.
"And you really mean to captivate
him?"
II mean to try"
"How do you know he will make
good husbandl"
what difference does that maker
He's rich
The boatman stepped ashore, and,
doffing his hat, pointed to 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 as
soon as they arrive, she said loftily.
~And now, girls, get ready for dinner
as soon as you can. ;" said Miss Stapleton,
as she ushered her guests into dainty
little dressing-room all panelled in oak
and gold green, with curtains of pale
green silkssand mirrors that reached from
the ceiling to the floor, II have de-
lightful party of guests stopping here,
and want you both to look as lovely as
possible Remember our old school COM
pact, Barbara-you are to captiYate
Harry.
Barbara did looR lovely as she entered
the drawlng-room. where lights and
flowers, and delicious perfumes made
sort of fanyland. She was dressed in
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 as 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
Caune forward, leaning on gentlemans
ann, 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
auizically beneath the shadow of ferrys
mans straw hat. She was literally
struck dumb-she could not have spoken
to save her life, but Harry Stapleton
was less embarrassed.
"We have met before, he said, with
half smile. at was my first appear
ance in the title role of ferryman. 1
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 inn
peratively given for me to disobey.
He stopped abruptly, for Barbara, over