Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1890-05-03
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Hair was glossy ana black. with
Ftwounique acknowledgements
ing it,. Her eyes. were intensely
dark. with n strange rcsflessnt.s
in-them. Her face had !; .pecnllpr
fascination ahonj it, although the
features lacked regularity. Her
figure was grace itself, Int almost
DIES itute Of the curves that make
the female form divine.
She was perfectly ar home in the
manniticently lighted p,rIorS. To
me it was a scene Of encliar'-
nent. All HAT HE skill Of de
>igner and artist conl'l do, was
blended together to delight the
eye.
7 turned TO sre who was near me
and discovered Tom ZlhelI'S tall,
military figure. Toms form WAS
iuIl Of careless grace. Ills face
WAS b"onzed Ivy the sun of the
many cllmes. He had just re-
turned from an extended trip
abroad.
always took great pleasure in
looking at Tom Zahcll. and count
Ell him rs one OF my true friends.
though | had never done ANYTHING
IN particular to make me- worthy Of
his friendship. But from that day
he had rescued ME from drowning
| he'd loved him a< few brothers
are loved.
Il did nnt expect 70 see yon
here tonight, Tnm,' I said, as we
shook hands.
.Didr'I yor? Well, ] can say
the same Of Aon. a man who
loves Na'nrr in her wild state can
find little Co interest him here"
but have tnnnd Il specimen
that reminds me Of .eautiJul
mermaid-or IL snake" l returned.
pointing To the singular creature
who had been my study for some
little time. In iac', had watched
and wondered at her ever Sincr.
she had eutere.l The room. "Who
is sheY"
Il don't know, though 1 lave
certainly seen Ler somewhere be-
fore; it must have been u long time
age" And Tom Stroked his beard
thonghtInlly.
BY This time we had reached
sofa over which leaned Sam White.
as handsome IL fellow as yon could
find on the peninsula. a charm
ing girl, with wonderful voice
and sweet, confding manners sat
upon the sofa captivating Sam;
she was just the sort Of girl that
could captivate any one. l turned
to Tom to ask him who this fair
creature might be. but he was
looking upon her with such il !as
cinatetl gaze that he heard not a
word said. There was jealous
glitter IN his eyes as lie paused TO
listen to he conversation of the
two.
"Do I know herr" the sweet
voice was saying. "I'm thankful
to say 1 don't; she reminds me Of
a reptile"
Then the pretty speaker turned
and flashed a glance at Tom that
WAS meant for hlm alone. Evil
IDENTIFY Tom knew her, and there
was some understanding between
them.
We were about to cross to an
other part of the room when a hush
fell on all around us, and [ felt
rather than saw the approach of
the peculiar woman whom had
been Studying. 1t was pity to
spoil Sam Whites filtration, bur
my curiosity must be satisfied, and
l asked him MILO she was.
II don't know he returned. 81
was just about asking her. There's
something uncanny about the wo-
man, whoever she is" Then be
rather reluctantly presented me to
his companion, Fanny Franklin.
She shuddered as the strange
beauty passed by.
"Pm awiIully afraid of her." she
said.
sand l am strangely impressed
by her." said Tom, fixing his eyes
vacantly upon the stranger. After
this. while moving in and out
among the dry throng, forgot all
about the strange beauty and my
friend rom. There had been play
ing and singing. but had not par
ticularly noticed it till | heard a
deliciously sweet and wondrously
penetrating voice, which sent
thrill through my whole being. j
worked my way through silk and
satin trains till | reached u place
where l coultl see the player. 1t
was Fanny franklin.
Such music one never forgets. l
can hearit even now. The words
of the song 1 don't remember; but
the melody l shall ever hold in my
mind. | dropped into a sort of
dream which, long before the song
was finished, had ii rude awaken
ing; the strange unknown was d.
yiding her attention between me
and the pretty creature at the
piano.
Fanny commenced the second
song, but stopped abruptly and
said she had sharp pam in her
n;Jo and could eino no moro THE