The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-11-07
WAS HE A
WOMAN Halter ?

cousin You know left fiirtatons when /
eft college"
Having thus delivered himself, Robert
Warren waited for his friend, Jack Man
ming, to assure him for the twentieth time
that mis- cousin Lucia was girl of common
sense; not cequette, but cultivated, In
ielligeut-
Robert int irrupted
"Neithcr do l care to talk philosophy,
poetry, or the origin OF species with an
intellectual b lstOn maid"
Jack turned away TO smile, while Robert
we Mt on;
in two dlvisicns-one all for men, the other
for something else, because they cannot gel
men"
That's enough" Interrupted Jack.
Lucia will have plenty of attention with
out demanding any of you" And the two
young men strolled off the veranda.
fortunately or unfortunately, the object
of these remarks was sitting be hind the
closed blind of a window directly behind
the young men, 50 she could not help hear
ing what her cousin and his friend had
said
Roberts sentiments were not new TO her
so, instead of being annoyed, she only
smiled. and her eyes shone with sudden
mischief.
Jack had talked with her about Robert
Warren since they were chumS together at
Harvard She knew more of bis record as
an athlete and as society man there than
as q scholar, though since that his honOgs
at a German university were enough to sat
isfy any demands, and his first year at prac-
ticiug law was most brilliant.
She knew that since his graduation from
Harvard lie had inherited a fortune that he
had never dreamed would be his, and that
before this he had been more deeply in love
with a gill than he would acknowledge {;
hn non n q
and had always regretted it.
Lucia knew that Il bert was b ndsome
(she had seen his plciure), and now sht had
heard his deep, low, rich voice. She also
knew that he bad been plotted for by IL; NJ
a matchmaking mamma, as well as by viii
ing daughters. This only made him with
draw more surely from sOcie y and devote
himself 10 his law. his rcd and his gun.
Now. it was in August, and he had come
to spend 4 month with his old chum, who
was, with various relatives, at one of tue
large hotels on one of the loveliest Of the
Maine islands.
When Robert came in to dinner with Jack,
an hour later, he was surprised TO see that
Lucia Nes so young and so really beautiful
He had made up his mind that he should
meet 8 tall, dark, SELF possessed society
young woman Of about "a, while the girl he
now met was very fair, petite, with fluffy
yellow hair child-hke blue eyes, dimpled
cheeks and a mischievous, smiling mouth.
She appeared about Is; in fact she was -.
Robert felt little piQued that she did not
seem TO notice him in the least, after her
cordial little bow, and - am very glad to
meet you" but chatted away in her merry
way TO young fellow sitting next her.
Most young women would have looked at
himself Robert reflected; yet he tried to
make himself think he was very glad that
this one would give him so little trouble.
That night there was hop at the hotel
and as he came in from the piazza he me-
Lucia, as she came downstairs with Ael
mother and this same young man whom he
had seen at dinner, and who had been pre-
scented 10 him as Mr. Perkins.
Lucia was radiant. Her cheeks were
flushed and her eyes were shining. She was
very simply dressed in white tulle thai
hoated around her ike cloud. She carried
pink roses, and Robert was aware of their
faint perfume as she passed him.
He turned to look after her. How grace
fully she walked, How charmingly her mech
rose from her shoulders, ana how sunny was
the beautiful hair.
Robert turned and walked back to the
corner of the piazza that he had just left
and watched the dance. The large dining.
room had been cleared for the dance and d
few couples were circling over the shining
floor TO the music Of one of Strauss waltzes
The music brought back memories of tina
last claSs-day dance when he was WatZinl
who, thank fortune, lie was well rid of, anC
who was now trying TO win him back.
lie saw Lucia as She finated by in young
Perkins arms. How different was her face
from that other oue'si BAIL His life was
not to be concerned with any more pretty
faces, no matter how innocent and true
they looked. His dancing days were over,
too So he flung away his cigar and went
10 his room.
The next week was spent as he first
wished, in rowing, fishing and canoeing,
Whenever he was at the hotel he saw Lucia
surrounded by admirers, but 1t was Perkins
who seemed to be favored by her smiles
She was cordial to Robert but never seemed
to take the slightest interest in him.
One evening Robert walked to the cliff
about sunset for the beautiful sea view. As
be went to take seat behind pile OF tn,
stone, TO his surprise ne found Lucia there
His step startled her, and she hastily Tos,
10 heI f Ell.
do not let me intrude," he stammered
and started to 90 back.
She insisted that he should stay, and be
fore he knew it they were talking togethe
like old friends. Then they walked hom
by moonlight
Robert could never forget her beauty
She wore some light, feecy scarf about he
shoulders, one end Of which was carelessly
caught upon her hair.
When they reached the hotel Jack me
them saying:
81 have great news for you. Perkins
brother has just anchored his yacht in tn
harbor. and starts Monday for two weeks
cruise. He wants US to join his party
There will only be half-doZen-he, his two
sisters, his brother, you Robert, and Lucia
and mother 10 matrOniZe US"
"Oh, how lovely!" exclaimed Lucia. so
course l should ike nothing better than t
60"
And you, Roberto" questioned JACK.
"Thank you. AS your guest, shall be
pleased to CO." he replied, but there was nj
warmth in his tone. To tell the truth, h
was thinking what fine opportunity thi
was for Perkins to monopoize Lucia. Prob
ably they would become engaged, he thought
bitterly.
He saw more of her during the next da
than before. She seemed necessary to S
many peoples happiness. and requisite 70
the success of any gayety at the hotel. Sh
was so simple and unaffected, SO merry an
happy that her presence always brough
sunshine.
1t was SO on board the yacht She wa
always on deck, and many and many a nigl
took her guitar and sang to them under til
starlight
The weather was unusually good. bU
there came at last two days storm; the
had all stayed below, making candy, actin
charades, playing games and singing. a
last, when the waves were growing MOI
furious and the wind raging violently, som
sudden impulse made Lucia look up
Robert and say with a smile:
You are the best seaman here; take II
on deck, please"
There vas a general protest at this, bl
she carried her point. After being muc
tossed about they reached the deck aud a
tempted TO walk up and down.
You will have to cling close" he sal,
drawing her hand through his arm.
The waves were like mountains, the raj
beat against them, and the wind blew almo
hurricane. The color glowed in Lucia
cheeks, her eyes shOne with unusual brigiI
ness.
"Oh, how sublime" she exclaimed. :
could live on the ocean; yet it is terribl
after all" and she shuddered little.
A sudden lurch of the boat threw he
from himSand she would have fallen had
not caught her In his arms. Her silky ha
brushed his cheek, and he felt his hea
beating against his breast so that 1t SCENE
as II she must feel it.
This is something OF gale" 81
laughed, as, wOman-iike, she first recovere
self-possession.
They soon went below, for the stor
ragged more furiously. Robert saw a stran,
expression in Perkins eyes. but he was co!
scious of a wonderful citation, and could ST
feel the magic Of the sweep Of those silke
lOcks across his lips.