Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-07-12


in everything; and he never would let any
consideration affect or changs his mind.
This could not understand-it was utterly
foreign to my nature. learned from him
70 be client when things did net go as l
wished them 10 go, bat his calInness was
almost tbs reeose Of tie elements, and my
apparent meekness was compounded OF the
simplsa If mellow hypocrisy and suppressed
III temper Otherwise Mr.. Hall was often
o vexation to my spirit.
Some people called him prig, but he
was not His finer feelings were-but all
his feelings were fine! They used to say
that once when he was walking through
the country he met poor woman who
was an epteptic. Just after he had passed
her she fell into fit. He turned TO help
her, and the story was that he was discov-
cred sitting by the side of a brook, to
which he had carried the woman, waiting
for her TO recover, and gravely sailing his
hat in the water to aInuse her little boy.
This sounds somewhat like Keneim Chill
linSly, but he did not IN the least resemble
that half legendary hero.
Although my wits had been sharpened
by reason of my greater familiarity with
the subject, never suspected him of be-
ing 10 love with NE, and he certainly
never showed his affections in the way
that other young men do.
One evening we had arranged some tab
leaux at the hotel, and it WAS decided to
finish the entertainment with that clever
little sketch, "Plsre aux Danes" l was
Lady Macbeth Now, Lady Macbeth has
to say somewhere or other u forget exactly
how it goes that Opheiia, who is always
quoting what Ham says talks as if she
were a sandwich, for she never says two
words without putting a slice Of Ham ia
between
When I opened my mouth for this biting
sarcasm on Ophelia (who was played by,
Oh, such lovely Baltimore girlD looked
over toward the windows Of The dining
room in which the stage had been set up,
and at one of them, just down by the foot
of the stage. gracefully resting his elbows
on the ledge and leaning in, WIS Mr.. Boull
ter. Mechanically l went on with my
speech, but was suddenly aroused by hor-
ribly amused smile on his face to the con-
seriousness that l had declared that Opheiia,
VINO wRs gisgling at the side scenes,
couldn't cay two words without putting a
slice of Bran" in between. For moment
was covered with confusion, but recoy-
cred myself and went on sboutly, putting
myself out to look more Lady Macbethian
than ever. I don't think anybody but
Ophelia and Bran himself noticed my lit
tie slip. Certainly Juliet didn't, for she
asked me afterward whet made me Lush
so violently.
After the play was over Bran came up to
me and said that had been numbering
his sleep" for tho last two weeks, aud that
he proposed to do execution On little OF
niue in return. you mustn't 90 to bed
yet" he said. "Come and take turn or
two on the porch before you turn in" 1t
was night fer romance, if ever there was
one. The moon hung high in the dusky
heavens, and anybody who has ever been
to Rhode Island knows how black and
smooth its swelling tide can be, how bright
and mysterious are the reflections Of its
lights dancing on the water, how warm
and full of whisperings is its gentle breeze
1t was but step from the hotel to the
beach-bub that step costl AS we sat to-
gether in front Of the row of bathing
houses Bran's voice became mora and more
Intoxicating, his facs drew nearer and
nearer to mine, and closed my eyes and
said to myself, 'If he chooses to kiss me
why he nay-that's ALL" And of course
he did
l am simply stating the facts as they oc-
Cured and l am not attempting to excuse
myself, but if all the girls whom Bran
Boullter has kissed were to own up it is
my private opinion that the list would be
enormous.
As opened.my eyes, and while we were
still, to say the least, in very unoonven-
tional position, figure IN bathing costume
came slowly out of the little alley just be-
side us, halted for brief instant in sur
prise at seeing us there and then hastened
down TO the waters edge and sprang into
the breakers pressed Brsn's hand, which
was somehow or other clasping mine, VIC
lently in my emotion and then tore my
own away, gasping out, Goodness. he
must have seen usw Bran took things
rather calmly, and in fact began to laugh
In what considered very calleus manner
But he only laughed for an instant and
then said:
TITS only Middleton Fall. I entirely
forgot that that queer lad INDUCES his
naSsbory predictions whenever there is
moonlight Bless you, he never saw you,
bsng a. presant nsditating philosophy,
which does not make him uncommon
lively in his perceptions, and If he did see
yen" he Continued, in a more serious tone
"he could not by any possibility have rec
ognized you"
l was claimed after a little while by
BrHn's assurencs, and BY the fact that it
really was quite dark under the roof of the
bathing houses, but my moral nerves had
received TOO great shock TO permit Of my
ontinuing the Irritation, SO we returned
to the hots!, which Bran said he was loath
to do.
Shall ever forgive myself for my folly.
The next day we went on a drive to the
Lighthouse. Mr.. Hall Joined me as, after
leaving the carriage. we were walking to-
ward the rocks. Somehow or other some
thing was said about swimming. and l
promptly remarked thst I had seen him
taking one of his nocturnal sw.ns.
could have bitten my tongue off. He
turned and looked at ME quickly in a
curious manner, and all at once l began to
feel my old fear of him entirely possessing
me. blnshed- 1 simply stood still and
blushed; and rs I felt the hot color burn
ing my cheeks l could see the look in his
face turn into one Of pain and astonish-
ment, and then his forehead contracted
into frown and he half turned away. By
this time I was in O state of dreadful
nervousness, and scarcely knowing what
did. stammersd out:
.'Oh. Mr.. Hall! please don't think-please
don't say"-
He turned TO me again, and began to
speak in low, dgnihed tone.
81 beg" he said, that You will overlook
nv great want Of self command. Hyou
vy;T allow me to speak for q r,1rren. of