Smyrna times., 1892-01-20
A Bashful Beau.
BY EMMA A. OPPER.

y
most exciting occupation imaginable
and when that sister and her betrothed
occupy the back seat and are totally
absorbed in eOch other, the situation
is almost dreary. Dick was feeling
gloomy.
If Jim Gardner and Carrie were a
pretty picture of devoted happiness,
Dick was no less pleasing as a sample
of sturdy manhOOd-sturdy and yet
shy. Dick was a bashful fellow, but
he was so handsome and blue-eyed,
and fair-haired and sun burned,
that his mOdesty was only an added
charm.
"Drive into Mrs. Ransom's, Dick y
said Carrie. Mother wants me to get
her spiced pickle receipt"
Something blue and white was visi-
bic in hammock in Mrs. Ransom s
rear yard.
"Oh," Carrie murmured, tits Mrs.
RansOm's niece, Miss Faulkner from
the city-some city. Sally Decker was
telling about her. She says she's
awfully rich and stylish says she's
been here before, but she never dared
call on her. She says she's been to
Europe twice, and-well, that she's too
stylish for anything !" Carrie ended
hurriedly.
Jim gave a Gerisive laugh, but Dick
sat painfully blushing. To be forced
to encounter such creature He pre-.
ferred being swallowed up by an
earthquake. Cordial Mrs. Ransom
came out at the sight of the buggy.
Come here, Maggie" she called
My niece, Miss Faulkner-Miss Cor
win, Mr.. COrwin and Jim Gardner
I've heard you were engaged to a Jim
Gardner from Mecklinville, Carrie, and
suppose that's the young man"
1t ended in a good and general
laugh. But Dick was too bewIldered
to laugh. For there was added to his
awe the element best calculated to re.
duce shy young man to the depths oil
misery admiration.
Miss Faulkner wore an airy summer
garb in which blue predomined-blue
stripes, a blue felt hat, blue laeipgs in
her blouse. She was black-haired
dark eyed, pink checked, and the pos
sesOr of a deep dlmple.
You must come with us for drive
Miss Faulkner said Carrie, promptly
go on, Maggie" said Mrs. Ransom
Dick stepped down, and Miss Faux
ner, with laughing word of depreca
ton, stepped up, then Dick drove on
Forgot the pickle receipt - Carrie
cried.
If Dick could have laughed with
them But he could not. His mooC
was almost sOlemn. He was not only
stiff with embarrassment, but he wal
startled. Had he ever seen her be-
fore? Where? 1t might have been il
some angelic vision. Miss Faulkner
was charming as she turned to hin
with faint blush, for the oddity of tn,
situation.
Pm rather unconventional to oom,
like this" she declared to Dick. jim
and Carrie have settled back to duet
But do love to drive"
you do ?" said Dick. He meant i
TO sound genial, but be knew it sounded
stiff.
81 think the roads about here ar,
beautiful" said Miss Faulkner. "Bu
the hOrrid names you call them ~ I've
heard of the Crab road and the ole
Cider Mill road"
"ADd the Josiah Hinckley road. ,
Dick managed to add.
II should think you'd call this thu
Rick Rack road" she said scanning
its winding length.
"Dick laughed. If only the blood
had not gone ti1gling into his face the
next minute 1t was the recollection
that Miss Faulkner had been twice to
Europe, which made it.
Aunt Mary thinks there's no place
like Norwood" said Miss Faulkner
brightly. ut is very pretty"
mot so very" said Dick.
Her blue sash blew into his lap, and
he did not know what to do about it
But it is" said Miss Faulkner
'Are there many young people ?"
mot very many" said Dick.
He wished Carrie and Jim would
help him out, but they were fathom.
deep in a lOw-toned dialogue.
II think should know" said Miss
Faulkner, whispering and smiling
that your sister was engaged, even i
l hadn't heard it,"
TITS plain enough" said Dick.
If she were not so stylish, 30 rich
hadn't been abroad so frequently
And if he were not haunted by that
queer notion of having seen her be
fore.
IF / didn't bring my book along =
she calculated, thumbling her hitherto
forgotten pamphlet. "a silly little
thing was reading in a hammock
regular hammock novel-'Molly'i
Lovers Molly has six frantic lover,
so far, and Pm expecting a seventh
every minute"
Why couldn't he think of something
to rejoinP He should think of the
right thing later, he knew. He flickeC
the horse, and thought of saying some
thing of the length of her visit, bu
that brought to mind the imposing
glOries to which she would return
Rich, stylish, travelled, and Dick had
never been farther than Harrington
in his honest healthy life. But h,
mastered courage for desperate ina
effort.
"Havn't 1 seen you before I' he sale
rather bluntly.
"MeP Where" said Miss Faux
ner.
THAT'S what 1 don't know" he said
lamely. but thought-why-some
howl don't know can't explain il
Maybe never have"
He expected no reply to that STAN
mering attempt, and got none. Mis-
Faulkner sat quiet, as though discour
aged and exhausted at last. An
Dick-pOOr Dick He wished that b
was sOmewhere-Anywhere else; tina
he knew enough to say boo to a goose
that he had never been born. Wha
must she think of him ? That he was
tOngue-tied rural gawk
He cast an affrighted glance at he
sitting demure and lovely. He wa
almost in love with her he knev
that. In love with her Well, hi
misery was strangely complete. Hal
an hour ago he had been phlegmati
cally serene. Now
"Look !" Carrie cried, miraculousl
rOusing hersalf. "Wild roses Jim, q
and get some this instant. Dick, toe
You want some, don't you, Mis-
Faulkner?"
"Oh, yesp Miss Faulkner cried AN
took the lines from Dick.
"You shall have all / get, he muir
INJURED Rnxiously.
Jim followed him, aud Carrie 70
lowed Jim.
II know they'll overlook that prett
est spray-Just for a minute, Mis-
Faulkner she said.