The Lamar register., 1892-01-09
A WOMAN Halter.

why. yes. you may Introduce me
some time; but remember. old fellow.
am not down here for anything but
a holiday, and that implies fishing.
rowing. tramping-not helping some
girl over the rocks, dancing. tennis
and daudling. even with your pretty
cousin. You know | left aIrtations
when | left college"
Having thus delivered himself.
Robert Warren waited for his friend.
Jack Manning 10 assure him for the
twentieth time that his cousin Lucia
Was girl OF common sense; not n
co4uet;e. bat q cultivated, in.elli-
gent
Robert interrupted Neither do |
care TO talk philosophy, poetry or the
origin OF species with an intellectual
Boston maid" D."
That : enough interrupted Jack.
Lucia viii have plenty of attention
without demanding any Of you" And
the two young mon strolled of the
yernHdA
Fortunately or unfortunately. tho
object OF thcso remarks was sitting
behind tho closed blind Of window
directly behind the young men. so she
could not help hearing what her
cousin and his friends said
Roberts sentiments were not now
to herr 50 instead OF being annoyed
che ouly smiled aud her eyes shown
with sudden mischief
Jack had talked with her about
Robert Warren since they were cnums
together at Harvard She knew more
OF his record as an athlete and society
man there thnn a scholar. though
since that his honors at a German
university were enough 10 satisfy any
demands and his first year o, practic-
ing Law was most brilliant
Now 1t WAS August and he had come
10 spend month with his old chum.
who was with various relatives at one
OF the large hotels on one OF thc
loyelIest OF the Main islands
Whea Robert came in to dinner
with Jack. an hour later he was sur
prissd TO SEQ that Lucia was 80 young
and 20 really beautiful
He had made up his mind that he
should meet q tall dirk. sclt-possessed
society young woman Of about -
while the girl he now met was very
fair. polite with fluffy yellow hair
chtd-like blue eyes dimpled cheelSs
and a mischievous smiling mouth
She appeared about 49, in fact she
WAS %
Robert felt little piqued that she
did not seem to notice him IN tho
leas. after her cordial little bow, and
Il am very glad to meet you but
chaited away In her merry way TO a
young fellow sitting next to her
Most young women would have
looked al 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 a hop at the
hotel and as he camo in from tho
piazza he met Lucia as she came down
stairs with her mother and this same
young man whom he had seen at din
nar. aud who had been presented to
him as Mr.. Perkins
Lucia was radiant Her checks
were flushed and her eyes were shin
ing. She was very simply dressed in
white tulle that floated around her
like a cloud She carried pink roses
and Robert was aware of their faint
perfume as She passed him.
He turned TO look after her. How
gracefully she walked! How charm
Iuy her neck rose from her shoulders
and how sunny was tho beautiful hnirl
The next week was spent as he
hrs, wished. in rowing. fishing and
canoeing. Whenever he was at the
hotel he saw Lucia surrounded by ad-
xU
ed 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 he went to take a seat be-
hind a pile of the stone Ia Ais surprise
he found Lucia there. His step
startled her and she hastily arose TO
her feet. do not let me lntrude, he
stammored. and started to go back.
She insisted that he should stay,
and before they knew 1t they were
talking together like old friends.
Then they walked home by moonlight
Robert could never forget her beauty.
She wore some light tieecy scarf
about her shoulders. one end of which
was carelessly caught upon her hair.
When they reached the hotel JACK
met them, saying: IL have great
news for you. Perkins brother has
ius, anchored his yacht in the harbor
and starts Monday for two weeks
cruise. He wants us to join his party.
There Will only be a half dozen-he.
his two sisters. his brother, you Rob
ert and Lucia, and mother to matron-
ize us
oh, how lovely," exclaimed Lucia.
or course / should like nothing better
than to GO. "And you Robert
questioned Jack
Thank you. As your guest, l shall
be pleased to 60" he replied, but
there was no warmth in his tone. 10
tell the truth he was thinking what n
fine opportunity this was for Perkins
TO monopolizo Lucia. Probably they
would become engaged he thought
bitterly
He saw no more OF her the next day
than before. She seemed necessary
TO so many peoples happiness. and
rf