Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1892-04-02
WAS He A WOMAN HATERs


sonr time; but remember, old fellow, |
am not down here for anything but
holiday, and that implies fishing rowing,
trainping-not helping some girl over the
rocks, dancing, tennis, and daudling,
even with your pretty cousin. You
know | left flirtations when l left col
lege."
Having thus delivered himself, Robert
Warren waited for his friend, Jack Man
ming, to assure him for the Goth time that
his cousin Lucia was a girl of common
sense; not coquette, but cultivated,
Intelligent
Robert interrupted.
Neither do l care to talk philosophy,
poetry, or the origin Of species with an
intellectual Boston maid"
That's enough" interrupted Jack.
Lucia will have plenty of attention
without demanding any of you. And
the two young men strolled off the ver-
anda.
Fortunately or unfortunately, the OBJ
jcct of these remarks was sitting behind
the closed blind of window directly be-
hind the young men, so she could not
help hearing what her cousin and his
friend had said.
Roberts sentiments were not new to
her; 50, 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 his rec
ord as an athlete and society man than
as a scholar, though since that his hon
ors at German university were enough
to satisfy any demands, and his first year
of practicing law was most brilliant.
She knew that since his graduation
from Harvard he had inherited fortune
t|iat he had never dreamed would b" his,
and that before this he had been more
deeply in love with & irl than he would
knowledge; she had thrown him over
for a rich fellow, and had always re-
rr".ted it.
Lucia knew that Robert was handsome
,Iv had seen his picture). and now sho
ila,' heard his deep, low, rich voice. She
also knew that he had been plotted for
by many a match making mamma, as
we'll as by willing daughters, This only
NAL" him withdraw more surely from
inrir;v and devote himself to his law, his
.od and his gun.
Now it was August. and he had come
l. spend a month wit his old chum, who
vas with various relatives, at one Of tho
lr e hoicls on one of the lovelicst of tho
N::iue islands.
When Robert came into dinner wifi,
Ja.'k, an hour later he was surprised to
3',. tIiat Lucia was SO young and 50 really
beautiful.
He had made up his mind that he
hnuld meet tall, dark, self possessed
sori-ty young woman of about "a, whilo
the girl he now met was very fair, petite,
with fluffy yellow hair, childlike blue
eyes, dimpled cheeks, and mischievous,
smiling mouth. She appeared about IS;
in fact she was 90.
Robert felt little piqued that she did
not seem to notice him in the least, after
her cordial little bow. and II 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
Mt him, Robert reflected; yet he tried to
make himself think he was very glad this
one would give him so little trouble.
That night there was a hop at the ho-
tel. and as he came in from the piazza he
met Lucia as she came downstairs with
her mother, and this same young man
whom he had seen at dinner, and who
had been presented to him as Mr. Per-
kins.
Lucia was radiant. Her cheeks were
flushed, and her eyes were shining. She
was very simply dressed in white tulle
that fioated 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 charming
her neck rose from her shoulders, and
how sunny was her beautiful hair
Robert turned and walked to the cor
ner of the piazza that he had just left,
and watched the dance. The large dining
room had been cleared for the dance and
few couples were circling over the
shining floor to the music of one OF
Strauss's waltzes. The music brought
back memories of that last classday
dance, when he was waltzing with the
girl he thought he loved, but who, thank
fortune, he was well rid of, and who was
now trying to win him back.
He saw Lucia as she floated by in young
| Perkins's arms. How different was her
face from that other ones! Bah! His
, life was not to be concerned with any
more pretty faces, no matter how limo.
cent and pure they looked His dancing
| LAYS were over. too. So he flung away
| his cigar and went to his room.
The next week was spent as he first
! Whenever he was at the hotel he saw
! Lucia surrounded by admirers. but it was
| Perkins .i,G seemed to be favored by her
| smiles. She was cordial to Robert. but
never seemed to take the slightest inter,
! est in him.
! One esening Robert walked to the cliff
! rl,iit suns t for the beautiful sea view.
! As he went to take Il seat behind piIeOt
10 stone. to his surprise he found Lucia
.:.'r2. Ills step startled her and sii-
! l.asliIy POSE to her feet.
! : 4 IN listed that he should stay, and
=, ore he knew it they were talking to.
! ,.ntu:r ike old friends. Then they
! :, ;,in. Il l,'me by moonlight.
| !: .rt aoiiII never tor,,et her beauty
| '',. .ni'' s,ita light, f,.evy scarf about
! .'"r s,, ull y. one end Of which was
""t. c2ught upon her i,air.