South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1893-09-28

shrewdly us Yankee"
The train had started by this time and
Hastings changed his position slightly,
SO that he could hear better.
The first girl looked at him cautiously,
but with interest. 81 say, Clara" she
ventured, "he has pretty eyes, hasn't he
for a man2 Blue is dangerous
color, they say, but he looks as safe as
life preservcr, doesn't hcf
MIR. Hastings became very much iuter-'
csted in his novel.
For goodness sake, don't let him see
you looking Mt him, warned the other
girl, as she gazed intently upon the up
holstering Of the seat in front of her.
'1f We want to talk about him-and
there isn't anything else to talk about
we've got to appear absorbed in some
thing else. Now, wait, and I'll look out
of the window beyond him, and while
gaze at the scenery I'll take him in"
The first girl concluded she would
look at the scenery also, and Hastings
concluded he would look at the girls. He
did 30, and on the instant three pairs
of conscious eyes looked elsewhere.
'.My," exclaimed the first girl, "what
did he ever look around for2"
"Wanted to see US, of COURSE" was
the logical reply. ale has probably
seen this scenery until he is tired of LOOK
ing at it,"
~'rll venture he hasn't seen himself
until he is tired of looking at himself, =
said the first girl. Ibid you notice.
what little feet he hasf Pretty patent
feathers, too. Do you know" she vent
on, "that big-brained men have big feet,
and vice versa2"
Mr.. Hastings wished ear.ily that hs
wore No: IA large. He was about TO
drag his feet in out of sight, but bS.
thought himself in time, and let the
patent feathers lie there heIpiessly before
tho criticism of his company.
II suppose there are exceptions" said
the other girl, apologetically.
"Oh. of course, but whether he is one
or not have no means of judging. See
II you can find out what book he is read
ing"
In spite of himself Mr.. Hastings
moved, and in moving the book was
turned SO that the girls could not see the
title.
They looked at each other question
ingly.
Mr.. Hastings was absolutely uncon-
SclOuS OF tne1r existence.
''Pshaw" exclaimed the first girl,
"what did he do that for? He wears u
diamond ring on his first finger. See2
Kind of cluster, too. Wha: wretched
taste. Men in France have such horrid
taste in dress, anyway. Now, look ut
that oravat. Maroon. Whoever heard
Of maroon cravat to match blue eyes?"
MIR. Hastings wondered what he was
there for, but didn't dare say anything.
'They ought to have their clothes
made in America" suggested the other
girl.
"Or marry American wives" amended
the first girl.
."Not any for me-" contended the other
girl. ''It's bad enough to have an
AmcEcan for husband, and foreigner
is simply past considering"
''But if he has title?"
''Quite the same, quite the same.
What money I have can be expended
much more to my satisfaction than in
buying title with it; unless it is title
to productive real estate"
Mr. Hastings ventured glance at the
PRONUNCIATION of such unexpected senti-
ments. She was undeniably handsome,
and be wanted to look longer, but he
dared not.
The other girl gav. a slight sniff.
"Pshaw," she said, '.he smokes cigar.
ettea."
''That's a misfortune rather than a
fault, explained the first girl, and Mr..
Hastings subsidized into the corner. "It
Is weakness thut We should pity, rs
as we condemn the man who
sells the cigarettes"
'Tll not discuss the question:" said
the other girl. "What interests me
more is how he can keep those whiskers
sharpened down to such a point, with
out jabbiDg holes in his shirt front, as
he sits there crouohcd down like that
picture Of his illustrious countryman,
N. Bonaparte. ESQ.,"
Mr.. Hastings was forced to smile, but
he kept his eyes on his book.
"The mean thing" exclaimed the FIRST
girl. "he's laughing at something in that
book. I'll bet cookie he wouldn't
dare to read it to us. Those French
novels are horrid."
TITS all right for men to read them
though" moralized the other girl. "It
doesn't hurt the men, no matter how
bad they are, but it would be better for
us girls not to read them, and still it
doesn't seem to make the men any less
fit companions for us, does it2"
Mr.. Hastings veutured another peer,
shut up the book, dropped it on the seat
next to him, and fixed himself for nap.
The first girl took quick glsuce at
the volume. 1t was one of Jules Verne's.
"Wby," she exclaimed, ''look at that.
IT'S as harmless as spoonful of parcgoric.
guess he must be regular mammals
boy"
Evidently she was disappointed in
either Mr.. Hastings moral tone or her
own lack Of judgment in her original
conclusion regarding his tastes.
1T is o pity" condoled the other girl,
that he isn't quite up to the standard.
But don't be basty. Hes fixed himself
FOR nap, and we'll sec il he snores.
Goodness gracious, snore from that
classic nose would be a sacrilege"
eff be snores." said the first girl,
stamping her foot, "I'll lose all respect
Tor him. The idea Of a man snoring,
and young man, too, is simply prepos-
tcrous. Just look at that lovely nous
sSche, Clara; he is so proud of it that he
can't even hide it under that newspaper
when he is asleep"
Hastings gave little start as the train