The National tribune., 1894-09-27
\ SUMMERTIME
ROMANCE.
About a Girl, Man, and a Naive
BY PAN"

:
across the sand, bearing the brunt of the sun:
herceness on one side, while he protected his
little friends iii the pool on the other
The Girl sat on the other, as quiet and still
as the anemones III the pool, her hands folded
IN her lap, her eyes idly watching boat max
| ing its way across the blue waters, apparently
| to the very spot where she was sitting
The Man was in the boat He was rowing
jerkily, stopping every now and again to in
spect the coast. During one of these inspec-
tions he caught sight of the Girls white sun
| bonnet. He breathed a sigh of thankfulness.
"A Native at last, thank goodness I'll
! see if can get any sense out of her."
lie was very warm and very cross, and the
Girl saw it as he jumped out and drew his
boat up, and was amused thereby, though no
trace of her amusement showed itself in her
face. She looked at him unconeemedly, a
trifle haughtily it seemed, but it may have
been that the curves of her lips gave her o
naughty expression at all times
The Man sauntered up to her, struggling
into his blazer the while.
Can you tell me the name of this inf
this place" he asked curtly, not troubling to
remove his cap.
She looked at him from his toes upward
and being tall he began to feel uncomfortable
long before her eyes had reached his face
. | can, she said slowly. He waited for
more, but no more came.
''Then will you" he asked "Can't you
see Pm in devil of hurry?"
The Girl looked away over the glittering
water and smiled tiny, maddening smile.
Yes, " she said, {" can, and / suppose that
is what has made you so angry"
"Contound the girl" he broke out, rudely,
" if it is that you won't give any information
unless you are paid for it, why on earth don't
you say SO 2"
Her eyes were full of laughter now, though
her face was cold and stern, but she kept her
head bowed, so that to the Man nothing was
visible but the outline of a round, pink cheek,
and cluster of little dark curls, struggling
out from under her bonnet.
" II you had asked me civilly would have
told you at once -
The Man took off his cap with an elaborate
bow. "Will you oblige SO insignificant n
person rs myself he said, mockingly, "by
informing me of the name of this cove, Miss
Miss -
" Doris Carew," the Girl answered, looking
up at him with little triumphant sparkle in
her eyes, land this is TremeIlen cove. 1t be-
longs to my father, and l am waiting here for
some friends we have asked to picnic here to-
day. And you?"
II am friend of the Martyrs was
to have met them here. II believe you
were so kind as to include me. But-but u
All here are the servants with the pro-
visions, and there is a boat load of my friends
coming round the point
She began to move quickly away, then
stopped and looked at the Man
Then she held out her hand with smile
that drove all the haughtiness from her face.
We will forget our first meeting" she
said kindly, and imagine we have only Just
met. am very glad TO see you. Your mis-
take was all the fault of this bonnet of mine.
All my friends know me and my bonnets
but OF course, to stranger they are q relic of
the dark ages. ;" And she gave it a little vim
dictive push back off her face
'tsAes, confound the thing" thought the
Man. not having soul enough OF sense enough
to see that it was beyond any other, the most
becoming headgear she could have worn.
Then they went off to superintend the tea
arrangements, and the Girl by her tact soon
set the Man at his ease so that by the time
the loaded boat drew in to the shore they were
to all appearances, quite friendly, and the
Man not disinclined to put on airs before these
newcomers and pretend to greater friendli-
ness than existed
She Is deuced pretty, after all, " he said
to himself not at all bad for the country.
Of course, she has no style, and can't dress
but i don't at all mind that unaffected sort of
girl once in way. I've good mind to get
up flirtati0n." He looked at her as she
stood calling to the people in the boat, the
soft breeze from the sea Just raising the
curls Oh her forehead, her face flushed
little. her eyes flashing and sparkling. ''By |
Jove, though, | must be careful, for / might |
have no end of bother when | leave; those |
dark-eyed girls are the deuce and all when |
they are in love with chap
Just at this moment a man came Chamber |
ing down path through the rocks into the |
cove-a tall, 1.-the man, with fair curly hair, |
and plain, goOd-tempercd face
Another Native, suppose thought the |
Man. They aren't bad set to look at; of |
course, there's no knowing what figure they'd |
cut in town. What cap and blazer! By |
Jove I'd be ashamed to wear them, even |
down here"
Aid he looked complacently down over |
himself and fiicked off a diminutive fly, whose |
tiny black body was marring the effect of the |
new whites. But when he looked again he |
saw that the Native had two oars on his very |
shabby cap.
''An old Blue D." he commented more re-
spectfully; ''well, Pm blessed if | know how |
a man of that sort can stand this sort of |
thing"
He referred to the country, the company,
the entertainment, and spoke as a fellow |
martyr.
He'll be quite thankful to have some one |
from town to talk to-
The Girl, turning round from welcoming
her friends, saw the Native coming towards !
her. The little cry she gave was expressive |
and full of meaning but it was utterly be-
yond the Mans comprehension; he only saw
her stepquickly up to the Native and give him
her hand.
- am SO glad you have come"
"YOu knew | should.H
That was ALL The Native looked at the
Girl, the Girl blushed little, the Man saw
nothing, he placed himself beside the Girl and
bored her unutterably, nor did he see that
either.
There were several girls there, some pretty
some plain, some simply dressed, others re-
minding one painfully of London and fashion
plates.
The Man allowed himself to be attracted by
one of these after time, and found, when
the conversation reached London, that they
had much in common.
Probably he would have relinguished his
cruel designs on the peace of mind of the Girl
if it had not been that when wandering along,
wondering how much longer
: thesa npoDla ara srnny to stav tara ba |