The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1894-01-17

by ali means.
The traveller handed his well worn va
lise, his oyercoat, checks, umbrella and
cane to the servant, and the two young
men started onward at a swinging pace.
It was a late August day-warm and
stiIl. Just as they left the station steps
a village cart containing 8 couple OF
ladies came whirling along the sandy
road. The horse wore a gold plated har-
ness, and the ladies' toilets gave an. I'M
preston of elegance which was shared
by even the slim, straight whip dec
Grated with narrow streamer Of pale
blue ribbon. The occupants of the cart
bowed graciously to Craig IN spite OF
their apparent haste to reach the station.
The young man lifted his straw hat,
and his friend Of course performed the
same ceremony.
esWho>are theys' he asked as one Of
the two alighted and entered the tele-
graph Office.
..LuciIle Eliot and her friend" was
the answer.
mighty good looking girls, was the
careless remark of Forsyth as he and
his host struck across the sandy high
way toward the beach, against which
the summer sea broke in slow. caressing
npples-
.sYes," was the thoughtful rejoinder;
..they seem between them to unite most
Of the attractions Of womanhnd One
or the other might suit even you, For
syth-unless," with quick glance. s3you
have left your heart in Germany with
some Of those placid frauleins.
"No." said Forsyth in an Indifferent
way. Eve seen very little of ladies'
society these past three years.
He lifted his hat as he espoke and faced
the cool salt air and the shining sea
with a tired travellers weary satisfac-
ton.
.You never were oversentimental
about girls, laughed Craig, ''even in our
sophomore days. doubt If you've ever
been genuinely in love"
..No, and l never shall be-but once
and the time hasn't come YET" was the
rejoinder.
The two young men were near the
same height and weight, but had no
other point of resemblance. Victor For
syth was dark, intellectual, refined look
ing. He had gray eyes, never intended
though they were handsome eyes-for
mdiscriminate service in loyemaking.
He wore his full dark beard in German
fashion, and the white hand with which
he chanced to stroke it as he gazed of
over the shining sea was hand for ges-
ture, for persuasion or commando hand
which had soul in its nervous lines.
Craig was handsomer in more com
monplace way. His older sisters mad
dubbed him .'girl runner" at fifteen.
He was the 'emasher" par excellence OF
his college class. Attwenty-fve he was
still so fascinating with his elegant fig
ure, his large blue eyes and exquisite
golden mustache that his pert little
Cousin Clare had declared only that
morning that any girl who married
Alan might expect to share him with
womankind in general, adding that fol-
her part she believed in monopoly in the
marriage contract. All Of which meant
that Clare in her way was also in love
with her cousin.
Craig and Forsyth walked slowly
along the beach. They had been great
ehums, and they did not dream that The
three years of separation which had fol
lowed their graduation from college had
brought any changes which could affect
their friendship. Nothing indeed could
do that unless it was love affair. II
was perhaps the consciousness Of this
which caused Craig's abrupt question
concerning the state Of Forsyth's affec.
tions.
.sThis is q sort of lotos land, Alan,
was the newcomers remark presently,
.seBlank ocean and mere sky'-that Is
what I've been longing for. lam wearied
out with people and things. How I shall
enjoy this emptinesstwith you!"
A quizzical smile crossed Craig's face
'Weu, certainly we are not crowded
here at the beach. But suspect you'll
have to admit good deal besides 'blanh
ocean and mere sky into your life dur
ing the next month or so-duck shoot
ing, for instance. .
s.Have you houseful of company
Forsyth inquired, with a sort of dis
may.
.Wel, my married sisters friend.
keep coming and going, and my Cousi1
Cla1e-you remember herAshe is thu
Miss Craig now, and more terrible
child at eighteen than she was at fifteen
But the worst of it is, Victor" addee
Alan, with sudden seriousness, "you ane
are the only men in the family, and
we can't expect much time of duty"
ssThen society has even invaded tht
lonely strip of coastr was the mournful
comment.
s.Bless me, man, how else came the
railroad and telegraph, and the villas