Bennington semi-weekly banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 1894-1902, 1895-12-27
A SUMMER COQUETTE.

profound sympathy.
pleasant dreams" said he.
"Confound MI womenv' said I.
"Alas, how easily a woman can make a
fool of n man., said he.
'.or two mon," said I.
Ethyl Lynn was by far tho prettiest
summer girl at the shore, and she lived
bout u mile down the beach from the
hotel where was spending month and
all my spare cash.
1 was strolling along the sand in the
purple and blue twilight toward her cot
tage when l was overtaken by Frank
Brent man had a real admiration for
until heard Miss Lynn go into rapturos
over him one day when 1 was doing my
best to make myself entertaining to her, if
nothing more.
Ordinarily I am pleased with any per-
sons good taste who agrees with me in
what l think admirable, but in this in
stance l seemed to have departed from my
usual custom.
However, as L was saying Mr. Brent
overlook me on my stroll and us L had an
engagement with Miss Lynn and felt easy
in my mind on that score l was rather
pleased than otherwise to have company in
my lcisurcly twilight walk.
Good evening, Mr.. Hite," he said tip
ping his hat with the grace that made
him favoEito with all women.
"Ah, Mr.. Brent" 1 smiled, chow do
you do? l am charmed to see you. l
hope you will Join me in my walk"
'With pleasure, my dear fellow" We
We're friendly enough for that sort of IA
miliarity, aud be caught step with me as
we moved along.
"What a delightful evoningr' said,
land how soft the airp'
Eyes. A land breeze is always delight
full when the days have not been too hot
There is an odor of flowers in it, and an
absence of that inyidious little chill which
seems to be an essential of the salt air of
the sea-"
Il have noticed that myself, said,
pleased to think that he was so observant,
for l admire obscryant people.
at is the time for poetry and lovers
rh&psodies, - ventured.
He laughed.
"There is an idea in that, he said.
Then l laughed also.
"Thero is in everything say" said,
DONluS WIFI lllOth superiority.
"Of course, of course, but as l was
about to elucidatc, it never occurred to me
before to have the meteorological condi-
tions coincide with the emotional, and 1
never have considered atmospheric cur
rents in connection with composite cur
rents Of two throbbing hearts, l see now,
though, the advantages of "A soft sweet,
carossing land breeze as compared with the
clammy dampness Of breeze just off the
salt water"
ut is a beautiful thought, " responded,
proud of the suggestion had given him
on which he had based so remarkable
conclusion.
Yes" he laughed lightly, "and the
land breeze docsn' t make girls nose cold
either, and her hands don't feel like day
before yesterdays biscuits in the cleaning
as they do when the sea breeze sweeps its
salty flavor in"
Notwithstanding Brent was becoming
brilliant l blushed painfully, for some
where out of my memory, like the ghost
of something, came tho thought of cold
nose that had once upon time felt touch
my check, and I remembered that it was
not land breeze blowing at the moment
of contact.
"You treat those things with too much
levity, old man." 1 said in tone of
friendly rcproof. "Love is a sacred thing,
and the matters you refer to are incidents
of that sacred experience.
81 presume you are right" he said as
he carelossly Tipped the ashes from his
cigar, "But how does it happen that you
are strolling on the beach alone?"
nj
him.
"Oh, I'm with you, he laughed.
"And am well accompanied, " bowed.
But what are men to men under the
twilight stars" he almost chanted.
This was touching subject l was not
anxious to dwell upon, as l expected to
take Miss Lynn out fora moonlight walk,
and l most emphatically did not want Mr..
Brent TO be of the party, so l hedged.
81 don't know" l said. II think men
can be perfect companions to each other,
even under the most romantic auspices. "
Possibly man might be so to you,"
laughed Mr.. Brent, "but not to me. For
me moonlight music, maids and
"Mushr' interrupted.
"Ah, mush indeed, " he sighed, with his
eyes rolled heavonward, "but better than
any pie that ever pleased palate.'
Brent was getting silly.
How far arc you going down the
beach?' 1 asked rather suddenly, for at
this point we were only a quarter of mile
from Miss Lynns cottage, and 1 wanted
to get Brent turned in some other direo-
ton.
"Oh, not very far, he said, rather SUI
l thought, as if l had no right
to ask him such question.
Ear enough, fancy" retorted
"And pray, Mr.. Hite, how far is far |
enough in your vocabulary" he respond |
ed in such manner as to provoke me all |
over.
1.-THE beach is public highway to all |
Intents and purposes, Mr.. Brent, L replied
with frigidity land presume you can go
as far as it extends"
"And still farther no doubt" he said, |
sarcastic as satan, eff it only extended |
over the rocks into the sea, and there was
deep water there and no life savers in
sight"
"As you prefer, Mr.. Brent, " and stop
ped.
care you going backP" he sneerod.
"Not just at present"
"You might go over to Miss Lynn's cot
tage and rest awhile" he suggested.
II had thought of going there" l said
as indfferently as l could, but knew no
could see more in what said than want
ed him to know.