The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1895-05-23
remember qaise distinctly what was

1 remember qaiec distinctly what was
said
| How beautiful everything is" l
murmured in semi-rapturous manner,
casting my eyes around the horizon,
and finally letting them rest upon her,
| for really she was the prettiest thing
in sight.
Perfectly lovely, isn't it?' she re-
sponded in the highly original manner
of young women whose impetuosity
and appreciation are always so largely
in excess of their command of Ian
guage, in quality, at least, if not in
4 quantity.
Are there many men at the Spa this
year," l asked, casually letting the
curtain fall on the scenery for the time
| being.
"Why," she answered pettishly,
don't you know, there really isn't any
one here at all" she hesitated mo-
ment-'of course except Harry, and
Harry is just too lovely for any use"
Thank heaven!" thought, lit isn't
Charlie, anyway" Then, turning to
her:
And who is Harry, pray?" I asked,
with the second cold and clammy
clutch at my heart l had experienced
during my brief stay at the Spa.
"Why, Mr.. VIVIAN" she exclaimed,
''don't you know Harry? But of course
you don't. He's from London, and has
never been in this country before. But
he is the most charming man. I'm
sure you will fall in love with him
when you see him. l did. Oh, no."
| she cried, catching herself and laugh
| ing, ''of course, l don't mean that.
You know what / mean" this very APP
pealingly.
"Oh, certainly" I replied. 81 know
exactly, but it occurs to me that this
Harry, as you call him, has captured
your feeting and shy young heart, Miss
Stewart"
l shouldn't have said it in the tone I
| did, perhaps, but l had done it, and
saw at once that had made disas-
| trous mistake. Miss Stewart resented
my manner and utterly refused to say
another word about the man, and the
only conclusion left me was that Harry
and Charlie were partners, and had
gone away together. Whether that
was the solution or not, | was lefti n
the dark, and Miss Stewart got me
back to the hotel as soon as she could
| politely do so, and another golden,
glorious opportunity, l was forced to
conclude, had gone glimmering among
the things that were.
That afternoon [ walked about the
shaded lawn seeking some sort of sol
ace until evening, when l could see
one of the other young women l wanted
to see, and quite unexpectedly | came
upon Miss Harmon in hammock read
ing a book. Of course there were no
other men around, and under those
circumstances, knew | would be more
entertaining to her than any book that
was ever written-men always are
when they are scarce-and, apologizing
for my intrusion, asked permission to
join her party. 1t was granted, as l
knew it would be, and l sat down
where | could look into her eyes if
necessary, and we began talking;
about the book first, of course, then
about the Spa, then about the people
generally, then about the men there,
or not there, rather.
ITS horribly provoking" she said,
that so few men are here. We could
have a perfectly lovely time if we only
had enough to go around"
I'm sure" / responded, "I'll do all
l can to assist in going around"
That's very good of you, I'm sure"
Are men SO very few?" | asked.
I've heard of two charming fellows
who have been here"
'Oh, tell me who they are?" and she
sat bolt upright in the hammock.
No" l said; Il won't tell you. They
have given me trouble enough al
ready"
LET me see" she half soliloquized;
81 don't know who you can mean.
Fred has been here, but he went away
yesterday"
Great Caesar, another! And they
told me men were scarce. / wonder
what summer girl calls scarce"
Who's Fred?" l asked, abruptly.
''Oh," she blushed. Fred is the
most delightful men l ever met. He is
SO refined and elegant and is such a
gentleman, and is so thoughtful al
ways, and reads poetry beautifully.
He
He" continued for her, appears
to have made a conquest of your ten
der and diffident young heart, Miss
Harmon and | laughed one of those
laughs you will seldom hear outside of
stage villain, who stabs people with
irony rather than dagger.
Whatever the weapon was l used on
that unfortunate occasion hurt Miss
Harmon very much, for she left the
hammock in a huff, and, incidentally,
left me alone also, and if she had not
| forgotten her book in her haste don't
know what | should have done out
there by myself, for there is nothing
quite SO impressively lonesome looking
as a man by himself, unless it is
woman.
read Miss Harmon's bool1--it was q
novel by THE Duchess" think what
must have suffered-until it was time
to dress for dinner, then l fred the
book and went to my room.
dined with Miss Hertone, and after
dinner we moved away to a pleasant