The Van Buren press., 1895-06-08

2oDxY U3810s 00UM14Ay SYsseD8 -
curtain fall On tho scenery for the time
being.
.Why," she answered pettishly.
don't you know, there really isn't any
one here at ail-r she hesitated . mo
ment-"of course except Hurry, and
Harry Is just too lovely for any use.
THANK heavent' thought, lit isn't
Charlie. anyway" Then, turning to
her:
And who Is Harry. prsyr asked.
with the second cold and clammy
clutch at my heart 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. / did. Oh. no.
she cried. catching herself and laugh
ing, 'sof course, / don't mean that.
You know what mean," this very ap-
pealingiy.
.sOh. certainly replied. Il know
exactly. but it occurs to me that this
Harry. as yon call him. has captured
your fieeting and shy young heart, Miss
Stewart"
/ shouldn't have said 1t in the tone
did, perhaps. but l had done 1t and
saw at once that l 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
the dark, and Miss Stewart got me
back to the hotel as soon as she could
politely do 50. and another golden,
glorious opportunity, was forced 10
conclude. had gone gliEamering 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 wanted
to see. and quite unexpectedly | came
upon Miss Harmon in hammock read
ing q book OF course there were nc
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. apologizinR
for my intrusion, asked permission te
Join her party. It was granted, as
knew it would be. and | sat down
where | could look into her eyes II
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 perfectly lovely time If we only
had enough to go around
Tin sure.- I responded, "I'll do all
can to assist in going around
That's very good of you, I'm sure. :
Are men SO very few?" l asked.
1--WE heard OF two charming fellows
who have been here"
"Oh, tell me who they are?' and she
sat bolt upright In the hammock.
No." said; Il won't tell you. They
have given me trouble enough al
ready"
LET me see." she half soliloquized
II don't know who you can mean.
Fred has been here. but he went away
yesterday"
told me men were scarce. l wonder
what summer girl calls scarce"
Who's Fred?" l asked, abruptly.
''Oh," she blushed. Fired is the
most delightful men ever met. He is
30 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 difiident young heart, Miss
Harmon" and l 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 used on
that unfortunate occasion hurt Miss
Harmon very much. for she left the
hammock in 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 1t is a
woman.
read Miss Harmon's book-it was a
novel by 1.-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 pleasant
little corner of the piazza and sat
down.
"There is such lack of men here"
she sighed, regretfully, after we had
talked on lot OF subjects which re-
quire about minute and half each
TO have the interest talked out Of them.
II have found quite NUMBER"
said it reply, with a touch Of bitter
ness in my reply.
"You are more fortunate than have
been,' she laughed. ~ wish you would
tell me where they are"
Haven't you found any?"
"With one exception" she answered,
"they are perfect lot of sticks"
And the exception?' l quericd, with
heavy heart, for ! was wondering
who had come in before me here as
Charlie and Harry and Fred had pre-
ceded me elsewhere, confound the lot
of them.
"The leveliest man that ever came
into summer resortI' she exclaimed,