The Colfax chronicle., 1895-07-06

I remember quite distinctly what was /,
said.
"How beautiful everything is" II
murmured In asemi-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
quantity.
Are there many men at the Spa this
year?" 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 heavenI' thought, lit isn't
Charlie, anyway" Then, turning to
her:
"And who is Harry, pray?" ! 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, 'of course, don't mean that.
| You know what mean," this very ap-
pealingly.
"Oh, certainly" replied. II know
exactly, but it occurs to me that this
Harry, as you cali him, has captured
your feeting and shy young heart, Miss
| Stewart"
shouldn't have said it in the tone l
did, perhaps, but had done 1t. and
saw at once that had made a 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, was forced to
conclude, had gone glimmering among
the things that were.
That afternoon l walked about the
shaded lawn seeking some sort OF sol
ace until evening, when I could see
one of the other young women 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. It was granted, as l
knew it would be, and l 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.
'.It's horribly provoking" she said,
that SO few men are here. We could
have perfectly lovely time If we only
had enough to go around"
I'm sure" 1 responded, "Pll do all
1 can to assist in going around"
That's very good of you, I'm sure. I"
Are men so very few?" 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; II 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 Cesar, anotherl And they
told me men were scarce. wonder
what a summer girl calls. scarce"
who's Fred?' asked, abruptly.
"Oh," she blushed. Fired is the
most delightful men 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 1 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 it is q
| voInau