Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-08-10
AND THE SUMMER GIRL
FWITTERS BY TEE Sea.
BY W. ]. HAMPTON.

Written Exclusively for The Evening Star.
Good night" said Brent, as we separ-
ated.
found sympathy.
pleasant Dreams" said he.
"Confound all women" said I.
"Alas. NV easily a woman can make a
fool of man. said he.
"Or two men," said I.
Ethyl Lynn was by far the prettiest
summer girl at the shore, and she lived
about a mile down the beach from the
hotel where was spending a month and
all my spare cash.
I was strolling along the sand in the
purple and blue twilight toward her cot
tage, when I was overtaken by Frank
Brent, man had had a real admiration
for, until I heard Miss Lynn go into rap
lures over him one day when I 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 think admirable, but in this in
stance I seemed to have departed from my
| usual custom.
However, as I was saying, Mr.. Brent
overlook me on my stroll, and as 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 leisurely twilight walk.
Good evening, Mr.. Hite," he said, tip
ping his hat with the grace that made him
favorite with all women.
"Ah, Mr.. Brent" I 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
were friendly enough for that sort of IA
mliarity and he caught step with me as
we moved along.
What delightful evening"" l said,
land how soft the air?''
Yes 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 invidiouS little chill which
seems to be an essential of the salt air of
the sea-"
Il have noticed that myself 1 said,
pleased to. think he was so observant, for
l admire observant people.
III is the time for poetry and lovers
rhapsodies." l. ventured.
He laughed.
There is idea in that" he said.
Then 1 laughed also.
There IS in everything I say" I said,
bowling with mock superiority.
or course, of course; but as I was about
to elUcidate 1t never occurred to me be-
fore TO have the meteorological conditions
coincide with the emotional, and l never
have considered atmospheric currents in
connection with the composite currents of
two thu obhiDg hearts. l see now, though,
the advantages of a soft, sweet, caresslng
| lard breeze as compared with the clanlmy
| dampness of breeze just off the salt wa
ter"
ut is a beautiful thought" responded
proud of the suggestion I hads given him
on which he had based SO remarkable a
inclusion.
Yes he laughed lightly, land the land
breeze doesn't make a girls nose cold,
either, and her hands don't feel like day
before ye: terday's biscuits in the gloam-
ing, as they do when the sea breeze
sweeps its salty SAVIOR in"
Notwithstanding Brent was becoming
brilliant, 1 blushed painfully. for some
where out of my memory, like the ghost of
something, came the thought of a cold
my cheek, and 1 remembered that it was
rot land breeze blowing at the moment
of contact
You treat those things with too much
levity, old man, said in tone of friend
ly reproof. Love is a sacred thing, and
the matters you refer to are incidents of
that sacred experience"
Il presume you are right" he said, as
he carelessly flipped the ashes from his
cigar But how does ii happen that you
are strolling on the beach alone?"
And you?" l replied. turning upon him.
"Oh, I'm with YOU" he laughed.
and 1 am well accompanied"
bowed.
But what are men to men under the twi-
light stars?" he almost chanted.
This was touching a subject I was not
anxious to dwell upon, as 1 expected to
take Miss Lynn out for moonlight walk,
and I NEST enphatically did not want Mr..
Brent to be OF the party SO Sc. hedged.
be perfect companions to each other even
under the most romantic auspices"
Possibly a man might be SO to you."
laughed Mr.. Brent, but not to me. For
me, moonlight. music, maids and
.MuSh," l interrupted.
"Ah, mush, indeed" he sighed, with his
eyes rolled heavenward, but better than
any pie that ever pleased palate"
Brent was getting silly.
How far are you going down the
beach," 1 asked rather suddenly, for at
this point we were only a quarter Of
mile from Miss Lynn's cottage, and want
ed to get Brent turned in some other direc-
ton.
'Oh, not very far he said, rather super
ciliorsly, thought, as if l had 10 right to
ask him such a question.
Far 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.
THE beach is a public highway, to all
intents and purposes Mr.. Brent" I re-
piled. with frigidity. land I presume you
can go as far as it extends"
"And still further, doubt" he saii,
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 1
stopped.
"Are you going back?' he sneered
mot just at present.
you might go over to Miss Lynn's cot
tage and rest awhile he suggested
81 had thought of going there I said
as indifferently as I could but knew he
could see that there was more in what /
said than 1 wanted him to know.
II presume you would have no objection
to my going with you and obtaining a
much-needed rest myself would you?"
Certainly not" 1 replied, and he seemed
to think better of me, but Miss Lynn
might.
"And why Miss Lynn, pray?"
Really. Mr.. Brent" said most sneer-
ingly, II cannot undertake to explain to
you why Miss Lynn is particular about
whom she associates with"
I thought this would crush him, but it
didn't.
Seeing that you are one of her associ-
ates, Mr.. Hite." and he swept scornful
salaam before me, II should think not
''Mr. Brent" I said. exasperated almost
beyond control for I saw he was bent
Upon interfering with my plans for the
evening, elf you will permit me to explain
will say to you that am here by de-
sign."