Orange County observer. [volume] (Hillsborough, N.C.) 1880-1918, 1896-09-10

Y -ch is more fashionable" than COM
=: only seen in unassisted nature.
So that I decided, after noticing
these things, her frowns in my direc-
ton, and her glaces at the old gentle
man, that she had designs upon the
owner of the handsome coat. and that
she was of the type that we are accus-
toned in England to call ''adventur-
esses."
The gentleman himself, however,
seemed to be as Unconscious OF her
presence az he was of mine. He hard
ly moved, and but for a slight snore
which issued from time to time from
the depths of HE wraps, he might have
passed for q figure from Nine. Tus-
saud's.
For the sake of watching my inter
esting fellow-passengerin the opposite
corner I pretended to be asleep also.
Drawing my cap over my eyes, l was
able to notice her very look and move
ment, and it became more and more
clear to me as we went along that her
attention was at least as much alb
sorbed by my companion as mine was
in herself.
She did. indeed, from time to time
cast at me one of those particularly
sly, eidelong glances which were
enough to stamp her as a dangerous
person; but / fancied that it was more
to see whether I was really asleep or
shamming than from any interest she
felt in my person.
1 grew excited, interested, anxious
for something to happen, as I felt
pretty certain would be the case. My
curiosity was disappointed, however,
for the minutes few by and the tram
ratified on, and when we stopped at
Shornclife Camp not one of us had
stirred from our respective positions.
Here two more travellers got into the
carriage, and their chatter during the
remaining few minutes that the jour
ney lasted diverted my attention from
my other fellow travellers.
On arriving at the pier the two
latest corners jumped out first, and the
next moment the face of the man SER
want appeared at the window.
The old gentleman had already risen
and taken his bag carefully down from
the rack. Then l saw, for the first
time, an intimation that he was as
suspicious of the designs of the attrac<
tive lady passenger as l was myself.
For he shot at her a furtive glance,
which seemed to imply that he was
thankful to be able to put his prop
erty out of her reach.
did he know her," thought I.
land had my presence alone stood be-
tween him and u scene of mutual re-
elimination?
A moment later I had got down my
self, and then turned to assist the lady
to alight.
But she was independent; she did
not take my hand she did not thank
me; she did not even speak. Per-
haps she was too much annoyed with
me for standing in the way of her de-
signs. At any rate, she brushed
brusquely past me. strobe along tho
platform, descended on the line and
crossed the gangway with an ability
and rapidity which made me wonder
whether she was following the old
| gentleman still.
A few moments later I discovered
this to be the case. We we're crossing
by one of the small, old boats 4 think
it was the Petrel), and the old gentle
man, learning that he could not get a
deck cabin, expressed to his servant
his intention Of remaining on deck.
But no sooner had he seated himself
on one Of the centre seats near the
cabin staircase than the girl in green
placed herself on a camp stool exactly
opposite.
He was lying down at full length,
with his bag under his head. But on
seeing the young woman arrive he
half started up and seemed to be look
ing around for his servant, who had
now retired.
Twas too far off to see more than
this, that, after staring about him 70,
q moment, ard again putting his HAND
app%rehensively on his bag, he lay
down again, with his head turned
away from her but I felt more sure
than ever that he was afraid of the cir
in green.
Again, however, nothing happened.
In the crowd at the bottom of thu
gangway, when we arrived IN Calais
l found myself jammed up against tn
old gentleman. who had his bag in one
hand, his rug yer the other arm, an
who was looking helplessly an,
%anxiousiy about him. At that momen
the girl in green, not far behind, agail
caught his eye. He turned to me sud
denly.
"Would YOU be so very kind" sal
he, apparently recognizing my face a
that of a fellow traveller, "as to hol
my bag while | get out my ticket? NJ,
servant is a bad sailor, andI am afrai,
the poor fellow wont turn up until
| have got ashore"
"C~ertainlv,' | said.
was hardly surprised by the re
quest. as he was evidently feeble an
greatly burdened by his heavy Goa
and rug. But what was my astonist
ment and CONSERVATION when, on al
| irving a few minutes later at the to
1 of the ncU IN the rear. as snr