The record-union., 1896-09-06
a SUMMER ENGAGEMENT.


neard MS name pronounced in tone of
surprise. He glanced quickly around.
Why, Mrs. Wilder!'
lady in black had started towards
MIN, and he hurried forward to meet
her.
How delightful" she said in a low
It's certainly delightful for me!'' he
laughed
When did you Gomez" She looked
very serious now. Hers was one of those
faces incapable of retaining more than
passing smile.
Last night. Didn't you hear me? 1
had a terrible time getting in
''Ah, it was you then?" She glanced
at the girl who stood behind her. This
is Mr.. Thomas, Edith. Miss Grant" she
added softly
After the usual explanation Of the way
In which they happened to find each
other in Marblehead, Mrs. Wilder
turned towards the ocean. Miss Grant
was just going to take me for a sail.
Perhaps she'll let you come too"
Il shall be delighted-if I am asked,
he replied, smiling at the girl.
Miss Grant did not speak for mo-
ment. Then, He can do the work,
she said. Can you manage a sail? IL
you can't" she went on, before he could
reply, iii teach you. We must make
you useful while you're here"
AS they walked slowly towards the
boathouse along the road that skirted
the sea, the conversation was chiefly
sustained by Mrs. Wilder and Thomas.
AT the wharf, You stay here with Mrs.
Wilder while / go for the sloop, SAID
Miss Grant, stepping into the tender
that she had united before Thomas
could help her. A moment later they
were watching her steadily pulling over
the waves.
Isn't she wonderful?' said Mrs. Will
der. 80 self-reliant and capable
She's the new woman" Thomas
laughed.
mo, you mustn't tell her that. She
says she detests the new woman. She
very feminine. You'll see that when you
know her better. She seems so different
in New York She's Marvin Grants
daughter, you know
"Only child, isn't she?' Thomas
asked, still watching her. She was rapid
ly nearing the yacht; her head turned
away from him and her arms kept their
rhythmic motion.
'sYes-but not bit spoiled. Her father
adores her. Her mother died i've years
ago-when she was at school, She went
home and took charge of the house as
if she'd done nothing else all her me-
They watched her till she reached the
sloop and, after tying the rowboat 10
the stern. had sprung on board.
.'Engaged?" said Thomas softly
Mrs Wilder glanced at him with a
smile and shook her head.
These capable girls marry late, i've
noticed he said.
After that sail Thomas felt as if he
we're well acquainted with Edith Grant.
Tn a week he felt as If he had known her
for wears. This was due to the frank
ness of her manner and their back
ground of common experiences and ac-
uuaintances in New York, as well as to
the quick intimacy of the summer life.
Two days after meeting they amused
themselves by trying to discover if they
had not seen each other before at
dances or afternoon receptions. Thom-
as declared that he had caught a
glimpse of her through a crowd of men
at one of Mrs. Creighton Dents crushes,
and Edith Grant was certain that she
had seen him looking very disconsolate
in doorway at one of the great balls.
He acknowledged that the picture was
convincing: at dances he was always
standing in doorways. You looked so
black and severe in your evening dress,
she said, smiling at his outstretched fig
ure in white fiannels on the deck. mot
a bit like you do now" she added, un-
conscious of the shock she was giving
him. That particular solecism usually
distressed him much more than it did
at this moment. however. The summer
life was lowering his standards.
Il think you must be very different,
too" he replied lazily, taking his pipe
from his lips and pressing the tobacco
with his thumb. She had told him that
her father always smoked pipe at
home. I'm fact, it's hard to imagine
YOU any other way" he went on point
ing with the mouthpiece at her yacht
ing suit IF / were an artist. I'd want
to paint you like this. You seem to
blend into an atmosphere
They were floating over the smooth
surface of the harbor, the waves softly
tapping the boat
Yes" she said after a while, II re-
ally do believe that this is my element.
I'm never so happy as / am in summer.
The only trouble''-she looked across
the water and waited a moment-"the
only trouble is that 1 have to be away
from Bob so long"
He glanced at her thoughtfully.
Who's Bob?" he said, gripping the pipe
between his teeth with his lips parted.
Il forgot that you didn't know. Why,
he's my father"
"Ohi"
yes, / always call my father Bob. i
caught it from my mother l suppose
people think it's queer We're great
chuns, my father and ].
They had been idling all the afternoon.
Mrs. Wilder, victim to neuralgia
headaches, had taken to her bed, as she
often did. Thomas had been amused
by the perfect Independence of the two
ladies': he had speedily seen that, If
there were any guidance between them,
ii came from the maiden rather than the
matron. Indeed, in speaking of Mrs.
Wilder. Miss Grant liked to assume a
tone Of protection.
How strange some women are-mar-
ried women" she said to him, when
turn in the conversation brought them
back to the inevitable subject of love,
which they had begun to discuss on the
second day of their acquaintance.
..Thev either hate their husbands or
they idealize them. And they don't
usually hate them unless they're jeal-
Gus. and, after all, that's about the
most intense form of love. isn't it?'
But suppose they love some one else?
I've heard of such cases. How do they
feel about their husbands them