Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1896-06-11

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lillian maiden, fine brunette, with a
figure inclined to the statucsque in its
outlines. The other, so nearly as |
could discover from an occasional
glimpse of her in the course of the frs.
two days of the voyage, was a slender,
graceful girl, brown-hlired, and neither
very dark nor very light of complexion.
She was travelling in company with an
older woman, attendance upon whom
kept her fully employed for As hours
out of port. Then, as the weather
was fine, the pair appeared on deck and
Joined the party under the big awning
aft. Each carried book, but it was
noticeable that, while the elder read
steadily and rapidly, with the business
like air of hardened devourer of nov
els, the girl often dropped her book
upon her lap and let her gaze stray
across the wide eSpansc of blue water.
See mingIy she took little heed of her
fe'low-voyagers, group of whom We're
chatting not dozen feet from her.
1t was an excellent opportunity to study
her without her kaowledge-as l be-
ieved; and the longer l watched the
young woman the more interested in
her did I become.
She was slender, as has been said,
and carried herself so erectly as 10 APP
pear taller than she really was, her
height being, in fact, but n trifle above
the average of her sex. Her forehead
was broad, and her hair worn low upon
it. Her features were good. The nose
was straight and finely chiseled, the
cllin delicately rounded. Her mouth
was larger than the canons of art de-
manded, and now and then the lips
were set in line which indicated no
lack of frmness. 1t was not a stub
born mouth, however, even when the
thoughts of it's mistress seemed to be
least pleasant, The face was inclined
to paleness, relieved by a faint, flicker
ing color which came and went on her
cheeks, even as she sat watching the
sea. The eyes gave her strongest claim
to beauty. They were clear, dark
brown eyes shaded by long lashes.
AS a whole, the face was attractive,
but it was no easy task to class it's de-
gree of pulchritude. Absolute beauty
it did not attain; pretty" was clearly
not the adjective to apply to it. Hand
some" seemed to be closer to the truth,
though even that word did not quite
satisfy my Judgment. But l did not
ponder long over the point, for ! soon
found myself fully decided that the
girl was, in appearance at least, very
charming young person.
Burroughs, British youth with
whom had struck up an acquaintance
in the smoking-room, crossed the deck
to her chair, and talked with her for
perhaps a quarter of an hour, the novel
reader merely looking up from her book
on his approach and promptly return
ing to it's perusal after answering his
greeting. / envied Burroughs &C.
cuaintance with the girl. although
neither he nor she seemed to derive any
great entertainment from their some
what intermittent conversation. Once
she sent quick glance in my direction,
and l guessed that the youth had
reached me in going over the list of pas
sengers. I prayed that he might be
charitable in his comments.
Strolling into the smoking-room that
evening, found most of the male pas
scngers were assembled. Two games
of cards We're in progress, with fringe
of spectators looking over the players
shoulders. After n few minutes Bur-
roughs appeared, and dropped upon the
cushioned bench beside me.
"Not playing, eh?" said he. Don't
you admire the sport?"
"Not particularly answered. "Are
you going to take a hand?'
II like to, generally said he, with
laugh, "but I'd rather do something
else just now"
Smoke, for instance?" suggested.
"Not exactly" he answered, with
sort of embarrassment in his tone.
by the way, wouldn't you like to meet
your fair compatriot?'
'Who is she? had supposed myself
to be the only North American on
beard"
Miss Dorothy Gray. If you hap
pened to notice, you saw me talking to
her this afternoon. She's with her
aunt, Mrs. Lorlng-mct 'em IN Rio, you
know. told her whoy were, and she'll
,e glad to see you. Come along, that's
. good fellow"
"Why this bastc?" But rose with