The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1896-11-21
spread out before them.

and pretentious mansions showing
among the trees here and there, and
paths emerged from the aristocratie
quarter upon the beach, where rows
Of we'll kept lighthouses suggested
that the g-andees ~condescended &c
take an occasional dip in the surf. II
was SO early in the season that none
OF the cottages showed any signs Of
occupancy, and great was the sur.
prise of the young men as three PEG.
pie suddenly appeared at the end
of one of these paths, an old gentle.
man and lady and a tall. slight young
woman in a bicycling suit of covert
cloth. With equal astonishment the
newcomers renewed the gaze till the
girl, about whose good looks the club
had simultaneously agreed to a
man, gave a startled exclamation of
recognition. and Mr.. Richard Whit
ney, cynic and woman hater, hurried
eagerly toward her with a wave of
color dying his sunburned face.
What followed was in pantomime
to his comrades Handshaking, a
few broken and embarrassed SEN
tenoes; then he was presented to the
old lady and gentleman, and the CON-
versation which began continued
without airy apparent end in view,
until the other young gentlemen left
out In the cold fused and fumed
with indignation and impatience,
throwing themselves down on the
sand awaiting Lord High Mighty's
pleasure to depart.
THAT'S what ! call consistent"
grumbled Morris, feeling an intense
attraction toward the unknown
charmer whose graceful, lightly
built figure appeared to its best ad-
vantage against the background of
sea and sky.
Lucky for Dick she hasn't no.
ticed me. He wouldn't be in it if she
had" observed Reggie serenely.
"Peacock!" came from the others.
And Morris gave him a kick a little
too decided to be playful.
"Can ! help it?'' said Adonis, with
reproach. II don't want them to fall
in love with me, but they always do.
It's mighty awkward for a fellow
sometimes"
do you suppose she is in love
with Dick2" asked Louis.
"How do We know, chump?" re-
spoDded the literary member.
Reggie regarded her fxedly. She
was at that moment talking with
great animation and glancing up at
Richard coquettishly.
II should say she was. That's the
way they generally look ut me just
before they come to a crisis. I won
der who she is. / fancy / have seen
her somewhere"
But now the recreant one turned
on his heel and walked slowly back
to them across the beach. His man
of the world air had deserted him
completely, and he felt as aw k
and sheepish as a raw %schoolboy as
he approached, greeted by a silence
more eloquent than words.
lit is an old friend of mine who
has been abroad for years." he be.
gan.
Poor chap!" sighed Reggie, too
quietly to he heard.
Zone of those houses belongs to
her uncle and aunt. They just came
down for the day-canie on the train,
and she is going to ride back on her
wheel"
Still that uncomfortable silence as
the lads scrambled up and prepared
to lead away their bicycles.
wait a minutel" stammered
Dick. "You-you had better go on
without me. She wants me to 20
with her. / don't like to refuse an
old friend, and besides she doesn't
know the road. Well?"
The club turned and looked at him
as one man, and the captain became
of a sudden intense envy
Of a clam that lay at his feet.
1--WE might all escort her." said
Morris dryly. There's safety i'll
"Yes, introduce US, " clamored the
others.
Better not" said Reggie, shak-
ing his handsome head. "I'm fond
of you, old fellow, and you wouldn't
have a show if she saw me-"
A violent resentment griped at
Dicks heart at this. He picked up
his tall wheel and turned away. The
stranger had been watching
him under her long lashes, wonder
ing why the situation seemed so
strained and what had tempered his
Joy at meeting her again.
II shall have to lead him on, she
thought, "but I am certain he loves
me still, and ! always meant to marry
him in the end. "Dick," as he CAME
up to her, who is that awfully good
mantle one in the green
and blue stockings?"
Twenty minutes later the Comet
club had reached the top of a long
and gentle ascent which 1t was only