The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-06-28
BY CLINTON ROSS.

near it; very modern, strong-limbed
girl, with hair and eyes like those in
Senior CabaneTs famous Venus, who
could swim Ike a fish and who could
entice you into Irritation as the mer-
maid of the Old story. or it indeed
seems as il all the old NEUROLOGICAL
tales may be proven in these later days
when your enhancing girl can swim.
and sail, and golf. and wheel, and 4
rice, and shoot, and bring down par
fridge as easily as a skilfully-shot
glance may fetch a too susceptible man
tunlbling 10 her feet. Jack saw Miss
Spencer that very first evening at
Pierre Van Brule's, and the light lay
golden over the wave crests, and she
with the others came out Of the surf,
and her laughter fell like music on
his ears, tirea with the dry monotonies
of the civil courts.
shes my s'ster-in-law, Priscilla
Spencer Pierre explained to his guest.
THE surf is fine today"
Yes, jolly" said Priscilla over his
shoulder The maid had wrapped her
in a bright-colored surtout, and she
stood there with dripping yellow hair,
and hooking. mischievous eyes. Two
bronzed, young fellows sauntered be-
hind; he noted their swelling muscles,
gled hair. Tom 3rinton and Phil
Merrivale, you know" Van Brute
went on.
yes" said Jack, slowly, watching
the girl.
And. Priscilla, Mr. Merton said
Van Brule.
All, I'm glad to know you. We all
hear so much of you, Mr.. Merton" said
she.
You are thinking of Sanford and
Merton said Merrlvale. who was Of,
our day at New Haven.
NO. l am thinking of John Merton,
the corporation counsel" said Pris-
ella. giving him a cool dripping hand.
Il declare / don't believe / shall do
else but think OF you for the rest .ofsrly
days - Pierre's sister-in-law," said
Jack, not stupidity at all; and Pierre
thought that Amy, the hostess, might
have been wrong when she said she
was fearful lest Merton prove too
heavy for the rest of that crowd. A
clever man like that is all right any
where, Pierre unused sententiously, in
which as the context will show. he was
quite in the wrong.
1--WE shall meet at dinner" said Pris-
ella. nodding back, and they ran up
the path to the red shingled house,
which stands on the cliff over the
stretching sea, where you can hear
comedy of summer lives.
Now that answer to Priscilla was the
one easy remark that Merton made
during all the eventful visit. 1t was
not indeed a studied remark, but
rather the expression of a premonition.
His unaaSiness began before dinner in
the drawing-room.
The Van Brules ended the long sum-
mer day by dining at nine. The
dinner-coated crowd. the damsels in.
fluffy things-that show simplicity at
the cost of heavy checks from papas or
guardians or husbands-seemed very
conventional after that first scene by
the sea But it was all surprisingly
delightful after the hot, struggling
town Merton had left; so the splendor
of Paris once burst on me just from
bright days of storm on the North At
lantic; Merton was like an American
in a Partisan drawing-room, who can't
understand the flow of phrases; play
Of sport around him, animating all,
which lay quite beyond his immediate
comprehension. They talked of boat
ing, and swimming. and wheeling, and
golfing and records, and of events in
the circle where all were intimates.
He was an outsider-a savage suddenly
admitted. He could have told them a
world they did not know of affairs; but
they only would listen with polite ac-
quiescence voting him a bore. He saw
that at once. He felt vaguely cha
grined. His self-esteen, pampered by
so many successes, was piQued. The
hostess tried to put him al his ease,
but confided to Van Brule afterward
thai he quite put her out Finally the
mermaid entered; no, not the mermaid,
but a demure, laughing Priscilla. She
was quite a. different being Tom
Brinton was at once by her side. Mer-
toms eyes followed the pair with vague
envy of their apparent intimacy. The
butler gravely threw back the doors.
You win take Priscilla, Mr.. Mer-
ton" said the hostess.
You have me, You see,'' said Pris-
ella
Il am delighted stammered our
successful attorney. suddenly feeling
an increased awkwardness.
"Oh, l have heard so much of you, -
gushed Priscilla.
a bit" he declared, with the desire to
assert himself Why should he be put
in the background by these popinjays
He referred to Brinton and Merrivale
as those vain birds.
'Oh, you are trying to steal my
lightning. That should have been
thunder shouldn't it?'
TT lies in your eyes" said he
''Never trouble about quotations.
You are awfully clever and sarcas-
tic, l believe
mo, I am not; 1 mean it, She
easily saw that he did indeed
Now / will return your remark You
are like all men" sse
Am II"
NO, didn't mean that; You have
done a lot Of things. What 1 meant is
that you have the art of the
compliment"
You should separate sincerity from
insincerity.'
u think 1 do" said she. She thought
him sincere, and her feminine instinct
never lied &c her, although it did to
men.
But seriously" she began.
81 am serious"
do you wheelT'
rs that serious?''
No" He paused. He knew she
would hold him IN contempt if he said
he didn't. He hesitated and was lost
Yes-of course. / meant l am not
an expert
Jack. she called across the table
to Brinton, Mr.. Merton is going with
US on chat thirty-Tnile spin tomorrow. "
Am I?' said he at having the mag
nitude of his lie so suddenly thrust
back on him.
''Wny-don'- you want to go?"
Yes, awfu,ly; butt am bit of a
duffer."
.'Ah, we know better"
do come along, Merton. Van Brule
has a stable filled with wheels and
horses" said Tom Brinton, although
he plainly dad not relish the notion.
''Oh, yes. Jack" said the host I'll
speak to Ferguson tonight
Ferguson is the groom" Priscilla
explained. You must come along.