The true Democrat. [volume] (Bayou Sara [La.]) 1892-1928, 1897-03-06
\ WOAIvhIJAIIHII55 INF L-UE:NCE
Hope I haven't frightened

in with quizzical light in the laughing
brown eyes, which Margaret found
strangely familiar.
Il dare say he thinks I'm overcome
with delight" was her inward comment,
accompanied with some slight resent
ment, a feeling soon dispelled by another
glance in the frank, handsome face.
He is certainly good-looking," she
told herself, as result Of this brief
scrutiny. Il wonder how under heaven
he found his way here. I must find out.
Strangers are real curiosities at this
season, she said aloud, partly following
up her own thought and partly replying
! to a remark of his There are no visit
ors here, only the fishermen and their
wives, and a limited supply of children.
i know; awful prosy, isn't it? I'd die
in no time. You are different, though"
Yes, and while I've been wasting my
time in talking, my hat is gone
so it has. Indeed, I'm awfully
sorry"
His eye followed hers to the hat
rising and falling on an outgoing wave.
WAS it va!uable?"
Cost fifty cents she replied, en-
deavorinS to preserve her gravity. Il
suppose it has gone for good, and I
might as well be going home"
"Oh, no! DON'T" he entreated with
boyish eaGerness. I'm awfuily tired OF
my own company.
Candid, upon my word. I'll stay a
little while, but really don't fee! that
I should"
Margaret might well question the pro-
| priety Of her action. She felt convinced
that Miss Hilton would not approve this
confidential manner with stranger,
| but there were times, she felt, when a
suggestion OF impro priety is the spice
which gives q variety to life. This was
one OF them. She intended to follow
out the line of conduct proposed to her
self when she came to this new world,
as it We're, namely, to do as She pleased.
just now she pleased to stay and talk
with this young man, for whom she felt
an unaccountable liking. She had some
curiosity to discover his name, and his
reasons for visiting S'conset. In some
way she felt she had seen his face be-
fore.
While she was thus thinking and
knitting her brow over this vague re-
semblance, he was watching her face
with scrutiniZing interest.
/ CHANGING up, she met his eyes, and
finding its humor contagious, she was
soon laughing as merrily as he.
I'VE are better acquainted now," he
cried gayly, while she wondered at her
capacity for nonsense. If you want to
know person just laugh with them.
That's my theory. Not that should be
laughing, though. Crying would better
suit my condition in this vale of tears.
Won't you sit down, Miss"
Smith, supplemented Margaret, CIV
ing him the name she had assumed.
Smith; you don't look like Smith.
But I'm glad it isn't Coffin OR Folger.
You are not native, I know. Please
sit here. You'll find it ever so COM
Portable. Only trife rocky. Do they
fish il these thinss?"
In these dories? Oh. yes; it is ever
so interesting to watch them.
Well, shouldn't find the pastime so
amusing. Is that how you manage to
exist in this God-forsaken hole?"
O"Evidently you cont sappreciate
nature" she remarked, in rather un-
tlattering tones, as she took possession
of the seat he offered her.
NO. | appreciate the comforts of
civilized life more. I'm not romantic
kind Of animal, you see. Pm tired Of
this already. Only came this morning,
too. I've been in Nantucket week.
Hauled up there to see an antediluvian
aunt of my mothers. She got it into
her head that she couldn't exist without
a sight Of my manly countenance,
| So
/ you had compassion on herr"
"Ies; that was it. Iii her fault m
here to-day. She talked of S'conset IN
til | thought it was second heaven; but
l haven't seen anything here yet"
He added the last word by way Of
qualification, and gave Margaret all in
terrogative glance.
Il suppose not, was her tranquil re-
ply, unless you saw it in dreams. You
should have chosen livelier season. 1t
is perfectly charming in the summer.
Now, things are inclined to be slow.
Rather" he agreed readily. Horses
in the bargain. The brute that hauled
me from Nantucket stopped every five
minutes to get his breath. It was
wearying on my patience, assure you.
And the old captain who drove me was
more wearying than the horse. The
stories he expected me to swallow were
an insult to my intelligence. [ think
this air must breed captains. they are
so wonderfully prolific. Every blessed
man I've met is captain, or would have
been if the whale fisheries had kept up.
I've been trying to hunt up the ordinary
sailors"
Perhaps sailors were not in vogue on
whaling vessels" suggested Margaret,
with utmost gravity. Captain Pitman
says"
THAT'S another popularity" he inter
rupted abruptly, their names. Did you
ever hear anything to beat it? Wretch
edly monotonous to hear Coffin, Folger.
and Pitman, Pitman, Folger and Coffin. y
There's nothing in name,'" quoted
Margaret, lightly.
ga mistake altogether. A name means
everything. Take mine, for instance
Brian Leigh. Now, tho Brian part
, What the matter?"
He might well ask this question, fol-