New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-25

!
ridden into Provincetown. But they behaved
themselves. and spat their tobacco Juice In self
possessed manner.
! The next day at dinner we found that Miss
Ianrthorne ard her friend sat opposite us, and
when we came to the roast Miss Langthorne
asked in a high voice II II were really true, Miss
Waldo. that you rode down here on a-on a
mans saddle.
quite true"
The people at the table made little move
ment and glanced our way.
Il told Sue" went on the speaker. that didn't
believe 1t. Not but that think reform is neces-
sary."
Miss Langthorne ate a bit Of potato. She took
up a morsel Of meat on her fork. looked at It
critically, then glanced at us.
II should think II must have been too funny
for anything. wish I'd been there Twas
after we met, wasn't It? Yes, Of course-for
then you were riding like a LADY, felt my
color rising. but l kept my eyes on my plate
What made you think Of such thing? How
brave you must be! Were you along, Mr.. Riddle?
You were q real naughty man to disappear from
Mddleboro as you did, Didn't you know that
YOU were real naughty man? But shall have
to forgive you, since you pulled me out OF the
water Didn't look O perfect fright? Sue says
]
Mr.. Riddle protested that 1t would be impos-
sible and so forth: besides. he had had no oppor-
tunity to notice.
| Delc!na brought some tea to Miss Langthorne.
who shifted at It, raised her eyes for an instant
to the OF the girl standing by her. and said:
Take II away. ! ordered coffee"
The insolence Of the tone made the words like
a lash across the face 1 saw Delcina vince
and her lip tremble; but she instantly walked or
with the cup, and Miss Langthorne resumed her
prattle.
After this. things happened just as had pre-
dlcted. Miss Langthorne chartered, ana spar
killed. up TO every one in the hotel; she seemed to
pervade everything. and TO vitiate the air even
of Provincetown. And she was such pretty
girl! She struck UP an acquaintance with the
young man with the ears, Mr.. Dunn. and they
ogled each other across the table. Mr. Dunn
| made poor jokes. and Miss Langthorne Iausheo
at them; that is, she usually laughed at them,
but sometimes she snubbed him and listened to
Mr. Riddle This latter gentleman was away
| much Of the time mornings. He took book
with him and walked along the road laid out by
the State to the sand dunes-that great waste
OF shore where the sand blows In storms, ana
shifts about into hills and dales, But the cum
ming and industry Of man are circumventing the
| powers Of the air. Beach grass and dwarf pines'
| and plants of tough and spreading roots, are
| being planted in this desert, and the SAND Is
held down. By-and-by there will be cottages
here and what place for a mammoth hotei!
| But hitherto a kind Providence has maze II I'M
| possible for anything to be here-save on the
| outermost verge, by the water hre-saVlhs
| station: and on one Of the sand elevations a
platform and one long bench have been placed.
To this the State road leads. Here is solitude
desolation-and wind from heaven and from the
sea There is nothing in this continent like
| the scene from the top Of the dune where
| the bench is placed. and where the sand Is
| already caught and held by the roots OF the
| coarse grass. That rolling sea OF shining
| sand, binding the eyes, and beyond II the
glitterng, heavng line Of the ocean. II Is ali
desolate all fascinating. 1t is absolutely differ
| ent from any resort" It is naked nature
When Mr. Riddle went away with his book 1t
| was understood that he was studying MS part
| Mr. Dunn sometimes referred TO this fact with
a sneering twist Of his bad little face. he SAID
that Riddle was a bright fellow to 80 out on the
| dunes-nobody would hear him there-deuced
| lucky that nobody could hear him.
| Mr. Dunn very kind to Delcina- IL
seemed TO US that he was always trying to get
| a chance TO speak to her. When she swept the
piazza OF a morning though 1t was early, be-
| fore breakfast. often heard his voice, and some
|
times hers in reply 1 could hear him laugh
| Then l said violently to Amabel that he was
| viper and how could Delcina even speak TO MIN
| But Amabel, II she were up, was at such
times usually writing in her daybook for the
| preceding twenty-fOur hours.
| Perhaps might as we'll say now that we saw
q great deaf Of Mr. Riddle When we did not
| see him at the hotel we were continually meet
| ing him in the desert places about the town;
and IL CHANGED to be on the piazza alone he ap-
reared from somewhere and either sat down by
| me or asked me TO row or to walk II mad had
a daybook 1 should have conided to Its pages
| something about the expression of this young
mans eyes. and what he said. And yet 1t was
| not so much what he said as the way he said
! It. He told me all about his hopes and ambi-
| lions; he begged for my advice in this matter
| and that; he looked much more than he said
! In the afternoon 1t my custom to have
nap, but Anabel was wakeful at that time
and she the piazza or strolling about the
quaint old town.
1t was by accident that discovered that her
companion was Mr. Riddle l call 1t accident
! but it really Albert. Albert appeared to me
| one day l came down the stairs after my
| sleep.
You're too late" he announced.
TOO late for WHAT"
| For afternoon courtin He's gone with Am
| rowin' over across to the light"
| Don't be vulgar"
| Vulgar? Who's vulgar 1 sh'd like to know?
| When you're round he courts you when AIMS
| round he courts her. when tho Langthorne's
round he courts her. ~ he makes just the
| same eyes to you all. l tell you 1t goes to my
stomach. And 1 like Riddle first-rate when
there amt any petticoats in sight. He's tp-top
| then. He let me go over on the dunes once with
| him and hear him say his part. had the book
and gave him his cue. Oh. want it great.
| thought"