The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1897-06-16
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HWOAANl5 INF LUENCE|
und. Hope I haven't frightened

glance in the frank, handsome face.
He is certainly good-looking," she
told herself, as a result of this brief
scrutiny. II 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 remark Of his. There are no visit
ors here, only the fishermen and their
wives, and limited supply of children.
Il 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 valuable?"
Cost fifty cents" she replied, en-
deavoring to preserve her gravity. I
suppose it has gone for good, and |
might as we'll 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
little while, but really ! don't feel that
/ should.
Margaret might we'll 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 improperly is the spice
which gives 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 1t were, 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.
We are better acquainted now, he
cried gayly, while she wondered at her
capacity for nonsense 8 II 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, know. Please
sit here. You'll find it ever SO COM
Portable. Only trife rocky. Do they
fish in these things?'
In these dories? Oh, yes; it is ever
so interesting to watch them.
/ We'll, I shouldn't find the pastime so
amusing. Is that how you manage to
exist in this God-forsaken hole?'
E"Evidently you don't appreciate
nature" she remarked, in rather I'M
fattering 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. I'm 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
sight Of my manly countenance,
So
you had compassion ON her?s
Eyes; that was it, It's her fault IN
here to-day. She talked of S'conset un.
til 1 thought it was second heaven; but
I haven't seen anything here yet
He added the last word by way Of
qualification, and gave Margaret an in
terrogatiye glance.
Il suppose not, was her tranquil re-
ply, unless you saw it in dreams. You
should have chosen livelier season. L
is perfectly charming in the summer
Now, things are inclined to be slow.
Rather, he agreed readily. Horses
in the bargain. The brute that haulet
7 me from Nantucket stopped every fiv'
. minutes to get his breath. It wa.
: wearying on my patience, assure you
And the old captain who drove me wa:
8 more wearying than the horse. Thu
stories he expected me to swallow wer
an insult to my intelligence. thinl
+, this air must breed captains, they ar
3 so wonderfully prolific. Every blessed
' man I've met is captain, or would hav
4 been if the whale fisheries had kept up
y I've been trying to hunt up the ordinar,,
: sailors"
Perhaps sailors were not in vogue OF
+ whaling vessels" suggested Margaret
with utmost gravity. Captain Pitmal
z says"
I That's another popularity" he inter
! rupted abruptly, their names. Did 20
s ever hear anything to beat it? Wretch
10 An al
!. and Pitman, Pitman, Folger and Coffin.
!, There's nothing in name, quote
!, Margaret, lightly.
I "a mistake altogether. A name mean
t everything. Take mine, for instance
: Brian Leigh. Now, the Brian part
!, What's the matter?'
i He might well ask this question, fc
without the least warning Margaret ha
i slipped hastily from her seat on til
4 boat, and stood regarding him with
d curious blending of perplexity and SUI
e prise.
y "Brian Leigh she replied, in an il
a credulous tone; lis it really Bria
Leigh
e 81 have always understood So"
d answered with a laugh and puzzle
s. glance at her face. 81 don't see how
a can be mistaken. =
Il am very foolish" she remarks
d anxious to divert his suspicious, viii
g she still regarded him rather curiousl.
d though with a newer and deeper il
le terest
She understood now the strange /,
r semblance unexplained before. Som
N thing in the eyes and mouth recall'
Or vague memories of. her father, and tn
likeness, faint as it was, served