The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-06-09
ON THE QUAY.

|
happens at Veyey in October one really
must take In everything"
Her companion, man some few years
younger than the pretty widow, bows alb.
ssntmindedly to an English girl who
walks briskly by them, armed with ten.
mis- racket.
II may hope for few dances, them"
he questions.
"a fewf' arohing her delicate brows.
II know you dance awfully well. But the
American colony talks so In Vevey."
"They have nothing better to do" an
swers Dick Templeton, gancing contemp-
tuously at the many idlers along the quay
He is too lately from college and the ac-
tive life of American summer resorts to
feel himself at ono with the Americans
who lead purposeless, care free existence
In the little Swiss towns which dot the
banks of Lake Geneva.
| "The people here do nothing" he reit-
crates, the contempt in his voice deepening.
| Some of them study" murInurs the
widowapologetically, lowering her parasol
slightly. .
Then she adds a moment. later "Why
do you stay here, Mr.. Templeton, If you
| do not like the lifef" Mrs. Darby knows
| the young American is staying solely on
! her account, but she wants him to tell her
so. AS the couple pause to speak to
group of their acquaintance she is inward
ly debating as to whether she will let Dick
Templeton propose to her now or wait I'M
til tonight at the Townsend's hop. She
decides it would better be now, as she in
tends deyoting the greater part of the even
ing to Senior S3evardes, handsome Span
lard, who has made love to her all autumn
in his charming, open, foreign fashion,
saying perhaps in his broken, but delight
full English more than he had meant to
say. He had been told one could say any
thing to American women up to certain
point, and he found Mrs. Darby very in
teresting
1t had been new experience to Mrs.
Darby and she had grown moro interested
in him than she would care to own.
So us Mrs. Darby and Dick Templeton
continue their slow promenade she looks
up at him in evident expectation of all an
swcr to her last question.
Mrs. Darby" replies the young man
earnestly, his eyes avoiding her face and
fixed on tho distant mountains, "you know
why am staying"
II? Mr.. Templeton, indeed do not"
He glanec5 at her suddenly, but she, too,
has her eyes fixed on the blue white dis.
lance.
Tho man rauses abruptly and leans
against the parapet. They have reached
the end Of the quay.
Mrs. Darby stops, perforoe, with wish
that the next few moments were we'll over
with. The frank admiration of hcr young
countryman has been very pleasant to her
and sho has encouraged him until even the
most unobseryant matron in the American
colony has coupled their names together.
But slight feeling Of regret comes to
her now that she sees him so much in
earnest.
Il an staying" Dick Templeton goes
on, because you are here, Mrs. Darby,
and because would rather be where you
are than anywhere elgo on earth. Last
week when l went to Geneva Thought l
could do without you, but was mistaken.
1 came back in three days Every moment
had been an hour to me. All, Marion, l
thought you were glad to see me when |
returned. You cannot have been trihing
with me, Marion. 1 love you. | have
never loved another woman. ask you to
be my vito.
but more annoyance Why need lie be so
seriousP She knows that he will reprouoh
her and she hesitttes u few moments before
answering, trying to think of something
natural to say.
"Dickp she says at last softly, II am
truly sorry this has happened think SO
much Of you. l Thought we were such
good friends. l never
iiStnppi in Tho MAN bautil.,
you knew from the first that l loved
you
"Sirl' she repeats, her eyes flashing en-
griy. MI Yempleton, you insult me.
You forget yourself strangely"
"Iforget nothing but that you have used
me- for your amusement. There is no in
suit for such as you. You are llirtl"
Ho is looking directly at her now, but
she is looking up at tho quay at tall,
dark man who is approaching them in
dOlently at some little distance away. 1t
is Senior SoyarGes This scene must be
over before he reaches them.
Sho turns passionately TO the man who
has dared to address her like this
"You fool!" she Kisses. Because have
accepted your flowers and books, because
have walked with you, driven with you
and allowed you to carry my wraps, is that
reason why you should fancy love your |
Gtur intense c0nCo4t mas deceived you"
Dick Icmplcton looks ut her scornfully,
making DO reply.
Then, following the concentrated gaze |
of her battling eyes, he secs Senior Seyardes |
but a few feet of.
"IIero is new toy for you, he says
brutally. II dare say the senior will sparo
me the very disagrcelble dnty Of accom- |
panying you home. "
Mrs. Darby turns white. "Senor" i'd |
dressing the newcomer, "this nun has IN
suited ne. Will you tal;o me to my hotelY"
The senior eyed the young American
Curously.
He lad lent the Spaniard 500 francs
the night before, and after such generosity
the suUvo foreigner could not believe him
capable of Insulting II lady.
He turns to Mrs. Darby. "Sinco when,
madam, have l had tho right to protect
you from your own cOuntrymeDY'
Then be held out small packet to
Dick Ycmpleton. Here is tho money,
monsieur, you 10 kindly lent me at the
cards last hight I am leaving for Lau-
Same on tho Eclock train"
He shakes h pds cordially with Dick,
bows formally 10 Mrs. Darby, and cross
ing tho road is soon lost to view in IL mar
row side street.
TCmplCton, thrusting the money in his
pocket, turfs his back to Mrs. DurUy aud
again lcans over the parapet,
"Dick," says Marion in a low voice.
SURPRISING an oath, Dick, without
turning, says coldly!
Care you going en-, Mrs, Darby, or