The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-10-29
UNLICENSED %.
PREMISES.
BY CLARENCE ROCK.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

7 HAD watched her for some moments
as my bus rolled slowly down Picca-
Oily, and was greatly taken by her APP
pearance The pavenents and the car
riages were full of well-dressed and
beautiful women; but somehow l
seemed to have eyes for no one but that
girl She wore the sweetest costume
something in blue picked out with
white at the collar and cuffs, and, l in
ferred, white upon the front of the bodice.
She was steering her bicycle with skill
and boldness through the five o'clock
traffic of Piccadilly, and l longed to see
her face, which, / felt convinced, would
please my eye. But this, of course, [
could not do. as she was riding steadily
about ten yards in front of us. You
cannot shout at q girl on bicycle from
the top of bus, even if you know her
name, and could scarcely expect her
tC look back a I whistle.
I leaned forward to the driver, hand
ing him my open tobacco pouch.
do you think" 1 said, you could
hurry up a bit and pass that lady ahead?
want to see her face"
He turned, and, jerking his head in
the direction of Hyde Park corner, said:
"Lidy on the bike-blue dress-cut
saucy?"
you've guessed it," 1 replied.
He winked. Then he brushed his
horses with the whip, and passed the
Victoria bus ahead, which seemed in
no particular hurry ITO arrive anywhere.
The girl ahead, seeing clear space be-
fore her, quickened up and held her
own.
81 don't think we can do it," I said, re-
signing myself to disappointment.
He held bis pipe between two fingers
and filed it with the remaining two
feeling, meanwhile, with his thumb for
match. l gave him my matchbox.
cts all right" he said, as he nursed
the flaming match in his fist and puffed
his pipe into action. "There's block at
the corner"
The girl slowed down, and stepped
easily and surely from her bicycle. She
stood upon the curb at the corner of ST.
James street, leaning on her machine
/ admired the pose of her head, the set
OF her shoulders, the pointing of her
foot, as she stood silent and expectant
AS the bus drew up by her side, |
leaned over and saw her face. I was not
disappointed. 1t was as thought. She
was. to me, amazingly beautiful.
"You will excuse me, SIR" said voice
at my side, "but you have gained your
object"
looked round at my neighbor, and
saw lady, by no means ill looking, OF
about my own age, which is on the
wrong side of 80. There was something
a little stern, perhaps a trife con
temptuous, in the cast of her features
, and she was regarding me with much
apparent aversion.
You have seen the young lady's face
and now, perhaps-that's right, coach.
man, drive on"
The bus moved slowly forward. re.
Elected moment, for had not noticed
my neighbor before, and was little
startled at her implied reproof.
Excuse me-" | said. 81 haven't quite
gained my object. l want to make he1
look at me, and she won't Now, what
is the etiquette in such cases?"
| turned and waved my arm at her
as the bus went on. But she was
mounting her machine, and, being occu.
pied with the arrangement of her skirts
took no notice of me.
MAY 1 ask" said my neighbor, "il
that young lady is your sister, or you,
cousin, Or
Certainly not" replied. "Why dc
you ask?"
Then, sir, I feel it my duty to tell yor
that you are no gentleman
sighed.
Il know that" replied. "But al
ways pretend to be, and the public is Sc
gullible. How did you find me out?''
NO gentleman" she said, sswoult
seek to annoy lady in the street, es
peclally a lady who, clearly, does no
wish to notice him. And can see tina
girl is persistently avoiding YOU"
20, is she?" 1 said. "Just wait a mo
ment She'll be as pleased as anythin,
when she sees that have noticed her
Nothing annoys woman like indif
ference"
"A girl-alone and unprotected" sh
began.
She should be all the more please,