The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1898-07-31
LOS ANGELES HERALD. SUNDAY MORNING, JULY 81, 1898.

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more personal, and had limited Of his
work in disposing of certain conces-
sions in rich old silver mine of Potosi,
just reopened.
II see that you are a trife vexed,"
he said, thinking of some inhospitality
in that which ! am obliged to hear.
You were never more mistaken, Miss
Seymour. A South American set free
from the rule of Spain is not hurt by
that"
but blood, you know, is thicker than
water" she had said.
mot bad blood" he had answered
And there has been too much bad
blood between us and Spain. But as
for me, mademoiselle, ! am in the posi-
ton of man who has no home, no
country" And Hilary had felt the
deep melancholy in his voice: in his
face, as he spoke, and her thoughts had
dwelt more upon him than otherwise
they might have done. And she asked
herself now how anyone could conjec-
ture him to be Spanish spy, after that
conversation. And here 1t was but yes
terday that they had all gone off on
the road at night at the rate of a dozen
miles an hour. sitting aloft in the dark
beside him, with the wind rushing by
them, the wind rich with the fragrance
and night breath of blossoming boughs.
she recalled the beating of her heart,
how she had leaned the least in the
world toward him, how she had felt
his nearness With thrill that made her
h11p hot oh I1A
darkness, and she said to herself that
there had been something fine in the
forbearance that had not bent toward
her or taken advantage of the mood
and the hour till her father should have
heard the circumstances.
| 1t vas While she was thinking these
various thoughts, leaning on her oars,
drifting out little further with the
receding tide than she was aware, the
stars hanging out of heaven above her
and shattered into a thousand stars
| looking up from heavens below, that
through the wide world of the crystal
dark she saw another boat approach
ing. the sails towering dimly like a
ghost; and there came a voice crying:
ship ahoy! Is it you. Miss Hilary?
l came out for you. The tide--I was
uncertain If your strength was equal to
rowing back" And there was his
sing of parting waters, a rustic of flap
ping sails, and the Top of the Wave"
had overhauled the little wherry and
had taken it in tow and gone about for
| sh ore.
! You are very good" she said.
| ITO tell you the truth" he answered,
as he le"ned over the stern, Il have
been wanting to put the Top of the
Wave through the naces, and have
a steaming rush across the water by
night with you. But I had to make 1t
after you, instead. However, l have
learned her tricks; and there are other
nights. But now they are waiting for
our last rehearsal"
And as he assisted her out he took
h"r hand that trembled in his own,
! that suddenly seemed to tremble too.
and without a word they hurried UP
the landing to the terrace, where the
others were rehearsing the little play
in which Hilary was the heroine, and
st. Maur the director and in the
earlier scenes of which Eugenia, who
| had but little dramatic art, sang in
what seemed wonderful way some
wild, half-barbaric gypsy songs that
Bizet might have written.
| after all, you see,'' said st. Maur
| just before they separated at last that
night, the Highcrest girls and the Sea-
croft men going their way, while Eu-
genia babe Mr.. Seymour good night and
gave him her hand and did not take it
away at once, and let her lovely great
eyes linger moment on his latter all.
you see it takes so little to do thing
where Nature helps-no scenery-al-
most no lights-the simplest music
tie simplest dress-not a jewel to be
| worm"
1T seems to me- said Eugenia, her
hand still forgetfully left in Mr.. Sey-
mours, that the Spirit of the Night
should have a crown, or at least a sun
| burst, star"
Not a start" said st. Maur. mot a
| single diamond. Leave the m all on
your dressing tables. These spirits need
nothing of that sort. The tiny electric
light on the forehead will be more daz-
zling than all the old-mine stones in
| farther India. Certainly it would be
in good taste If the audience left their
| jewels at home, too. We do not want
word of too much splendor here to get
about. with Spanish spies abroad and
| Miss Hilary's gunboats in the air"
| "Al] the same said Eugenia, gayly
''if / am to be the Spirit of the Night
| should like a little becoming night
splendor, and I would have it, too, If
all my pretty things weren't locked up
in the Security Building. I suppose l
could go into town and hire some stage
jewels"
II will see to that said Mr. Seymour.
I And then, in spite of the goodnights
already spoken, they all went in for a
rejection that NJ. the Chef had ordered;
Mr.. Seymour afterwards at st. Maur's
suggestion perhaps, consulting with
the chef concerning a punch that might
be added to the caterers banquet on
the next night, of a sort like the deli
cious nightcaps that made them all feel
parting was sweet sorrow.
1t was a season of gay hustle and stir
at Undercliff on the morrow-a day
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