The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-06-03
The Man and the Editor.
THEY sat at opposite ends of a bench

THEY sat at opposite ends Of a bench
on the Marine parade and observed
each other furtively. His eyes, weary
with the contemplation of a succession
of sartorial failures, rested approving
IL on her white drill skirt, her immac-
ulate collar and the sailor hat of the
right shape set in the right place on her
brown hair. She told herself that he
was very presentable, and decidedly un-
expected in Easton-super-Mare, where
in August the voice of the excursionist
Is loud in the land. and the accompani-
ment is of concertinas. Both were
bored and in want of companionship;
she was young and he barely middle
aged, and it was quite ineXcusable,
when, her book having slipped from her
knee and been restored by him. she not
only thanked him, but observed:
There's a wretched library here"
"You don't go to the best" he re-
,lied. with a glance at the label on the
volume. There is quite a decent one
up the street. They get a book or two
from Nude occasionally. / don't fancy
there is much demand for literature
here. though"
..He has a nice voice. she told her
self. trying not to be frightened at her
own temerity, "and nice eyes, and he's
a gentleman, and he isn't young, and
it doesn't matter"
But her remark had been the result
OF impulse. o Of resolve. and the re-
action caused her TO say. rather stiffiy:
Thank you. i must try the other
place"
She almost decided that she would go
now. but reflected that she had started
the conversation. and that such a course
would be an unmerited snub for him, SO
she remained and presently made an
observation on the heat of the weather
and the glare from the sea.
''Oh. it's an awful place." he an
swered; II shouldn't stay here a mo
ment if i hadn't got to-"
Nor l."
-Four hours by rail from London" he
groaned; "the only place worth living
in
Yes she assented.
Brass bands and Christies. and nasty
little steamers with yellow tunnels dis
gorging at the pier all day. Ugh!"
But it's healthy" she said.
'Oh, yes. When I'm not eating
'leep. ana I'm getting fat. | ought not
TO grumble. but | do"
II ought not to have spoken 10 you
but | did" She observed. with sudden
audacity. and then blushed so hotiy
that he saw it through her thick veil.
II am very grateful TO you for having
done So" he said. II have seen yor
about several times during the lasi
week. and have felt that WI were boil
aliens in the land. and might find thai
much, at least, in common. But Their,
was no one to nurmur n few senseless
words of introduction over us"
Poor Mrs. G%rundy." she said, with
smile, as she looked at a tiny watch tina
she had taken out of her waist belt
II must go" she added; Its quite late.
I'VE shall meet again. j hope HI
suggested.
Possibly: I'm often about" An,
with a nod she left him.
Easion is specially dreary on a we
day. They met in the library that HI
had recommended and told each othe'
so. She wore a thinner veil to-day
which showed him that her yes wer'
pretty and her mouth sw~eet-tempere,
looking. The gray hairs in his short
pointed beard inspired her with conf
dence. She ignored the fact that hi
eyes were young.
1T was too depressing indoors. and
had nothing TO read" she said. as sh'
pulled the first volume of "The Amaz
ing Marriage out of it's place.
~Ah. Meredith? Allow me: rainy
Gay literature is a thing apart, and
charming as Meredith is, he is not 70
YOU to-day. May | recommend
Don't. am not the sort Of persol
&c require a funny book to keep up IN,
spirits on a dreary day. / dislike fare,
you shall keep your Meredith h
returned; II will confess that ! hav
been rcveling in Richard Feverel' al
the morning myself
After ten minutes gossip on books
seemed quite natural that when sh
moved toward the door he should fol
low. The discussion on the merits q
The kailyard school was at far too il
teresting a stage TO be abandoned. AND
oacc in the street. they discovered tina
they were both going the same way
That way was along the deserted an
windy Parade; but somehow when the
parted Easton did not seem quite $
drcary to either Of them.
II felt as though | had known yo