The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1899-08-19
1NZSKMa1s,-
AW0MAN!5 INFLUENCE


with delight" was her inward comment,
accompanied with some slight resent
ment, q feeling soon dispelled by another
glance in the frank, handsome face.
He is certainly good-looking, she
told herself, as result Of this brief
scrutiny. Il wonder how under heaven
he found his way here. l must find out.
Strangers are real curiosities at this
season, she said aloud, partly following
up her own thought and partly replying
to O remark of his. There are no visit
ors here, only the fishermen and their
wives, and limited supply Of children. J"
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 1t has. Indeed, I'm awfully
sorry"
His eye followed hers 10 the hat
rising and falling on IN outgoing wave.
WAS it valuable?"
Cost fifty cents" she replied, en-
deavoring to preserve her gravity. Il
suppose it has gone for good, and I
might as we'll be going home
ooh, 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 a 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 prop osed to her.
self when she came to this now world,
as 1t were, namely, to do as she pleased.
just now che 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 somo
way she felt she had seen his faco be-
fore.
While she was thus tn mixing and
knitting her brow over this vague re-
semblance, he was watching her faco
with scrutinizing interest.
CHANGING up, she met his eyes, and
finding its humor contagious, she was
soon laughing as merrily as he.
I'VE are better acquainted now," ho
cried gayly, whilo eho wondered at her
capacity for nonsense. IF you want TO
know person just laugh with them.
That's my theory. Not that should DO
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.
W, o. r
sit here. You'll find it ever so COM
Portable. Only trife rocky. Do they
fish IL these things?"
an these dories? Oh, yes; il is ever
so interesting to watch them"
Well, 1 shouldn't find the pastimc so
amusing. Is that how you manage to
exist in this Godforsaken hole?"
u" Evidently you don't appreciate
nature" she remarked, in rather I'M
nattering tones, as she took possession
Of the seat he offered her.
no. I 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 sho couldn't exist without
O sight Of my manly countenance,
So"
you had compassion on bcr?'
yes; that was it. 1t is her fault M
here to-day. She talked Of S'conset I'M
| til thought it was second heaven; but
haven't seen anything here yet
He added the last word by way Of
qualification, and gave Margaret all in
terrogative glance.
Il suppose not, was her tranquil re-
ply, "unless you saw it in dreams. You
should have chosen livelicr season. It
| Is perfectly charming in the summer.
Now, things are inclined to DO SLOW"
Rather" he agreed readily. Horses
| In the bargain. The brute that hauled
me from Nantucket stopped every five
minutes to get his breath. 1t was
| wearying on my patience, l assure you.
And the old captain who drove mo was
| more wearying than the horse. Tho
stories he expected me to swallow were
an insult to my intelligence. think
this air must breed captains, they are
so wonderfully prolific. Every blessed
man I've met is g captain, or would have
been If the whale fisheries had kept up.
I've been trying to hunt up the ordinary
sailors"
Perhaps sailors were not in vogue on
whaling vessels" suggested Margaret,
with utmost gravity. Captain Pitmau
says
That's another popularity" he inter-
rupted abruptly, their names. Did you
ever hear anything to beat it? Wretch
eddy monotonous to hear Coffin, Folger.
and Pitman, Pitman, Folger and Coffin. ="
There's nothing in name. quoted
Margaret, lightly.
"A mistake altogether. name means
everything. Take mine, for instance
Brian Leigh. Now, the Brian part
What's the natter"
He might we'll ask this question, for
without the least warning Margaret had
clipped hastily from her seat, on the
boat. and stood regarding him with a
curious blending of perplexity and sur
prise.
brian Leigh" she replied, in an in
credulous tone; lis it really Brian
Leigh"
II have always understood so" he
answered with laugh and a puzzled
glance at her face. 81 don't see how
| can be mistaken"
Il am very foolish" she remarked,
anxious to divert his suspicious, while
she still regarded him rather curiously,
| though with newer and deeper in
| tereSt.
She understood now the strange re-