Evening journal., 1899-05-04
A LITTLE PINK LADY.

On summer evening not so long ago the
brightest, prettest, daintiost (some said
"wickedest," but that was LIBEL, most
bewiiehing, coqnettish, mischicvous, good
hearted girl in Hovemouth stood before the
! motror in her bedroom at the hotel, gather
irs the billony ices OF h-r muslia irocA |
L.uut her wallet my the means satin I.
sasA, aud looking back at her .on as
she did so. On her head was p.DA triumph /
lin other words, shady bat IA her eyes |
lay q twinkle OF m,sohe.. ana h,r chiffon |
ruushade los on the bed
A few minutes later, iu.ly equipped, Miss |
Mary Giriinpton passqd through the yosti-
lule There Was a tSve.wD'n trunk in
one corner with two innia,s CA IL, ca which !
her eyes hickored with g.Can Of sgtisiac-
ton, then she stepped a'o the garden and
on down the elf path Leading o the beach.
When this was reached size s aekentd pace,
muntering, as If TO breathe ozcne were lNr
only object In life.
The tide was out; the beach was deserted
save for shrimper far out BIS the rock
pools. the sand was smooth and yellow as
tempting TO the icrrule Of a sunshade as
sheet OF fair paper to a scr.bb.er At any
rate, the temptation seemed too great Tor the
ferrue OF Miss Girl,netone sunshade; with
a nonchalant air she proddsd and scoopcd
little tunnels in it; then, with elaborate
carelessness she trailed the pretty suushade
up and down in something a tribe more
shapeiy. When this was done she gave
surrepttious glance al her merry eyes
toward the cliff path, then sauntercd on
across the beach, trailing her sunshade az
she went
Soon after the dainty pink isure had dis.
! appeared round a group of rocks, second
! figure came down the clii path to the beach.
A man, this time, OF moderate height,
honest features, and tanned complexion.
lie stroled along aimlossly, smoking a cigar,
and looking alternately out TO sea and at
the surrounding scenery. The solitary
, shrimper seemed no intruder on the de-
serted beach, and the newcomer spread his
] arms slowly, and gave a hinge stretch Of
q contentment.
n Its good to be in England for time,
p he thought, "and free-and idle-in a little
place where no one knows, or carc', whether
you're a power in the land or trupper from
, town. But | wondel what fate led me here,
u Of all places in the worldly
= Then, like the pink lady, he samtersd on,
i but now his eyes were on the ground, and
+ he prodded with bis stick cs he went.
e When. however, he reached the spot where
j. Thoughts received a jerk; there were two
great letters written m the sand, and half
i consciously he stopped to read them. Then
: suddenly he stepped back, and gazcd again.
That's odd" be murmured at length
y and his face flushed, and his eyes were inter.
e osted. It's nothing, Of course. But 5. ~
n It's queer coincidence Then he noted
k the small footprints and The ty1.l OF The sun
e shade, and unhcsitatingy he followed them
k At the end Of the trail he found ;he p-s 4
10 lady-the daintest little person he had ever
- seen-and he stood abashed before her a.
= she looked mp with wide, innocent eyes, as i
half startled at the intrusion. But he die
. not turn away.
" IL beg your pardon he stammered
~ "but ! feel almost as II l--couldnt he'll
10 speaking to YOU
to She smiled tolerantly 80 many sal
Of that" she sighed.
st His face fell. co. You are one of--o
r that sort"
mo" she replied calmly. "but they 'a
lam"
He paused. Il am no gallant" he Dc
c,nred, simply, Out plain, unpublished
"Ahl am not that, she admitted
VI but hope you don't think it disrespec
ful or extraordinary of re 20 speak 10 20
Ike this-without Introduction
Il have been led to-Lelieye It is natural,
n she said demurcly.
is His grave eyes twinklod. He felt eager
re- boy.
IN u must tell you that hai been craere
40 home for a rest from lndia-not w. 20
know. but tagged; that did not want
y come much, and did nc. know whore to g
'a' that while travelling along to-day saw Oh
'rs sea here. and left the train and came TO (
&C. Thought ! would be led hy fate for awhil
10 TFate is no respector OF persons, size san
n deprociatinely, but with a brilliant smile.
IN "This evening" he continued. u took m
an first stroll on the beach, and there, on
me spot have never set eyes on before, ] sa
-, nv own initials written on the sand
Miss Girlington looked up with innocent j.
- terest from under her shady brim. "s;reto
sc inc far away from these letters was fan
he trail across the sand. and al the end Of thi
Of trail-you."
hes 'Wenl" said Miss Girlington, in wonde
lsi- ment. GLOW strange Were there real
ON letters?'
lite Really letters. s. i. My name is Step
on en- Fortescue," he volunteered
e.s stephen Fortescuel The-the-great-
~ 'Yes,p he said. hurriedly Il suppo
80 they say So
oN ''Well, l neverl" she exclaimed, in &c
- excitement.
me 'That is my excuse and my apology I
TIE addressing. you. It seems as il Fate
de- "Had taken to sand copy booksF g
I'd queried.
zee. "Or sat at the end Of the final flourish
cen he suggested, boldly
Tor. 60" said Miss Girlington. She did n
cen dislike his boldness, but It was uneNpeet'
- "S. f." she said, musingly.
"You wrote my initials, and came
- said gently.
NJ Il think-I think ! only meant :
AS Fair" she objected NOTICED the baron
res ter os came through the vestibule.
ent "Wei, he said, thoughtiully Toni
our word. | don't think it matters Stept
re Fortescue or Set Fair. The point IS q
the you wrote It, and came May SIT dov
,si. please?"
~, The tide was still out The shrimper y
far away. The beach was deserted,
'eu' the man who was so honest and winni
10 and after all il was Fate's doing, so
My crumpled her pink pillows and gave perm