The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-03-03

eSll anu IdlleE asleep. But he ola not De-
lieve this either; On the contrary, when
he was close to the figure he imagined it
to be a corpse.
lie put his pipe in his pocket and stood
looking at her. There was light enough
to see by, but not very distinctly. He
stopped and peered, and then started and
exclaimed:
by Jove, It's Julia Armstrong! What's
come to herr"
He looked up and down the road; not
soul was in sight. He felt her ungloved
hands-they were cold. Her straw hat
was tilted on her head, which rested not
on the brim of her hat, but on her hair,
that was dressed In a mass behind and
pilfowed her. Her eyes were not closed,
and If she was not dead she was in a
swoon. He got beside her and lifted her
head, all the while wondering what she
was dotng-dead or in a faint-in this
ditch. He then pulled out a small flask
of brandy, diluted with water, and as her
pure White teeth lay a little apart he
managed to pour q dram into her mouth.
He chafed her hands, and in sort of
way careSsed her by holding her to him.
He also put her hat straight, and Wetting
his handkerchief with little brandy and
water dampened her brow, now taking
notice that she was not dead by sundry
tokens of life of a most elusive and sub
lie character, whereof her breathing was
not one, for he could not detect a stir Of
air on the back of his hand betWiXt her
lips nor the faintest heave of her pretty
breast
She was Julia Armstrong, and, strange
TO say, an old love OF his-I mean, he
had lost his heart to her little time be-
fore he went to sea, when he was scarce
y more than a schooiboy. Then he went
10 sea, and when he came home she had
gone some where on a visit, and so Of
the next voyage; but when he returned
from his fourth trip round the world he
met her and found the old beautiful
charm again in her; but in a week she
lett to occupy some post as a governess
thirty miles away; and when they met
again 1t was here by this roadside.
what had captivated the young fellow
with this girl who lay unconscious in the
fold of his arm? She had pleasant, in
interesting face, beheld even through the
death pallor that lay upon it, but she was
not beautiful, or even pretty. Her hair
was abundant and fair, incllning, as you
might even judge by that light to au-
burn. But it was not her face nor hair,
1t was her figure that had excl ed admira-
| ton into passion in the young sailor Her
shape and involuntary poses were saucy
and perfect beyond Expression. She al
ways carried her hat on one side of her
head-"cock-b billed" as the sailors call it;
she had trick Of planting her hands on
her hips; her limbs were beautifully shap-
ed and her short skirts exposed as much
or little of them as her figure required.
No dancer Of exquisite art could have
played her legs as this girl did, yet all
her movements were involuntary and I'm
conscious, and therein lay the sweetness,
for had hint of study been visible In
her motions, the whole maidenly and
fairy-like Illusion would have hardened
! into acting.
Young Hardy had thought Of the VIVIAN
| diere, of the Fille-de-Regiment, when he
looked at her He could not have told
why. Was 1t the sauciness, that was not
wanton, of the repose of her hands upon
her hips? the Inconsciously crossed leg
when standing? the cock-billed hat, or
Tam O'Shanter, that made you feel the
need of music? the fixed gaze that was
not staring but pensive? the sudden
change Of attitude that was like the cloud
shadow upon a rose on which the sun
had rested? What had all this to do
with the Vivandiere? But Hardy had got
the word and the idea into his head, and
when he thought of her at sea twas as
though she was walking with regiment
with little barrel of cordial waters upon
her back.
Again he looked UP the road, then down
the road; he could hear a cart In q lane
that ran parallel, but nobody was visi-
BILE He was beginning to wonder what
he was to do-whether he had the physi-
cal strength tc carry this fine girl in his
arms four miles, that is, to his fathers
house-when she sighed stirred like an
awakening sleeper, sighed again, and
opened pair Of gray eyes full upon his
face.
DO you know me?" he asked
'Where am II" she answered, and with
| a sudden effort she raised her form out
Of his arms, but in a moment fell back
again in sheer weakness.
Don't you remember your old friend,
George Hardy?" he said.
She looked at him with that sort of
intentness which you will sometimes see
in baby's eyes, and her lips dropped
into a scarcely perceptibe smile.
What am 1 doing here2" she asked,
and she gazed around her deeply puz-
zled.
He gave her little more brandy, which
she certainly stood in need of, and look
ing at her without speaking he waited
until more mind came into her face; and
now she made an effort to rise.
Keep still until you have come right
| to-" said he. IL wish some old cart would
! come along to give US lift to my IA
/ ther's.'
Your father's?"
"Dr. Hardys." he answered. about
an hours walk away"
YES, I know" she exclaimed. IF a
cart came l would not co.
my tktar Miss Armstrong, what are
you doing here?" exclaimed young Hardy.
"All alone in a dead faint in a ditch!
! Were you returning homer" And again
/ he looked little way up and down,
| thinking 10 see handbag or a parcel,
| but her hands were az empty as his
I'm going TO London" she said. What
time is it?''
I'm going to London, too" said he;
'but neither of US will catch the train we
! want. Do you mean to walk to Lon6on ?"
She shook her head and put her hand
| in her pocket as though seeking her
! purse. What she sought was evidently
! there.
! Now her faculties had come together,
| but it was clear that she must sit a little
| longer before attempting TO rise; so they
! sat side by side with their feet in the
| dry ditch and their backs against the
hedge.
"Why are you going to London?" he
asked.
I'm leaving home for good" she an
swered.
where's your luggage?"
"I have none" she replied.
Are you running away from home?''
| ne inquired, beginning to see a little into
! this matter
81 have no home, and I am leaving my
| fathers house OF my own accord" she
! replied animated by little faint passion.
/ the wretchedest girl in the world. Oh,
! how his wife has treated me! You once
/ met her."
She struggled with her heart, and some
! tears ran down her face.
1t Is true shat Hardy had met this step