The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1900-05-23
A YANKEE COAT.
BY Francis NJ. Hardy.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES,

%o@o%o%o~o4o%%
Even woman could have seen that
Ned Moore was drawing small pleasure
from his pipe
81 reckon the doctor spoke the truth
and I've got to do It. but It's the devils
own luck.
"of course can't help the fever nor
the fever leaving me weak as water.
and know amt fit and want rest.
"A fortnight's holiday? Well. l can
manage the time, but how about mon.
ey? Spring Lake will eat up a $50 bill
in less than ten days.
Here pipe was abandoned for mo-
ment while pockets We're cmptied.
give. $40, $50 and another $40
that's $40; this silver Will make about
s. $40; more than | thought, but not
enough. Still. / can make 1t do. per.
haps; hang 1t all. l must"
Ned Moore's face cleared moment
but only for a moment.
What about clothes? | must have
one new rlg-must, but how?
II hate to do II. but, hang me, IL
see any other way. And the price was
only SO; dirt cheap. Anyhow, who'll
know the rig Is secondhand And IL
any one does guess what the devil do
carer"
After this declaration OF indie
pendence" Ned Moore put on his hat,
put out his pipe and hurried around
the corner TO Il secondhand clothing
shop. He was bundle of contrasts
and contradictions, this handsome
bachelor of 2S. He could bully his
pipes. dogs. fire; could scintllate wit
and talk himself into smiles or tears
when alone. But, lacking the shelter
of home and stimulus of solitude, he
was different creature. Bashful-
blushing like young girl when spoken
to-and hopelessly bankrupt In strong
talk of men or small talk of women, he
was generally regarded as cold, proud,
awkward, morose, He was nothing of
the kind-merely self conscious, that
was all. But IN his case small fault
was enough to work much mischief
Indeed this habit of self centering
thought had made the poor fellow an
easy victim to fever aud later delayed
cof -'-.'s..s,sg. --lsaasaIa
his doctor Insisted thar Wnen he uId
visit the seashore he should stny at q
fashionable hotel.
When Ned Moore arrived at the sec
ondhand shop, he made the painful
discovery that the blue serge suit he
wished to buy was built for man
twice his size. II WAS his first expe-
rience, however. with a secondhand
clothing merchant and constitutional
bashfulness made him an easy victim.
Ten minutes later he left that shop
the owner of tweed lounge suit,
handsome, II Is true, but combina-
ton Of yellow and black aggressively
"horsy" In color and pattern. He did
not like the thing; in fact, posi-
lively loathed the bizarre combination
of color and cut. Unfortunately the
salesman said II was the thing for him
to buy, and of course he bought It.
Moreover, he was told to buy, and did,
a pair of tan colored shoes and straw
hat encircled by a black and yellow
ribbon.
When Ned Moore caught his first
view of the crowded veranda OF the
Monmouth House, he wished he hadn't
come and after working his way
through a bevy of pretty girls sur
rounding the main door he decided to
skip dinner In the big dining room and
sup modestly In the small cafe.
Twilight deepened while he dined,
a.. Inn \.
the gathering shadows strange long
ing for companionship. Indeed the
loneliness Of the room soon grew pain
fully oppressive. Through the open
window came the heavy salt air bear
Ing to his ears the mingled talk and
laughter of the many people on the
sands. He could see the after dinner
crowd drifting lazlly along the broad,
sandy beach and, farther away, many
Isolated couples" busy. any one could
see, retelllng that old story which re-
news Its youth with each generation.
Had the old mood still held Ned Moore
In bondage he would have gone for
walk under the pines across the lake
and moped and smoked. But tonight
uCW lttliuE5 DO55tbbtti mn tIt w hb
dominated by newborn desire to
draw nearer the heart Of life-to come
IN closer touch with that crowd Of pref
ty women down by the sea. And SO he
paid his bill put on his hat aud was
soon one OF the multitude.
True, once or twice he did feel td-
fe nervous as this new drawing toward
L no f,t. tnppnaua1 In 81, nayth "a nd
something whispered lac WAS taking
big risks. 1t was this feeling. perhaps.
which led him to quicken his steps,
and he was soon clear OF the crowd.
But at the very moment when he fan
cied his feelings were well In hand he
came suddenly into the presence of the
pretticst woman he had ever seen.
She was all alone and, half reclining on
the sand, was gazing steadfastly across
the sea to where the harvest moon
slowly lifted out Of the great waters.
Before he knew what lie was doing
Ned Moore had stepped behind tie girl.
dropped on the sand, slipped his arm
around her waist and was giving her
an old fashioned hug
That the young woman took kindly,
to this embrace WAS quickly proved,
| for her head dropped against Ned
Moore's shoulder, and little hand
stroked his yellow and black coat
sleeve. Moreover. the young woman
murmured loud enough to be heard
above the rush of the surf:
Yes, darlingw
Ned Moore could plainly hear his
heart beating, but he couldn't. to save
his life. get a grip Oh words. So he
Rugged the girl again. She seemed TO
| read the right meaning in his silence,