Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1900-06-23

ClSCO W ne DeSl lll;lll IOt MS clluln, VINO
was about to be married ITS an old
promise" he explained. dating from
our college days. We agreed then that
whichever should marry first the other
should come from tie ends of the earth,
if necessary, to see him through. Tom
sent for me, and here | am" Miss Far
rar asked what Toms other name
might be. 1t was Bolton. Brooke for
got about himself just long enough to
ask if she happened to know Bolton,
but he did not listen when she answer
ed. He interrupted to wonder if he
would have Il good time in San Fran
cisco. What sort of IL town was it for
fellow who didn't know many pcO-
pie? Miss Farrar explained amiably.
Now, every one knows that the pleas
ATTEST and most fitting occupation a
woman can have is to talk to Il man
about himself. because that makes him
like her, which is, of course, her one
object in life. But even Il charming
girl, who understands her place in the
scheme of creation, has an underlying
human taste for just pinch of va
riety. Miss Farrar would hs, liked
to have him show some interest in her
self as disconnected from him for just
five short minutes. Brooke did not
think of that. He went on to tell her
something that had happened between
Tom and himself at college, something
in which he figured rather more cred
itably than Tom did. And she listened
as she watched the delicate yellow
coast of Lower California, fOrSakcn of
God and man, of all but the sweeping
winds and the whipping waves of the
sea. She listened, for she never failed
of n Scemly interest in what fellow
was saying, but she was thinking of
other things; of how he would have
brought upon himself any consc-
quences that might now cnSue and
of how it would serve him good and
right anyway. From which it may be
seen that appearances are deceptive
and that the most lovely woman may
have streak of mcanness in her you
would never suspect.
Poor Brooke, who had given her his
whole hcart-he was sure of it now
and meant to tell her so some time
soon-nevcr so much as guessed ut it,
She knew he did not. He did not
guess anything at all about her and did
not try to. y woman is Il vain creature
at bottom. She likes to be made to
think that some few of her thoughts
and actions have a minor sort of i'm
pOrtancc. There are men who under
stand this. and they get good wives.
The other sort ends like as rhomme
incompris. But he begins it by being
understood. Brooke felt that he was
understood. better than ever before.
The woman of SO much Dcrspicacity
was the one for him. However, there
was no hurry about telling her so. He
was going to call on her in San Fran
cisco. Besides her name and that she
was returning from New York. he
knew this much about hcr-that she
lived on Pacific avenue. lie believed
she had said something about the view
of the bay from there, but he had not
paid much attention.
SO they stood side by side up among
the anchor cables all that last morning,
specializing on the points along the
coast, betting on the number of the
pilot boat, deserving the Cliff House,
watching the city spreading out and
over its hills. Brooke said. "By Jove,
it is a big place; Il lot bigger than
had supposed" 1t was cold in the
bay to those who had come up from
the south. SO, after the white tug with
the gilt eagle on the pilot house, which
had brought out the doctors or Gus
fnnS Ia, ,1,Nt
again. they went and sat on the Grim
son plush seat in the social hall Miss
Farrar was Il little abSentmindcd. Even
Brooke saw it. He laid it down to a
very natural agitation at having to
leave him. However. he would fix that
in day or two.
They came alongside the dock at last.
A fellow standing there foremost
among the little crowd lifted his hat
by Jove, it was Tom How could
he have guessed that he (Brooke) would
be on this boat? They were up among
the cables again now.
''IIave a good trip?" Tom called
Brooke started to answer, but Miss
Farrar was in ahead of him. lie was
surprised, not to say trihe annoyed
Then he recalled that she had said
something about knowing Bolton.
While they waited for the gang
plank to be put down Brooke decided
that he might as well give Miss Farrar
the solace of a hint of his intentions.
MAY | call tonight?" he asked. He
did little proprietary pantomimc for
Toms benefit. Miss Farrar blushed
and hesitated. He interpreted it as
consent and was so pleased that he
went little further. 81 want to see
you quite alonc-dear"
I'm awfully"- she started, but at
that moment the gangplank was low
cred, and the rush began.
Brooke followed the Farrars down,
carrying his own suit case and her
bag.
$50 you two came on the same
boat?' Tom was saying. and he was
holding her hand all the time too. 81
thought perhaps you might. OF course
you know" he beamed upon them
both, that Brooke is to be our best
man, Winfred?"
"Yes." Winifred said, she knew
cts funny you struck the same
boat" Tom insisted. Il wish | had
thought to cable you, old fellow, that
Miss Farrar would be aboard"
yes" said Brooke. 81 wish you
had. "-Argonaut.