The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1900-06-09


4 sea. She listened, for she never faile
8 of scemly interest iii what fello,
. was saying, but she was thinking {
q other things: of how he would hav
| brought upon himself any const
t quences that might now ei1sue, and O
how il would serve him good and rial
, anyway. From which it may be SEQ
: that appearances are deceptive, an
, that the most lovely woman may hav
a streak of meanness in her you woul,
I never suspect.
Poor Brooke, who had given her hi
whole heart-he was sure of it nov
and meant to tell her so some tim,
soon-never SO much as guessed at 1t
She knew he did not. He did no
guess anything at all about her, ont
did not try to. A woman is vair
creature at bottom. She likes to he
made to think that some few of hel
thoughts and actions have a minor
sort of Importance. There are meI
who understand this-and they got
good wives The other sort ends life
as Ihomlne incompris. But he begins
1t by being understood. Brooke felt
| that he was understood, better than
ever before. The woman of so much
perSpiracity was the one for him.
However, there was no hurry about
telling her 80. He was going to call
on her in San Francisco. Besides her
name and that she was returning from
New York. he knew this much about
her-that she lived on Pacific avenue.
He 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 morn
ing, speculatins 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: a 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
toms people, or something, shot off
again, they went and sat on the Grim
seat in the social hall. Miss
Farrar was a little absentmindcd.
Even Brooke saw it. He laid it down
to very natural agitation at having
to leave him. However. he would fix
that in a day or two.
They came alongside the dock at
last. a fellow standing there fore
most among the little crowd lifted his
nat. by Jove. it was Tom How
.onld he have guessed that he-Brooke
would be on this boat? They were
Up among the cables again, now.
"Have a good trip?' Tom called. |
Brooke started to answer, but Miss |
'arrar was in ahead of him. He was |
not to say a trifle annoyed |
Then he recalled that she had said
about knowing Bolton.
While they waited for the gang
flank to be put down, Brooke decided
hat he might as we'll give Farrar the
olace of a hint of his Intentions "May
call tonight" he asked He did a
tile proprietary pantomime for Toms
enefit. Miss Farrar blushed and hest
1ted. He interpreted it as consent,
nd was so pleased that he went lit
e further. 81 want to see you quite
lone-dear."
I'm awfully-" she started. but at
lat moment the gang-plank was low
red and the rush began.
Brooke followed the Farrars down.
'rrying his own suitcase and her
lg.
80 you two come on the same
Dat" Tom was saying. and he was
Dlding her hand all the time, too; Il
ought. perhaps. you might. OF
'urse you know" he beamed upon
EN- both. that Brooke is to be our
st man, Winifred?'
Yes" Winifred said, she knew.
Its funny you struck the same ,
'at," Tom insisted; Il wish had
ought to cable you, old fellow, that ;
iss Farrar would be aboard"
Yes" said Brooke, Il wish you I
d."