El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1901-01-29
!: A Matter of Opinion ;
BY Sarah Capp.


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1T is too hot to row." he said, shipping
bis oars.
She looked up from beneath the shell
ter of a wide brimmed hat tilted well
over her nose and moved slightly on the
striped red and white cushions in the
stern of the boat.
"And it is too hot to argue the point"
she answered swcetly. 'What are you
going to do?"
81 should like to follow the bent of my
inclination"
81 hope that doesn't take the form of
ousting me from these coy cushions"
81 shouldn't be so selfish. Moreover
from this position 1 can look at you," he
said, suiting the action to the word.
He happened to be young and good
looking; she was very pretty. She met
his gaze with CLEAN of mirth in her
half closed eyes.
"You told me once that you liked to
try new experiments"
81 don't understand the inference"
She shrugged her shoulders.
81 mean that it is not a novel course OF
proceedings to look at me-"
But 1 am conservative in my tastes.
was thinking a minute ago.
Don't, Retrospections destroy the
brain tissues"
THAT we have only known one an
other a week. 1 shall be always grateful
to Fanshawe for asking me down here"
"Did you enjoy the races so muchT
"You know that l scarcely needed
them. Only a week ago. and''-
She sat upright and raised her parasol
1.-THE sun is too strong. What were
you saying?"
ct was recalling the beginning of my
existence"
Il don't remember my babyhood. How
clever you must be!'
He frowned.
"Now you are willfully misinterpreting
me- You know I meant that my real life
life full and complete-began when I saw
you"
She twirled her parasol so that he OBJ
tanned n glimpse of her sweet, tantalizing
smile.
81 am so sorry for your mother and
sisters, What a dull, uninteresting boy
you must have beenr"
THAT'S rough on a fellow, to tell him
of his lack of brilliancy."
81 was thinking of your chrysalis stage.
Do you know, like you when you frown;
it makes you appear older"
81 will frown henceforth. But no! /
couldn't do that when you look at me. 1
say, Miss-Violet'-
There is a punt bearing down on US.
wear a scarlet band to her sailor hat"
Il shall pull up to the side. Then we
can talk undisturbed."
"The presence of other people is not
distracting to me. Shall l talk and you
listen?''
when have told you that
BE careful, Boats are easily upset"
He took the oars and rowed furiously
for n few seconds.
Bother the fellow! Why are people
so energetic this weather? It's awfully
cruel of you, Violet"
"What crime have / committed nowT
You don't give me the chance of say
ing anything"
My dear boy. I wasn't aware you pos
sessed unlimited conversational capaci-
ties or misanthropic tendencies. / don't
care to he far from the madding crowd
myself"
Il believe you would rather be on the
houseboat Mt the present moment"
Don't remind me of afternoon tea, or
l might
Perhaps you would like me to row
back there at once?"
81 should be sorry to fatigue you, espe-
cially as your uncle is coming this even
ing"
II had almost forgotten. Bother himi"
81 thought you and he were great
chums"
"Oh, he's a decent sort of old boy-my
chief. you know. It's no end of a shame
about his marriage" She closed her par
asol with snap.
do tell me about it. I know by your
tone that there is something romantic in
the background"
There's nothing romantic in a mere
girl marrying an old man." with lofty
contempt.
81 see He's very old. and she'-
"Oh. 7 suppose he isn't particularly an
cient-50 or something of that sort. We
haven't seen the prospective BRIDE"
'.Then the marriage is not an accom-
plished fact YETI"
ITS coming off next month. or course
it's as good as settled. He's wealthy and
over head and ears in love-"
"What of the ladyT
MAY doesn't wed December Of her
own free will"
II see. So your poor uncle is to be sac
rificed?'
ITS his own fault. He knows my
opinion"
And is still resolved to match his
knowledge of human nature against your
impartial Judgment?
81 believe you are laughing at me-"
az assure you l am quite in earnest.
When we are one and twenty, our critical
perceptions are truer than 80 years later.
The modern school of thought, too, is
more advanced. and enlightenment spells
wisdom. l suppose your uncle has ac-
cepted the fact?"
He turned up crusty at first. What do
you think he said?'
GLOW could i guess?
3d.