The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1901-11-01
HUMIDITY
Versus LOVE
A Summer Story Of Seaside
and City.
BY BEATRICE E. RICE.

81 by OGAIhlCS Ii. hlCG n
o4.cse4c-scsc-fc0it s>ss1o4Iossos<>:G
81 rather liked those little blue stones
Nesting against your hair, Milly. Why
dent you ever wear them nowY Young
Wallace, big, brown and athletic, changed
his seat from the inlaid chair with the
uncomfortable back to one beside Mil
drcd on the settee.
There" thought the girl, putting up
two slender hands and gathering up the
obstinate hair for the third time, Il might
have known he would remark these hor-
rid little bristling things" She remeIn-
bercd that during the winter when they
were at the ball he had complimented the
little curling tendrils at the nape of her
neck
by Jove, Mlly," Vallace's voice
broke in upon her reverie, do you know
that you are actually growing thin?" His
eyes swept from the two small feet up
ward until they rested on the slim white
throat that appeared above the lace of
the fichu that surrounded It.
"Oh, I always lose flesh in the summer
time" Mildred's voice sounded distant.
Us il he had touched upon an unpleasant
topic. and she fancied she surprised
lurking glimmer of q smile deep down in
his eyes and quickly supplied the thought
that she imagined had been the cause Of
it. "'Always lose flesh in summer: why,
she never had any to lose Just know
he's thinking that"
That Winston girls peach! Did you
ever meet her. MillyT' Wallace rested his
elbows on his knees and dug his square
jaw into the bracket made by his folded
hands and thumbs, while he regarded
Mildred ont Of the corner Of his eye.
"No, never have"
"She had stunning suit on the other
day. Swims like d fish. you know, and
say, well. you should see her arms
They are absolutely aawless." Wallace
warmed up to his subject az he saw
faint flush creep into Alidrcd's cheek.
II wish, Milly. you could manage TO
come down TO Sea Girt for week or
two. Mothers crazy TO have you, and
she will fix il up with your father IL you'll
only say the word. You can swim. can't
you?"
"No, not single stroke. and I'm afraid
of the water, drcadful!y so. those waves
look so fcnrfully big as they roll In upon
one" and she gave a little unconscious
SILVER; then all nj once discovered that
Wallace was rcga riding her intently and
promptly concluded that her graceful
limbs crossed in an attitude Of perfect
ease were making what appeared to her
critical eyes most awkward and inartistic
lines beneath the soft folds Of her muslin
gown, so she sat up Of sudden very
prim and straight. Wallace was thinking
how sweet the gown was and so fitting
garh for the girl who wore H.
"Oh, you'd soon get over that feeling OF
fright" he said. "W'hy, Betty WiEston
says she always has II. Just like stage
fright, every time she FIRST goes in.
swan along with her the other day until
she got over it,"
A vision of a girl in stunning bathing
suit, with absolutely faviess" arms
swimming with graceful motions and
floating lazily on the incoming biilnw.
flashed before Midred's eyes. and she
moved a trifie away from Wallace and
leaned her head weariiy against the wall.
"Does she always have to have some
one swim beside herr" she asked in d
lowered voice.
"Yes. for rod or two. until she gets
up steam. and there are so few fellows
down there. except on Sunday. that
generally tender MY services"
81 see" Mildred drew the lace OF her
fchu little closer to the throat.
1--WE three could have considerable
sport IL you'd only come down to the
shore. I've got a whole month Of leisure
yet"
eve three" thought Mildred. SIT used
to be we two. Wouldn't you have some
lemonade or claret cupT was what she
said aloud.
"Oh. don't know. Suppose you come
out and have IN ice. The air will do you
good, and you don't have to put on your
hat way out here"
"No. thank you DONE think I care
about cream tonight. It's pleasanter
here"
Wallace sighed. He did NOT quite know
why. only Mi!dred's manner seemed to
have a depressing rffoct upon his spirits
In the winter and even up to the present
evening she had always seemed full Of
life and vitality. but--hc stole look at
her-thr rays of the lamp in the wrought
iron lantern fell upon her head and up,
turned face. deepening the shadows undey
the eyes and accentuating the little hol-
lows in the checks. Il wonder what has
made her grow SD thin. That tiresome
old governor of hers. | suspect Then
Mildred was forgotten for an instant az
an interesting mental picture asserted 1t
self. He saw a hotel veranda, long and
wide, filled with a throng of merry pen-
pie, who we're laughing and chatting to
the accompaniment Of the oceans roar.
while through the French windows of the
big ballroom strains Of waltz floated ont
to them all All at once girl appeared
in the doorway leading on TO the porch
The electric light above her turned her
yellow hair into an aureole Of sparkling
gold and touched her gown here ard there
with sivery high lights. The figure Of
man-himself-left group on the piazza
and approached the girl.
"I'm sorry" the man said, but ! won't
be able to lead the german with you to-
morrow night. | have an important en-
gagement In town"
The mouth OF the girl dropped little
at the corners. then twisted itself up into
the eutest little grimace imaginable. "Oh.
dear" II said. 'meD are 80 scarce down
here Girls who stay In town all summer
have o great deal more fun than we do,
and I'll wager you anything you're going
to see one Of those city girls tomorrow
night"
III uluu lduBusuI put uiu uOt SOLIiiiii1
himself: then the picture slowly faded Us
they both walked away on the veranda,
and Wallace came back to Mildred. some
thing she was saying having suddenly re-
called to him her presence.
wallace. do you ike that Miss Win
ston very much?'
'Indeed do; she's an awfully jolly lit
tie party" came the quick reply. $50
would you If you only knew her."
"No, should not" Mildred's voice
was calm and almost too smooth not 10 J