Middletown transcript., 1901-04-27

| KrA I HERE are you going thls
| ~ afternoon?" asked Billy
NON Martin, rather nervously.
wv 'rPier," replied Diana
laconically, as she opened
her pink parasol with snap-a vicious
snap, that sent Billy's loving heart down
into his boots.
'DianaP' he protested, after a pause.
"Well?' replied the beauty impa-
tiently.
'T am sorry for what said last night
concerning your friend" stammered
Billy.
'I am pleased to hear you say So" re-
piled Diana. fI consider your attack
upon signor Chigi most insulting to him
and cruel to myself"
"Perhaps I did speak little too
warmly" said Billy, twiddling the second
button of his waistcoat, 81 did not mean
to call him little fiddler"
"You did not" corrected Diana coldly.
"I certainly remember that you spoke
of him as that beastly, fiddling Polish
Jew
'Iet me inform you," continued
Diana, ''that Signor Chigi is an Italian
nobleman of very old and distinguished
family, who has been obliged by misfor-
tune to take the place of conductor to the
Red Pomeranian Band. So l will not
hear him slandered in my presence. :"
She lifted her chin superbly, and gazed
down at Billy with glance Of utter
scorn.
'Do you mean to say that you believe
all that greasy little beggar tells your
he inquired.
"Why not?" demanded Diana. "Sig-
nor Chigi is at least gentleman
Then Of sudden Billy's anger de-
serted him.
''Diana," he said slowly, "do you mean
to say that you care for that fellow"
elbow dare you ask such question:
returned Miss Strangeways, her cheek
blazing to poppy hue. "By what
right?"
"Only this" said Billy, replying to her
sudden flash of anger by turning white
about the mouth-'only this-L have
been going to tell you for long time
love you"
The book that Miss Diana Strangeway
was clasping in her small white gloved
hand fell with crash to the ground.
She did not stoop to pick it up nor did
Billy.
sThe fats in the fire now," he muir
INJURED, under his breath. "Now you
understand" he added aloud, "why |
said what 1 did last night. | hate you
sitting down on that pier there, in row
with those old maids, who make such a
fuss over that blessed fiddler! hate to
see him roll his eyes at you all the time,
playing as though he were playing to you
alone, and not to the people for whose
benefit the Pier Company pays him his
salary! l hate his beastly, sickly waltzes,
and the pretty medals he wears on that
brass bound red uniform! hate the
pier-and-oh, Diana, l hate myself and
everything but you?'
Billy's eloquence could carry him no
further. A lump rose in his throat and
mistiness gathered in his eyes.
Diana was gazing steadily out at the
blue horizon.
'T promised to meet Mrs. Jones on the
pier at three O'clock" she said calmly.
Then she stopped to pick up the fallen
book.
Billy said nothing A paralysis OF
mind and body seemed to have over
taken him.
"Good afternoon" said Diana sweetly.
Billy recovered his speech.
"Diana," said he appealingly, "won't
you come to walk with me to-night%
'T can't" she replied.
"Why not?"
'I have promised to accompany Mrs.
Jones and her friend for moonlight sail
in the 'SandviIle Belle tonight"
Billy turned away without word.
That very morning Mrs. Jones herself
| had invited him to the moonlight excur-
sion, holding out as an inducement that
signor Bernaletso Chigi was going to
bring his violin, and had promised to
| sing them a.selection of his italian sere-
nades and love songs.
'It will be lovely, Mr.. Martin; and you
really must join usp' Mrs. Jones had
gushed. "The signor has a lovely tenor
voice; you will be delighted with his
| songs"
"I've done it now She'll never speak
to me againI' Billy muttered to him
/. self, and retired to smoke disconsolate
cigar in the garden of the Bellevue
Boarding House.
Diana watched him from the corner OF
her eye as he disappeared indoors. Then
she turned suddenly and walked down
to the beach, where she selected Sc
cluded and sheltered spot under the
shadow of fishing boat that was drawn
| up on the shore.
Here, having made certain that the
paint on the boat was not wet, that there
was no one in sight, and that she had
brought two handkerchiefs with her she
burst into tears.
''My dear Mr.. Martin! So charmed
that you have changed your mind and
have decided to accompany us!" gurgled
Mrs. Jones, as Billy climbed from the
shore boat over the gunwale of that IA
nous sailing yacht the ''sandville Belle"
''We are expecting Signor Chigi every
moment. His evening, performance on
the pier finished half an hour ago. ex-
pect he has gone home to get his cloak.
He feels the cold so, poor fellow"
Billy having made suitable reply,
glanced cautiously forward. His heart
beat violently against his ribs as he per-
ceived the outline Of Diana's figure sill
1. IL