The citizen. (Frederick City, Md.) 1895-1923, 1901-09-13
HUMIDITY
Versus LOVE
A Summer Story of Seaside
and City.
By BEATRICE E. RICE.


his seat from the inaid chair with the
uncomfortable back to one beside Mil.
dred on the settee
There" thought the girl putting Mn
two slender hands and gathering mn the
obstinate hair for the third time. Il might
nave known he would remark these hor.
rid little bristlng things" She remem.
bered that during the winter when they
We're at the ball he had complimented the
niue curling tendrils at the nape Of her
neck.
by Jove, Mily." Wallace's voice
broke in upon her reverie, do You know
that You are actually growing thin?" His
eyes swept from the two small feet IN
ward until they rested on the slim white
throat that appeared above the lace of
the hchu that surrounded it.
oh. always lose flesh in the summer
tune Midrcd'S voice sounded distant,
rs if he had touched upon an unpleasant
topic and she fancicd She SURPRISED n
Iurlln- @limmer of smile deep down in
ms ewes and quickly supplied the thought
that She imagined had boon the cause of
II. Always hose flesh in summer; why.
shc never had any to loso' just know
he's thinking that"
THAT Winston GIRLS roach, Efd Won
ever meet her. NIil.v?" Wallace ros,.1 ill.,.
elbows ON his knees ami an, h.- s,',.,r,
jaw into the bracket mail, H. lis fa1.t.i
hands and thumbs. while h. r.a,ri.I
Mildred ont of the eornar. of Ill W.
"No. I never have"
"Slc had a stunning srit an tha o.bc,.
day. SwimS like ii fish v1u -Y,,,. an
say, wcu. Won shog,J 500 brr ann.
They aro absolutely n.vI,ss" U-,li..,
warmed mp 10 Nj, subject as he saw y
faint flush Green into NIilJrod's cbeo,,
II wish, Millv. Won coud man,,, IN
come down to Sea Grit for a week or
two. Mothers crazy IN havo van ,,l
she will fix il I'M with your father If v,,,.I
only say the word. You can swim. can't
you?"
NO. not a single stroke and Pm afraid
of the water. droadfullv 60 tboso ,,a,.,.,
look so fcarfulv lig rs they roIl in nnon
one" and she gave a little unconscious
SILVER: then all Mt once discovered tbat
Wallace was regarding her intentlv and
promptly concluded tbat bor grsoofni
limbs crossed in an attitude of norfnct
ease were making what annearod to ber.
critical eyes most awkward and inartistic
lines beneath the soft folds Of her muslin
gown. so she sot mn az a srddon VOW,
prim and straight. Wallace was thinling
how sweet the gown was and so fitting a
garb for the girl who wore il.
ooh. you'd soon get over that faaIino %
fright" he said. "Why. Betty winston
says she always has if. inst like stage
fright, every time she first goes in. I
swan along with her the other dav until
she got over it."
A vision of a girl in a stunning bathing
suit. with absolutely H,wlnsS" orr,s
swimming with graceful motions and
floating lazily on the incoming bilows
flashed before Mildred's ewes. and she
moved a trihe away from Wallace and
leaned her head YEARLY against the wall
Does she always have to have some
one swim beside her?" she asked in
lowered voice.
"Yes, for a rod or two. until she gets
up steam, and there are so few fellows
down there, except on Sunday. that
generally tender NV services"
81 see" Mildred drew the lace of her
fichu little closer to the throat.
I'VE three could have considerable
sport if you'd only come down TO fine
yet"
eve three" thought Mildred. at used
to be we two. Wouldn't YOU have some
lemonade or claret cup?" was what she
said aloud
oh | don't know. Suppose Won come
out and have an ice. The air will do Won
good. and you don't have to put on your
hat way out here"
'No thank you. don't think care
about cream tonight. It's pleasanter
here"
Wallace sighed He did not quite know
why only Mildred's manner seemed TO
have a depressing effect upon his spirits.
In the winter and even up to the present
evening she had always seemed full of
life and vitality, but-he stole a look at
her-the rays Of the lamp in the wrought
iron lantern fell upon her head and up-
turned face deepening the shadows under
the ewes and accentnatinp tho little hoI.
lows in the cheeks. II wonder what has
made her grow so thin. That tiresomo
old governor of hers. I susnect 4" Then
Mildred was forgotten for an instant as
an interesting mental picture asserted II.
self. He saw a hotel yeranda. long and
wide. filed with a throng of merry neo-
pie, who were laughing and chatting TO
the accompaniment of the oceans roar.
while through the French windows of the
big ballroom strains of a waltz floated out
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 and there