The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1902-05-24

aoout your boots and your gowns"
! dont know that we are ever ex
actiy tired" admitted Beatrix slow
~ 4 know what you mean; We have
great many faults-oh, l know it.'
sac sighed. But we do not let oul
skirts hitch up in front or on the
sldes, and we always make connec
tlons In the back. How frivolous tha,
sounds!' she thought. "He will think
l am one of those dreadful free and
easy Americans he has heard of who
nave no manners and will take lin
with any one"
ohe buried herself in a book, fe
soiveu to be very digpifled in tho fiji.
ture.
A shower had arisen the rain was
beating ia and II s5xas necessary to
close the window; he seemed glad
OF the interruption, and seized upon
~ 10 make some remarks upoa the
country they were passing through.
AS sne lay down her book and gave
MIN her attention, she noticed taat
| MS rlght eye was no longer closed:
| II was almost as wide open as the
otner' although it still dropped a lit
tie, as If it mad been hurt. It sudden.
~ flashed upon her that she must
nave nit him when sne made her VIC.
lent entry-that was what he meant
oy his speech about the umbrella.
your eye"-she stammered. the
image of remorse. did I? Did YOU
mean, oh, | hope didn't hurt you
very much"
1T was nothing, really nothing; I
scarcely feel 1t now" he hastensd to
assure her for her eyebrows were
drawn together and her lips were
qulvering, and altogether she looked
as if she were going to cry.
But I might have put your eye
QUIT" she gaspej.
You might have done many things
with that deadly umbrella. But YOU
didnt-please don't think Of it again."
he pleaded.
How good OF you!" she murmured,
gazing at aim with admiration.
May ask" he resumed after a
moment, whether you were at Shep-
herds some weeks ago with the Van
Duzers?"
Yes" she said. "Mr. Van Duzer
IS my uncle; I went up the Nile with
him and my aunt. Were you in Cairo7"
unfortunately reached there Just
as your party was leaving. met Mr..
Van Duzer, whom l have often seen
at home. in-er-England, but l only
had a glimpse of the rest of his party
was sure, though, that remembered
you. l am--er-Sir Hugh Chester"
he added after a pause. II don't sup
pose Mr.. Van Duzer will have men,
toned me-"
But of course he did," she cried.
He talked lot about you, and was
SO sorry that we missed you as we
did. Isn't it odd that l should hap
pen on You in this way?"
IT'S uncommonly pleasant-for
me-"
But supposing had put your eye
out with that wretched umbrella?
Uncle George would never have for
given me-"
'Uncle George"" he queried with
quizzical expression, and they
Joined in light hearted burst Of
laughter.
You see he thinks so much Of
you,' she explained.
We'll, then you ought to feel that
l am properly presented, and you'll
let me take you out to get some lun-
cheon. Here's where we stop for
food-such as 1t is"
"And you won't think I'm one of
those dreadful American girls who
keep 'mommem' and Pepper in the
background and just stram around
having good time regardless? There
are few specimens left, but not
nearly SO many as your novelists
would lei ~ to suppose"
~ won't ~ you what I think" he
declared, -bUt l shouldn't mind tell
Ing Uncle George"
The long hours few by in discus
sfons of books and people-for they
Eound some acquaintances in common
land the exchange of what Beatrix
called views of life" Together they
laughed over the queer dishes of their
dinner, and when Sir Hugh
returned from a smoke at the next
stop, he found Beatrix pensively
the rising moon.
Please. when you next discuss
said she-"you do dis
,uss us now, you know; the time has
zone by when you confounded us with |
he outer barbarians-do not say that |
he American girl on her travels is in
he habit of talking dozen hours on |
stretch with the companions Heay.
n sends 1er. They are not all so |
'poiled as l am; I confess am ap: |
2 do what like"