The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1902-02-19
CHAPTER I.
AT FIRE ISLAND.

and up to the pler-StepS, the young
man at the PROV bringing her ito" like
some sensate thing that knew her
duty. A few idlers down from the
hotel stood by, awaiting the arrival OF
the afternoon steamer bringing the
mail and such guests as fate might
send. These turned to watch the disem-
barking of the sailing party, anything
being idly interesting upon such an
exquisite day. with the sapphire sky
and the amber and green and gold OF
the ocean.
"By Georgew murmured Harry Dill
lingham to his companion, removing
his cigar from his lips in surprised ad-
miration. 81 say, old boy, who Is that
magnificent woman in the gray boat
ing-suit, with the" gold anchor on her
sleeve and the pennon around her
cap? Phew! You have beauty here,
Bensonhurst!"
His companion shrugged his Shout
ders significantly, knocking the ashes
from his cigar against the pier-railins.
"Your ignorance proclaims your So
iourn in the wilderness, Dillingham;"
was the lazy rejoinder. Every one
who is any one or has been any
where this season knows Mrs. era
ham. She carries a fortune in her
finger-rings and a nabob's ransom IN
her necklace. None of your milk-and-
water beauties, either. There is a
power of wisdom in that little dark
head, let me tell you. You are bound
to be at your best in her society. Her
husband adores her."
"She has a husband, then? Is he
here"
"Of course. One of the lavish sort,
you know. Spends cash like water.
Their house on the avenue is magnifi-
cent. No shoddy; blue blood straight
through. Surely, you have heard Of
the great house of Graham? They
must have been abroad, ne and his
wife. They just returned this sum-
mer, and have spent the months at
this island. But that's enough fol-
now. She's coming up"
He turned toward the woman in
question, as she was assisted to the
pier, a tall, high-bred gentleman stand
ing before her barehcaded, his cigar
consigned to Neptune, as he added,
smiling:
"No need to ask if you have en-
joyed the sail, Mrs. Graham. Your
face tells its story"
She smiled dazzlingly. Her lifted
eyes, even in that clear light, were
the even color of violets. She dan
gled a bunch Of sea-weed in one hand,
careful that the water should not drip
upon her dress. The sunset struck
gold through the brown Of her hair,
under the pretty cap.
1--WE have had such q delightful
SAIL" she said, that my face would
be craven not to show it, Mr.. Ben
sonhurst. The Banjo is we'll named.
1t Is the music of notion"
"Priestly handles the ropes as deftly
as the literal banjo strings" added
Bensonhurst. MAY / have the pleas
ure of making my friend known to
you? Mr.. Harry Dillingham;, Mrs.
Graham. Dillingham's been tramping
through the forests Of Maine this
summer, and only now comes to Fire
Island, so he says, from pure friend
ship for me, which, doubt. To
descend from the killing Of deer to
the killing Of dolphin for some other
fellows sake isn't the nineteenth CEN
tury code. Here comes the steamer.
The Zingara, by Jove! Wonder what's
happened to the other? Are you eX-
pecting any one out, Mrs. Graham:"
mo one" said Mrs. Graham, with
supreme conviction. Most Of my
friends are at Mount Desert or the
Thousand Islands or-Europe. My
husband and I came here to watch
the sailing Of ships, instead Of spend
ing the summer where dress is set by
Fashions decree. One needs rest after
the winter, not fashion. So the surf
here and the light-house-and the
coastguard-and sands"
The brilliant smile that came and
went instantaneously, but was like
sunlight upon her face, finished the
sentence eloquently.
"And sailing" added Bensonhurst,
with his significant uplifting Of the
eyebrows. ESPECIALLY the arrival of
the Zingara, with her passengers, Mrs.
Graham
"Yes," replied Mrs. Graham, absent
Iy, her eyes on the approaching steam
er. slowly swinging the sea-weed to
and fro, yet never splashing her gown.
."Everything here is very restful and
charming, Mr.. Bensonhurst.
The party from the sail-boat were
gathered about them, having alighted,
and were also awaiting the arrival Of
the Fire Island steamer. Mrs. Graham
was conspicuous among them for her
beauty and grace.
unless / am mistaken" Ninette
Bradley said, turning to Mrs. Graham,
your husband is on the steamer,
Alicia. There is scarcely ever any
mistaking him, is there? He is such
a magnificent man"
Alecia Graham shook her head and
turned her face with one Of those
swift, transfguring smiles, upon her
friend. She appreciated praise of her
husband.
You are not mistaken, Ninctte.
Harold is upon the steamer He went
to the city this morning on business.
Do you think that:I would have gone
without him-even in the Banjo-this