The Western news., 1903-01-14

81 Y Jove! What pretty figure.
| liz It's the same girl, there's not Il
- doubt. Ill get word with her
somehow. l don't suppose it'll be diff
cult"
Godfrey Lister got up from the win
dow seat, where he had been lazily
stretched out, seized his hat, and
strobe out of the front door, with his
eyes on a slender figure little dis
tance off.
SouthbOurneon-Sea was perhaps Il
little dull. Gecffrey had been at South
bourne month"; and began to long for
a change. He intended to stay at the
little seaside village another month or
more if the place continued to agree
with his mother.
They had no acquaintance at South
bourne; the night before some friends
of theirs had arrived, and were putting
up at the little hotel. Godfrey was ell
gagged to dine with them that evening
There was, of course, no theater in
SouthbOurne, no concert hall, no read
ing room-the only form Of dissipation
just now was a circus, which had
sprung up in mushroom fashion during
the night
Geoffrey had made one of a limited
audience at the first performance, and
!. one girl had attracted him strangely
she was very fair, charmingly pretty,
in spite Of the thick makeup, with eyes
that looked innocently out from their
painted lashes
= She figured on the bills outside the
y tent as Mademoiselle Coralie We're, and
y Godfrey had smiled to himself, and
a had wondered vaguely what might be
!. her real name and home surroundings.
q Surely she must belong to people Of a
I different class from that of her present
q associates
p 1t was this girl whom Geoffrey now
o recognized and was steadily following
! round the curving shore. She walked
briskly, but he gained upon her, and
he felt curiously shy. There was decid
edly look Of refinement about her
S Of breeding almost
e She evidently felt the presence of
t some one behind her. for she turned
e slightly, and Geoffrey saw the line OF
a delicate profile. He hung back lit
n tie and the girl quickened her steps
:: She carried three or four books under
l. her arm and he wondered what kind
of literature she affected.
< He walked on slowly In rather unde-
IS cided fashion. Suddenly Godfrey no
ticed something on the sands before
'e him-a book. Her book, of course!-
II and the best excuse in the world fol
an introduction! One peep. Morris
IS Earthly Paradise! Godfrey turned tc
n Gray" and a recent date.
Excuse me; think this must be-
n yours!'
'e The girl turned sharply, looked a
a him and at the book--then a brigh1
smile broke over her face.
"Oh, thank you, thank you so much
ia 1t must have slipped from under my
4 arm. I'm very much obliged to you
N Not at all. I'm delighted" sale
~ Geoffrey. what a glorious day! Onl,
10 it's just little too warm."
II was trying to make for those
y, cliffs" said the girl. but they seem ;
~ long way off-there is little shad,
there"
n THAT is what l thought of doing
Let me carry those books, won't you
NJ They're awfully heavy. See, there.
" another of them slipping"
He took them from her and had an
is other opportunity of seeing her full
face. The daylight, and the absence
of the false color added year or two
go she was. perhaps. 20. and there was 3
70 childish dignity about her that wa.
very bewitching.
Il must confess to having looked a,
the title of your book, and also to see
Of ing your name on the fy-leaf; there
IN fore, will you allow me to introdue,
I'd myself? l am Geoffrey Lister. I've
I'd been staying down here for the las
month. and I've found it uncommonl,
is slow. l suppose you haven't had tim,
rs to get tired of it yet?''
H. NO; l haven't found Southbourn,
I'd anything but charming at present.
he love the country and the sea, and it..
SO quiet that you can thoroughly enio,
N, book"
I'd .ls William Morris favorite O.
yours?"
d. his work at ALL" she answered: 'th,
book was given to me by friend, an(
l haven't had time to look at it yet"
H. Il suppose you don't have very mucl
~ time for reading?'