Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1904-08-26

glance AZ the white hand ON bis sboul-
der disslpated his resolution. He sim
ply could not tell her TO take that hand
away: every nerve In his body was re
spending TO its gentle pressure
Was not that a strange meeting as
we came inr' continued the girl For
moment | thought l had EN-, as
you bad boys say. Then | saw your
two faces, yours clean shaver, his with
a mustache, and my reason was re-en-
throneSl. knew I was not seeing
double wonder who he is. He Is
certainly very handsome. and his eyes
/ should adore a man with eyes like
that"
The blood was racing through Earrs
veins. mingllng a tumultuOus happi-
ness with his embarrassment. Each
moment an announcement of his iden-
tity seemed more imperative and at the
same time more impossible. He could
imagine her confusion II she now dis
covered her mistake. He had waited
too long; there was nothing to do but
keep up the deception and trust to
fate. So he sat quite still while she
babbled on for a few moments about
the interesting stranger. Then she
pulled his ear softly and ran away.
Earl. relieved at the turn Of affairs,
followed her slowly and unnoticed TO
the deck below, where she paused in
the belt Of light that streamed from
the cabin door. Inside Jack was dane
ing with pretty girl and looking I'M
utterably tender things into her up
turned eyes. Seeing him, the woman
outside stopped as If suddenly strick-
en- with some moveless horror. Was
she Jealous? Earl wondered and would
gladly have throttled Jack for her.
But evidently jealousy was not the
trouble. She passed her hand quickly
over her eyes and then looked back
over her shoulder up the stair she had
just descended, a storm of questioning
annoyance In her eyes. Then Ear
knew she understood, and he stepped
boldly out of the shadow beside her
and lifted his hat.
II most humbly beg your pardon ht
began, but got no further, for Mrs
German came out Of the opposite shad
ow and exclaimed in delight:
"Well, here at last have you two to
gether Earl, this is Miss Penton, Of
whom l told you, and, Nellie, this II
Mr.. Hargis, the crusty bachelor whos'
heart is said to be invulnerable and OF
whom l wish you to try your Shapes
arrows. Run along, now, both of you
to the end of this deck. Supper is jus
being served"
She hustled on into the cabin will
her invitation, and the two in the ban'
Of light stood staring at each other.
How do you happen to be dressed
just as you are" she demanded, "an'
how dared you sit up yonder'-
But he interrupted with anothe
question you are not Jacks wife?
Jacks wife! OF course not. I'm hi
sister"
His sister? Thank heaven! Say
,, let the supper go hang, and come bacl
to the upper deck. l have yards an
miles Of apologies to make. Come
; please" He drew her to the stair, an
in few minutes two pairs of eye
saw the broken star shine from tn
pilot deck.
1T was deucedly impertinent in m
to use your taste that way" Earl cor
cluded penItently when he had told he
how he had eavesdropped her in tn
shops. II can't be sorry, but-won
you forgive me anyhow"
II might forgive that, but you lt
me stand here with my hand on you
shoulder and say
And say you'd adore a man wit
eyes like mine? Yes, thank HEAVIER
you said it, and heard It,"
She stood up. "Will you take N
down to supper, Mr.. Hargis?"
mo, for you are not hungry. 70
are going to stay right here and sa
that you forgive me-"
And she stayed. Two hours late
when they parted at the end of ii
gangway he held her hand momen
MISS cutOL, tucIS 10 oollctuiu5
wish very much to hear you say"
what Is it2'
This: Earl Hargis, you are lovely
those clothes, just lovely, and I rattle
like you, and you may send me son
roses in the morning and call to see N
IN the evening"
She must have said 1t, and man
calls must have followed that first on
for when the house on Spring sire
had its clearing sale the following Sc
son two women again stood before Il
counter.
IL Eyes, Mollle, have two sets
u choose now, for Earl is as bad abo1
II shopping as Jack and has not set b
a foot in a dry goods store since we we