The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1904-07-31
A DRAWN GAME.
BY HARRIET p. LYNCH.


Perched audaciously upon the rail
ng, one plump brown arm curled
lround column, May Pierson sat
chatting with friend on the hotel
piazza The picture of a healthy,
tun-loving American girl, and very
charming withal, thought Will
Hathaway, lounging in white flannels,
IN the doorway.
He was man whom the girls call
ed an lawfully nice fellow" after the
irst hour they knew him, and May
was no exception to the rule after
Mrs. Eustace's laughing introduction
IF him as the man of the place.
Half an hour later he was careful
y hugging her golf sticks in his arms
IS they iolted in a springless stage,
llong With a merry crowd of young
people, over to the links two miles
way.
Seeing how expert he was in the
Use of his clubs, May after skilful
questioning gathered from his modesl
eplies that he had won a lot of cups
md things-and this together with
he fact of his having accomplished
wonders on the gridiron three years
before, and his having come on in
ime for tho tennis tournament to be
leld the next week, constituted him q
ull-6edged hero in her eyes and those
# tho charming girls whose bare
lrms and Amazon swing on the links
deceived no one as to their taste and
Grace in the ball room. A we'll turn
ID compliment on her playing on their
lomcward way redeemed Mays cheeks
lnder their tan and caused her some
generalization that he was at her
lotel and knew none of the other
girls in the town very well. These
favoring circumstances, together with
he free and easy life of Il small wa
ering place ripened their acqualnt-
lnce with tropical swiftness. Thou2i
did create in the mind Of Mrs. Eus-
ace, who belonged to an older gener-
Gtion, some small wonder when she
saw VIII the next afternoon guiding
Mays firm steps with unnecessary So
icitude down to the canoe wharf.
NTH passing uneasiness in her tone,
Cor she was never quite sure of the
modern girl, she called after them
Don't be deceived by appearances
Viii" to which apparently pointleSs
remark May playfully shook her finger
1T her.
you take care of a girl better
than any other man l know, except
me-" said Way as he tucked the
cushions around her and put her cape
II easy reach.
Will flashed a smile at her over his
shoulder as he 5teered his canoe skill
'uly through the small craft anchored
lround please don't think 1 I'M
dervalue your good opinion, but
know one girl who thinks | do it bet
ter than any man without excep-
ton"
] wonder if he is engaged, thought
Maybe hasn't at all the air of one
engaged. I am sure he's not. Aloud
she said, pointing to a towering rock,
There's the Lovers Leap. [ won
Ter whether there is place along
this coast that hasn't one?"
Love" Will responded tritely
knows neither time nor place, but
please tell me the story, you know
A love story is always dear to a lover.
1t seemed to May that he was pre-
suming on a slight acquaintance, W
til she noticed that he was gazing
pensively out at sea and not at her
so she concluded to let the remark
pass in dignified silence-and to be-
gin her story:
"Once unon a time a gay buccaneeI
landed on these shores. In a short
time his wiles gained for him the
heart of the prettiest fishermaid on
the coast. But he soon tired of her
Us he had of half score before her,
and he sailed away one bright summer
day just like this. Like the girls OF
her day she watched from that rock
tor his promised return until hel
heart broke and she sought death
II the cruel waves below. How cruel
men are to girls sometimes" with a
coquettish glance.
"Well, I'll not try to do battle for
my wretched sex, but as for cruelty,
am sure no one could be cruel TO
you however you may do battle for
your SEX
Il certainly could not complain OF
such a canoest on such a glorious af-
ternoon," said May gailys
THE canoest is very grateful to the
canoe, said Will laughing. as he help
ed her out and pulled the canoe UP
on the dock.
Time went pleasantly on and Mrs
Eustace seemed the xonly one disturb
ed by the increasing friendliness OF
these two. May often watched heI
face with secret amusement, as she
would glance up now and again al
them strolling slowly up the hill to
the house their heads close together
under Mays red parasol. SO it was
no surprise to her when she cornered
her one day with a severe light in her
eyes and a May Pierson you ought
to be ashamed of yourself at the
dreadful way you are flirting with that
poor man-but l shall tell him this
very day.
you won't tell him anything;
there's a dear" interrupted May
Neither of US is the least bit
serious; it is only pour passe lie temps
In Tact, | think he's in love with an
other girl"
DO you really think so?" said Mrs.
Eustace, Frightening visibIy. "What
evidence is there?'
Il have my reasons said May
airily. But they were too shadowy to
put to the test of Mrs. Eustace's COM
mon sense. And the lady herself was
too much relieved to press the ques-
ton.
But the scolding put May on her
guard against any possible love
making on Wits part
No girl should ever allow a man to
propose to her unless she is going
to accept him. she was thinking, as