The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1905-02-17
ON THE
4TS By LUCY
BOAT 'Ass1'

Margaret was sure that there wss
Something wrong. A sense Of the tn.
fitness OF things had been growing up-
on her for full fifteen minutes. Seat
cd 10 thu corner Of q big diEans on the
Albany day boat, she bad gradually
wakened to the realization that, no mat
ter who passed By, glances furtive and
open had been cast In her direction.
Not that this was an unusual atten.
ton for Margaret to receive. Chances
Of admiration had followed her ever
since she had passed from spindling
yirihood into glorious young woman
hood. But these giances were diffsr-
snt. The expression In the eyes Of the
women said auits Clearly. Thank
heaven am not 40 you are!" The
admiration in the eyes Of men was
mixed unmistakabiy with pity.
Margaret reached biindiy IN. the d.
lection OF her hat. The little bend In.
the back was squareiy. above the coil
at the nape Of the neck. Perhaps sit
had slipped bach too far. She raised
her hand and felt Of her pompadour.
She knew BY touch that there was Just
enough hair showing In the front. It
might be SCOT on the tip Of her nose.
She drew forth her Handkerchief and
dabbed the DIP Of that member but no
spot showed on the cambric. Then
she tried her chin and her cheek bones
with the same result. 5
An odious woman. lolling In pat
ent rocker. smiled at her, but II was
q plying smile. Not for worlds would
Margaret have asked that woman
what was wrong. And woman who
wore lace net dress to travel In would
not have sense enough % tell another
woman what had happened.
BY the time Margaret had reached
this conclusion she was actually per
spring with nervousness. She was
not girl whose thoughts ran entirely
ON dress and appearance. but she
viewed with scorn the ungroomed wo-
man. And at this moment she was
morally certain that her grooming bad
slipped a cog. She reviIesi the manage
rnent or the boat line which did not
panel its saloon with mirrors, but not
Tor worlds would she have walked the
length OF that saloon. to a dressing
room. She preferred 70 sit In the lime
light OF the restless passengers to run,
ming the gantlet Of the iounging pas
sengers. 'e " Y
She was ready to caIl herself names
for having declined. with thanks. the |
vanity bag her brother Dick had want
cd to give her on her birthday. She
had taken a new collar for Pedro.
Poor Pedro. grleving In the baggage |
room In the hold at this moment
What wouldn't she give now for the
tiny mirror reposlng In the rejected
vanity bagi
Just then a young man ioomed upon
her gloomy mental horizon. The boat
had made landing at one Of those
umall towns from which tourists
reached the Catskills. The young man
looked exceedingly cheerful and harm.
less. Margaret decided upon this the
Instant her troubled glance met his
His eyes were the sort to create feel
ing Of trust He was good looking. but
Margaret instantly decided that he
couldn't be blamed for that. Anyhow,
ne was looking for somebody, and she
became restless She met his look OF
inquiry with a nod Of invitation and
drew her skirts to one side
10 II TO make room for him on the
Ivan.
The young man accepted the un-
spoken invitation with alacrlty. He
Itood before her. hat In hand.
"Awfully good Of you" he said, look
ng down at her frankly. II didn't rec
,gnize you at first You've changed
lulte bit since you had that last pic
ure taken" E@N IAN
Margaret gasped. She had thought
Ter own impertinence quite impossible
nee the die was cast, but this young
mans nerve was monumental She
owered her voice so that the woman
n lace net could not hear what she
aid. & p a'w -
sit down, please, aud I'li explain
" course you We're not looking for me,
know that. But you--er-play the
art much better than could. was
a such trouble, and I Just had 10
peak to you"
Just for an instant puszled expires.
lon passed over the mans face. Then
Q pulled himself together and sat
own beside her. Ii
II am tremendously glad to be Of /
ervice to any lady In distress. What /
articular form Of distress has over. i
ken your
Margaret looked straight into his /
'ust inspiring eyes, and her own dane
I. \
II am a victim Of woman's 'inhu- J
omanity' to woman. Don't you dare
laugh when I tell you this, but ev- '
y weman who has passed me for the 4
st half hour has looked at me as II d
y hat was crooked or l had SCOT on n
" nose or my skirt and hlnnsn had