Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-02-18
ON THE
D0> BY LUG
BOAT SARSE
BY LUCY
BARNES
Copyright. 1907, bv 4. s. Richardson

OSOSOsOSO~O~OO
Margaret was sure that there was
something wrong. A sense of the I'M
fitness OF things had been growing up
on her for full fifteen minutes. Seat
ed In the corner Of big divan on tho
Albany day boat, she had gradually
Weakened 10 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
girlhood into glorious young woman
hood. But these glances were differ
ent The expression in the eyes of the
women said quite clearly, Thank
heaven l am not as you are!" The
admiration In the eyes of men was
mixed Enthusiastically with pity.
Margaret reached blindly in the d.
rection of her hat The little bend in
the back was squarely above the coil
ut the nape of the neck. Perhaps it
had slipped back 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. 1t
might be SCOT on the tip of her nose.
She drew forth her handkerchief and
dabbed the tip of that member. but no
spot showed on the cambria. Then
she tried her chin and her cheek bones
with the same result.
An odious woman. lolling in Il pat
ent rocker. smiled at her. but 1t was
a plying smile. Not for worlds would
Margaret have asked that woman
what was wrong. And a woman who
wore lace net dress to travel in would
not have sense enough to tell another
woman what had happened.
BY the time Margaret had reached
this conclusion she was actually per-
spring with nervousness. She was
not a 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 had
slipped cog. She reviled the manage
ment of the boat line which did not
panel It's saloon with mirrors, but not
for worlds would she have walked the
length of that saloon to a dressing
room. She preferred to sit in the lime
light of the restless passengers to run
ming the gantlet of the lounging pas
sengers.
She was ready to call herself names
for having declined, with thanks. the
vanity bag her brother Dick had want
ed to give her ON her birthday She
had taken a new collar for Pedro.
Poor Pedro. grieving in the baggage
room in the hold at this moment!
What wouldn't she give now for the
tiny mirror reposing in the rejected
vanity bag!
Just then young man loomed upon
her gloomy mental horizon. The boat
had made landing at one of those
small towns from which tourists
reached the Catskills. The young man
looked exceedingly cheerful and harm
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.
he was looking for somebody. and she
became restless. She met his look Of
inquiry with nod of invitation and
deliberately drew her skirts to one side
as If to make room for him on the
divan.
The young man accepted the un-
spoken invitation with alacrity. He
stood before her, hat in hand.
lawfully good Of you," he said. look
ing down at her frankly. II didn't rec
ognize you at first. You've changed
quite a bit since you had that last pic
ture taken"
Margaret gasped. She had thought
her own impertinence quite impossible
once the die was cast, but this young
mans nerve was monumental. She
lowered her voice so that the woman
in lace net could not hear what she
said.
''Sit down. please. and I'll explain.
OF course you were not looking for me.
! know that. But you-er-play the
part much better than I could. l was
in such trouble. and just had to
speak to you"
Just for an instant a puzzled express
sion passed over the mans face. Then
he pulled himself together and sat
down beside her.
II am tremendously glad to be of
service 10 any lady in distress. What
particular form of distress has over
taken your
Margaret looked straight into his
trust inspiring eyes. and her own dane
ed.
Il am victim of womans 'inhu-
womanity' to woman. Don't you dare
TO laugh when l tell you this. but ev-
cry woman who has passed me for the
last half hour has looked at me as if
my hat was crooked or I had SCOT on
my nose or my skirt and blouse had
parted company. VIII you please tell