The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1905-01-18
ON THE
BY LUCY
BOAT BARNES
Copyright, isa.. By 4. s. Re- rYtisou


y Copyright, isa.. By 4. S. R,taryrisou o
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Margaret WAS sure that there was
something wrong. sense of the un-
fitness OF things had been growing up
on her for full fifteen minutes. Seat
ed In the corner of n big divan ON the
Albany day boat, she had gradually
Weakened TO the realization lhat. no INIT
ter who PASSED by. glance I'rtive and
open had been east In her direction.
Not thut 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 yoHug woman
hood. But these glances were differ
ent. The expression In the eyes OF the
women said quite clearly. "Thank
heaven ! am not as you arel" The
admiration In the eyes OF men was
mixed Enthusiastically with pity.
Margaret reached blindly In the di-
rection of her hat. The little bend in
the back was squnrely above the coil
at the nape of the neck Perhaps II
had slipped back too far. She raised
her hand and felt of her pompadour.
She knew by touch that tic e was just
enough hair showing In the front. II
might be SCOT ON the tip OF her nose
H.. If n
dabbed the Zip 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 ut her, but Ii was
plying smile. Not for wo,ids would
Margaret have asked TINT woman
what WAS wrong Aud II woman who
Wore n lace net dress to travel in would
not have sense enough 10 tell another
woman what had happened.
by the time Margaret had reached
this conclusion she was Tally per
spring with nervousness. She was
not girl whose thoughts TIA entirely
on dress and appearance but she
viewed with scorn the une med wO-
man And ut this momt she was
morally certain that her " Jnlng had
slipped cog. She revIled manage
ment of the boat line which did not
panel its saloon with mirrors. but not
for worlds would she have dlked the
length of that saloon TO II dressing
room. She preferred to sit In the lime
light of the restless passengers TO run
ming the gauntlet of the lounglng pas
sengerS.
She was ready to call herself names
for having declined. with thanks. the
vanity bag her brother Dick lad want
ed to give her on her birthday. She
had taken new collar for Pedro
Poor Pedro, grieving in the baggage
room In the hold ut this moment!
What wouldn't she give now for the
tiny mirror reposing In the rejected
vanity bagf
Just then young man loomed upon
her gloomy mental horizon. The boat
had made n landing ut one Of those
small 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.
he was looking for somebud.,, and she
became restless. She mel uiS look of
inquiry with nod of ihA tuition and
deliberately drew her skirts to one side
as II to make room for linn on the
divan.
The young man aceeptc the I'M
spoken invitation with nj Gritty. He
stood before her, hat In hall
"Awfully good of YOU" he said. look
ing down ut her frankly. Il didn't rec
ognize you Mt first You've changed
quite II bit since you had that last pie
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
said
sit down. please, and I'll explain.
OF course you Were not looking for me.
| know that. But you-cr play the
part much better than ! - Id. | was
in such trouble, and Just had to
speak to you"
Just for an instant pu2 I'D express
sion passed over the mans nee. Then
he pulled himself together and sat
down beside her.
II am tremendously glad to be Of
service to any lady In distress. What
particular form of distress has over
taken your
trust inspiring eyes, and her own dane
ed
Il am victim Of womnrI's 'lnhu-
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 II
my hat. was crooked or | had SCOT on
my nose or my skirt and blouse had
parted company. VIII you please tell
rue what Is the matter?"
The young man tried not to give way
to the mirth which was yelling up
within him and looked her over crit
lc"lly.
well" he said Judlciously. 81 can't
see anything wrong except that the
thing you wear for collar seems to
have slid around. Does the bow be-
long under your left carr
Margaret clutched at the offending
bit of ribbon.
my stock. ! never thought Of that"
She pulled the bit OF embroidered
linen till the bow was posed. with
eutspread, saucy wings. directly under
her piquant chin
Now. Is that rightf" she asked, look
Ing up into her human mirror.
Correct and trim as you please" he
said reassurlngly and watched her
while she fastened the unruly stock
with tiny pearl headed pin.
You wouldn't believe whit a mis-
cradle half hour have put In. l know
now that odIous old cat In the patent
rocker has prinued afrpSh each time