Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1906-05-10
CHAPTER II.
INTRODUCES MY HEROINE

cnalf and laZlly viewed tne Dlue OClO-
ber seas as they met and merged with
the blue October skies. | do not recol-
lect the popular novel of that summer.
but at any rate it lay Tapping at the
side of his chair, forgotten.
At this particular moment this hero
of mine was going over the monotOny
of the old days in Arizona the sand
deserts, the unlovely landscapes, the
dull routine, the Indifferent skirmishes
with cattle-men and Indians; the pa
gan bullet which had plowed through
his leg. And now 1t was all over; he
had surrendered his straps; he was a
private citizen, with an income sufIl-
way, $4,000 a year, if one does not
attempt to cover the distance in a
S. 900 motor-car; and he hated all
locomotion that was not horse-fesh.
For nine months he had been wan
dering over Europe, if not happy, at
least in a satisfied frame of mind.
Four of these months had been delight
fully passed in Paris; and as his no.
mad excursions had invariably termin-
ated in that queen of cities, | make
Paris the starting point of his some
what remarkable adventures. Besides,
it was in Paris that he first saw her
And now, here he was at last, home
wardbound. That phrase had a
mighty pleasant sound; it was to the
he might yet have been in Paris but
for one thing: She was on board this
very boat.
Suddenly his eyes opened full wide,
bright with eagerness.
'It is she!" he murmured. He
closed his eyes again, the hypocrite!
Permit me to introduce you to my
heroine. Mind you, she is not my Gre
alton; only Heaven may produce her
like, and but once. She is well worth
turning around to gaze at Indeed
know more than one fine gentleman
who forgot the time of day, the i'm
portant engagement, or the trend of
his thought, when she passed by.
She was coming forward, leaning
against the wind and inclining to the
uncertain roll of the ship. A gray
raincoat fitted snugly the youthful,
rounded figure. Her hands were
plunged into the pockets. You may
be sure that Mr. Robert noted through
his half-closed eyelids these inconse-
quent details. A tourist hat sat
jauntily on the fine light brown hair,
that color which has no appropriate
metaphor. Cat least. | have never
found one, and I am not in love with
her and never was.) Warburton has
described to me her eyes, so | am pos
1tive that they were as heavenly blue
as rajah's sapphire Her height is
of no moment. What man ever trou-
bled himself about the height of a
woman so long as he wasn't under
sized himself? What pleased War
burton was the exquisite skin. He
was always happy with his compari-
sons, and particularly when he likened
her skin to the bloomy olive pallor of
young peach. The independent
stride was distinguishingly American.
An, the charm of these women who
are my countrywomen! They come
they go, alone, unattended, courageous
'-N++DN'' SNiitSo bOIu, tlldlI "llQOut
being rude; inimitable In what an
amiable frame of mind Nature must
have been on the day she cast these
molds. But | proceed. The young
woman's chin was tilted. and Warbur-
ton could tell by the dilated nostrils
that she was breathing in the gale
with all the joy of living, filing her
healthy lungs with it as that rare
daughter of the Cyprian Isle might
have done as she sprang that morn
from the jeweled Mediterranean spray,
that beggars brooch of Neptune's.
Warburton's heart hadn't thrilled so
since the day when he first donned
cadet gray. There was scarce any
room for her to pass between his chair
and the rail; and this knowledge filled
the rascal with exultation. Nearer
and nearer she came He drew in his
breath as the corner of his foot-rest
(aided by the sly wind caught her
rain-coat.
Il beg your pardon!" he said sitting
up.
She quickly released her coat. smiled
family, and passed on.
Sometimes the most lasting impress
sions are those which are printed most
lightly on the memory. Mr. Robert
says that he never will forget that
first smile. And he didn't even know
her name then.
| was about to engage your atten-
ton with description of the william.
but on second thought | have decided
that it would be rather unfair. For
at that moment he was at a disadvan-
tage. Nature was furnishing him for
a few shortcomings. The steward that
night informed Warburton, in answer
to his inquiries. that he, the william,
was dreadfully seasick, and was beg
eing him, the steward, to scuttle the
ship and have done with It, / have
my doubts regarding this Mr. Robert
Is inclined to ilippancy at times. II
wasn't seasickuess; and after all Is