Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1906-02-10

mere II slender. ElrllSll inquire leuuiuR
idly over the rails caught his atten-
ton. Although the vel! of her yacht
Ing cap was down and II WAS possible to
distinguish only the vague outline of her
profile. something In the graceful polse
OF her head In the tip of the shell-like
ear and In the lustrous brown hair
that CLEANED IN the red shine of the
setting sun made him think Of girl
whom lie had known In the long ago.
by love. | wonder II II could be-"
and blinking through the smoke from
his pipe.
just then she raised her veil and
turned Harding saw that sh" vas. in
fact. the sclfsame girl She knew him
instantly rs he came forward. and they
shook hands heartily, as became old
friends
"Of course, when we get bnck TO
New York. you'll come and see me-"
continued Nittoria after they had talk
cd Of many things. You know. when
brother married issued my declara
ton of independence. It's dear little
box of house In Greenwich village.
All alone! Why. to he sure. That's
the principle upon which | made my
stand-a woman against the world"
She smiled as she spoke and her teeth
glistcncd prcttily In two little rows
sounds more terrifying than II real
IS IS" she went on without giving him
chance To throw in. for the bachelor
maid has only 10 acknowledge TO thirty
and the world losses up the sponge at
once II doesn't care TO continue
fight after It's ceased Ia bc interesting"
But Harding had put his beloved pipe
in one corner Of his mouth and was go
ing through an elaborate pantomime OF
counting on his fingers. Nine and
twenty" he corrected.
Vittoria colored slightly and strum-
med nonchalantly on the arm Of her
steamer chair what an appalling
memory said she.
Whcrcupon they both laughed. and
little silence fell
"Nnc years observed Harding sud.
denly. He had been stretched ont lazi
~ in his chair. his hands beneath his
curly head. his gray eyes staring
straight into the glory Of the western
heavens Its a good slice. isn't II. II
one hasn't accomplished"
In the midst Of his sentence he saw
Vttoria nod to some one. Following
the direction of her eyes. he perceived
tall. blond girl. Smartly gowned and
of rather naughty demcanor. walking
brSkly toward them \ maid followed
more slowly with a steamer rug and IN
armfu of wraps.
"Ah It's Marion" he exclaimed halt
To himself. And 10 NittOria. "Do you
know her."
Our acquaintance is only a bowling
one" volunteered Nlttoria coldly. II
met her last month in Switzerland"
"IIcllo Kent" cried Miss Marion
Lane carclessly. ns he rose 10 greet her.
From beneath her inky lashes she
glanced nj Nittoria indiffcrcntly and
nodded slightly again. YOU can join
mother and me when You like no hur.
ry." she murmured amiably as she
swept ON down the deck where her
maid deposited her rug and wraps be-
side an alert looking little widow in
black
I'm engaged To Miss Lane Harding
said oddly ut length. AT least. I've
asked her to marry me-
You" began Nittoria incredulous-
ly, Then "A change took place in her
feminine mind And her answer"
She said simply.
shes considering H. In the mean
time. of course. it's secret"
"Of COURSE"
IL love her" said he. bit shame
facedly. 1t must seem strange that |
to say this to YOU he stammered.
NO. think understand. she said
quietly Aud then size listened with In
credible patience to his foolish rhap.
sodcs There never was such an ador-
able creature as Marion such wealth
OF tenderness and undiscovered charm.
Shortly afterward Harding took his
leave. The twilight was fast coming
on. and Nitloria sat for long time
leaning over the rail again. She was
looking into the long ago
Now there was once Il girl. and she
was barely seventeen Oh, sentimental,
To be sure. And he was n nice boy
home from college on his senior yaca-
ton. She had cared for him, for he
was nice boy and had such manly,
honest gray eyes And then one sum
mer day as they had stood alone In the
old.fashiOncd garden he had kissed her.
All. how unforgettably vivid was the
background the gold of the sunhowers
and the crimson of the hollyhocks!
And the next day they had walked
over To the village. where he got her
foolish little ring set with blue stones,
because blue means true love" said
he. Just n boy and girl affair. And
the next week the boy had been whisk-
ell on on a continental tour and had
contemplated the University Settle
menl Finally. however he had COM
promised with parental authority by
going In strennously for football.
Football as II specific for lovesick
a. 81 L..