Charlevoix county herald., 1907-11-09

The first time John Crawford saw
her he thought of his sister. Not
that the feeting glance he had OF
her piquant face was like Marie's. but
there was something to the bird-like
set OF her little head, her height, and
the trimness of her slender. swaying
form, that carried him back to New
York, and the sister, and home.
Though he was going in the oppo-
site direction when he came face to
face with her In the crowd, and caught
fash of brown eyes and red lips,
and noticed a crimson rose In her
black haE under the rim OF her black
toQue, he turned and followed her.
She went so fast he could not catch
UP with her, swaying gracefully TO
the motion of the crowd. Suddenly
he lost her, and when he was trying
to decide what shop she could have
entered she came out Of a connection.
er's with a box in her hand he knew
held bon bons She looked him
square in the face this time, and he
caught the outline of smSll, delicate
features, an oval face, and finely PEN
ciled brows above her flashing dark
eyes, under the fine gauze Of COM
plexion veil. She entered cab, and
he heard her give the order Hotel
Cecil" That was the last he saw Of
her in London, though it may be re-
corded that John Crawford frequent
ed the Cecil for everything from din
ners TO cigars.
a month afte. seeing the little lady,
then decided to go home. Though
Crawford never found it out, he had
been the butt of the London shop
keepers, and carried home trinkets OF
various design and price for all of his
friends and his sisters friends. Chief
among them was a seal skin coat for
Marie. 1t was one of those long Eng
lish ulsters, lined with white brocade,
and with narrow collar and cuffs Of
ermine, such as English women OF
great wealth wear on the continent.
1t was made to come to the hem Of
a short skirt, and when he purchased
it he smiled to think Of the dash"
Marie would cut in it on Broadway.
But his smile lessened when his
friend, Lord Thurston, remarked as
Crawford packed it away:
Cad, Sld man. That coat will cost
you johy fortune to get through the
custom house on your side"
Crawford shook out the rich folds
of bronzed gold skin and looked 1t
over thoughtfully. The duty had never
occurred to him.
Tell you what you do, old chap. Get
some woman aboard to wear ii, and
pass it through on her back. That's
what did once, crossing from France.
Id hev checked in if l hadn't"
1t was good idea, and Crawford
took it to heart. But the coat was
made for such little waist, he Won
dered about it.
Some men would rather cheat the
government out of dollar than find
$50, and Crawford happened to be
one Of them. Besides, his purse was
getting slim.
When he boarded the Majestic at
Liver Pool his keen eye singled out a
trim little figure, in a close-fitting tail
ored black coat that touched her high.
heeled boots. She was leaning over
the rail watching the passengers come
aboard, and the wind gave him a
glimpse of white satin coat lining a
red cloth skirt, and pillows of white
lace, close about silk clad ankles and
patent leather boots. With his brain
awhirl he crossed the gang plank
Small need to look twice to know it
was she of the Hotel Cecil"
''She for Marie's coat" he said to
himself as he climbed aboard.
He saw her again at table ahote,
but she sat at the farther end of
the table from him. He tried to at
tract her by his gaze, and just as she
left the table she looked his way,
and he saw a smile that was like a
flash of pearl, and was gone. AT
least she. had recognized him.
That evening, as the moon hung
high and made shadows of opal on the
waters that gently lashed the boat
as il sped ahead like some great bird,
he saw her leaning over the side of
the boat looking at the sky. Her fea.
lures were so clear cut against the
Tater, they seemed to be chiseled Of
marble, the expression of her long,
dark eyes made him feel her thoughts
were not of earth, while the soft wind
blowing wisps OF black hair across
her cheek, gave her the appearance
of mythical goddess.
An hoAr later he was talking to her
in the shadow of the grand salon,
while the music from the stringed or
chestsi Noated to them amid the music
of the sea.
The next morning madam, who was
an excellent sailor, wore on deck a
long ulster of seal skin, lined with
white brocade, and with narrow col
1sr ord c,,ffa of ermine And Cra-