The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-03-17
Ycopv4xht. fsc7. by ". R. Hearst.)

Copyright, 1907, by W. R. Hearst.) " HD sun had set. The hush Of the
 quiet evening stole over the beach and through the trees as the mas terful voice of the tide arose from the restless Sound.
 A girl was seated upon ono of tho moss- draped stumps at the edge of tho beach roau laughing softly to herself, as she glanced up now and then to observe the face of a man who was coming along the path.
 He came directly to her, hat in hand. and bowed. as she rose to her feet and shook from the edge of her gown tho traces of the sand.
 Mrs. wilson?' he eaad inQuirfng1y.
 "Yes. I am she.'
 You will pardon mo for this intrusion ,'' he said, rapidly, "but have an expla- nation to offer you to acquit myself of my seeming rudeness yesterday evening. I wish you to believe that I did not see you or any other person behind mo when l was smoking cigarettes in tho lobby of the hotel. Very unfortunately-'
 "Oh, please do not she interrupted. He raised his hand.
 "One moment. Please hear me out" he continued, steadily; 'very unfortunately, I am a very selfish person; so I took my newspaper into the lobby. and as you were behind mo and in front of the open windows the smoke from my cigarette wet directly to you. I hope you will believe that I would not intentionally have caused you any discomfort"
 tf~,-t 1,- replied, smilingly; and I should not have minded the smoke in the least had not had q cold. It made me cough"
 "Of course" he assented suavely. '1t seems very thoughtless of me. Can you forgive me-"
 certainly. Don't take 1t so much to heart. Your cigarette sent me to bed earlier than I should have gono other wise, and I had a long nights rest. So you see, MT. Delacroix, am the better for the little experience" She turned away as if that were all.
 ''lm glad of that, anyhow" And then: "You seem to know my name?'
 Yes" she replied hurredly; II heard some one call you by name this morning.
 "H'm" he said. 'T have been trying all day, by the way. to find some one l know who knows you, but 1 was unsuc- cessful, as you see.''
 well, we know each other now" she said, careessly.
 Yes, he said, eagerly, 'and may I hope ir the future''-
 Yes; you may she replied, with q smile.
 What may hope?' he asked quickly. Oh said she, picking up her skirts and starting to go, almost anything" :" She had reached the mdidle of the road. bul he was beside her in bound
 May l begin now? May I go back to the hotel with you?"
 NO, not that: that is one of the things I put the almost in to cover. We have not been seen together, you know. Peo- ple will talk at these winter hotels about the veriest trifie, and If you went in with me now the whole of Pass Christian would be talking about me in the morn Ing Take walk down the road for a yh..e. l am going up to the hotel''
 He bent over the hand held out to him. enG stood still, in the middle of the road watching her out Of the tail of his eye, until a bend hid her from view He com menced to laugh as he started down the road
 I'm very much inclined to think my friends" he said to the palmettos that lined his path, that the lady registered ,t the Mexican Cuff Hotel as Mrs. James groxton Wilson of Chicago was quite IS anxious to know yo- v good friend Randolph Deacroix. as he has been since he minute he saw her to know her" He aughed immoders tely.
 .ueard some one call me by name, she ,ay,n he continued singiing out and ,nealxing to a particular palmetto With ,praised finger, and to my certain knowledge she has not been within hear ng distance crse when any one Was