The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-08-11

From drinking too much cOca-cola!
900
They had Joined the crowds of ex-
cursionists to Santa Rosa Island, he
and she, and had lolled in the sun
shine and traced fantastic figures in
the snow white sands the whole day
through, deliciously unconscious Of
any counter existence whatever to
that of their own particular, personal
sphere.
A flaming sunshade, judiciously
angled, and steaded by his manly
hand, had helped to facilitate matters
somewhat, and from a mere speaking
acquaintance at the hotel that morn
ing, they had progressed nicely. He
was d hustling New York drummer
who had just blown in in time to
spend a Sunday at Santa Rosa, and
she was a dear little bedimpled wisp
of a woman wno had appealed to him,
that was all On the whole, he was
confoUndedly glad he had met her.
She had helped TO pass what had
promised to be an inOrdinately dull
day, and as for the violent and serious
filtration which had ensued, well, ne
couldn't help that, he reasoned to
himself. Couldn't man nowadays
spend a few hours with a pretty Wo-
man without committing matrimony
on the spot? He guessed so. Poor
little trick" he murmured half audi
bly,, as he stTOked the siEIen locks Of
her hair and watched the crowds OF
bathers as they passed to and from
the pavilion After all, he hadn't in
tended that she should be so hard
hit-some men, anyhow, were born
to win out with the women!
He hated to tell her She was
game little body, he considered, as
he watched her face narrowly, with
its big blue eyes and tne finely
chiselled outlines of a representative
countenance. She wouldn't cut up
much-that sort of woman seldom
did, he thought Things had gone a
great deal too far however Foolish
little girl for loving him; he regret
ted generously-but, well, 1t was most
certainly up 10 him to fix up an ex-
PLANTATION
Finally he cleared mis- throat. Pau
Ina" ne began, and the words seem
ed TO stick in his throat; do you re-
member what we were saying Of love
and affinity and so on short time
ago." The little lady with the heavy
waxen lids acQUieSced- Oh it was mad
dening, madjeHingI Was any man
ever IN such q predicament, to be
forced to literally crush the life light
from a pair of eyes like those? He.
staggered on '-PaUlina," he said,
hoarsely, 4 didn't nave any right to
talk that way, nor no earthly claim
to take a little woman of your stamp
out here and fool you like l have to-
day The fact is, Paulina, I'm mar
ried-cad that ! am-and say, what
are you going to DO 10 me?"
To the close observer, it was evil
dent that the girl had Strengthened
herself, quivering, from the effects of
a blow which had been severe in
deed Thel she yawned a polite
little yawn behind a tiny we'll shaped
hand. why, my dear boy" she
drawlea, Il thought you knew l IN
derstood the situation perfectly all
the time, and I am sure that you
have met my husband who works for
the same firm you represent"
When he had finally collected his
considerably scattered senses, the en-
tire crowd was safely aboard the big
pleasure steamer homeward bound
He felt rather sore. rather sOld-and
perhaps a trifle cheap. Anyhow
he thought, as he pulled vigorously
at his cigar. lit might have come out
q great deal worse"
Meanwhile, d whitefaced woman
in the cabin below, who had been
gritty to the finish and whose pride
had suffered more than he could ever
know. sobbed as her heart broke with
the sorrow 1t held. for the inhUmanity
of man. and for the lie which had pass
ed her IiDS in her MAJ, desire to keep