The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1909-10-26


the guilty young man who had al
dressed her when she came on deck
was not an old offender. He had taken
her rebuff too deeply to heart for that
His interest in the Chesapeake bay
seemed to undergo no diminution after
sixty minutes of incessant staring
Genevieve began to feel that possibly
she had been too severe. A look OF
dignifed perplexity might have beer
enough without any Of the ruthless
annihilating scorn before which hi
self confidence had shriveled. Gene
We've surprised herself in a plying
sigh.
1t was now time for the panama to
take hand. AS Genevieve's commits
Grating glance stole in the direction of
the crushed and disheartened youth
staring over the rail her challenge was
accepted With a birdlike motion the
panama rose from its owners head.
evading his clutch with dexterity
that argued deliberate intention. 1t
sailed across the steamers bow, dodg-
ing various agile persons who attempt
ed to intercept it. and continued in
Genevieve's direction. On reaching
her it surrendered at discretion. Tame
and obedient as pet dog. it dropped
into her lap. and, though Genevieve
clutched it by the brim. that was mere
~ matter of form. She was sure that
the panama hat had no intention Of
going farther.
The hats owner was not far behind
his property. There was a redness
about him that was not due to sun
burn, but was not unbecoming. He
bowed, Genevieve reflected. with a
feeling Of self congratulation, like
gentleman.
81 am very much in your debt" said
the owner of the panama.
mot at all, I'm sure" responded
Genevieve. Her tone was calculated to
a nicety-not friendly enough to en-
courage liberties in the presumptuous,
not chilling enough to dishearten the
timid and retiring.
Perhaps" the young man hesitated,
taking his property from her extended
hand, 81 might improve this opportu-
nifty to apologize for what must have
seemed a piece of rudeness on my
part"
Genevieve listened with an express
sion as nicely calculated as her tone
had been. There was nothing about
=. un wnlcn one could presume, yet it
was far from being frosty.
"As you came up the stairs" the
young man continued, twirling the
panama. II glanced over my shoulder,
and for some reason your face looked
extraordinarily familiar When / bow
ed l was under the impression that l
knew you"
Genevieve's lips curled a little in
spite of herself. He would have done
better, she reflected, to stop with the
apology, the explanation was so pain
fully weak; trite to start with, and,
moreover-well, without vanity, Gene
We've knew that her type was not
common.
Certainly never was six foot one of
manhood so easily disconnected.
Thank you again, Sald the owner
of the panama in low voice, and he
turned on his heel.
But as he set his recovered hat upon
his head Geneyieve caught sight of
something that made her start-three
shining gilt letters fixed into the inner
leather band. "Oh, l beg your par
donr' she cried impulsively.
The young man did not hear her,
and fellow passenger checked him
in his return to his seat, Selling his
coattails. Lady amt done with you
yet" said the obliging passenger, and
the owner Of the panama looked back
and saw that it was true.
He returned with an apparent re-
luctance Genevieve thought best not to
notice. Excuse me-" she said breath
lessly, "but those letters inside your
hat--are they your initials?"
The young man stared and colored.
'Why, yes"
like an algebra problem, aren't
they? Genevieye persisted.
Apparently the young man wished to