The times and democrat. [volume] (Orangeburg, S.C.) 1881-current, 1910-12-01
FAINT HEART
rs And - y
FAIR LADY

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said Paul Iouchard. 1T Is now 15
years ago. was spending my vaca'
ton in little town. On the lovely
shore of Normandy, where there is
always breeze and where the cot.
tage ladies gather on the beach ev-
cry afternoon to gossip. One even
ing in August, it was between SIX
and seven, we saw far away q cloud
Of smoke, and o little while after
ward a large, elegant steam yacht
come toward us. 1t anchored. an old
gentleman and a lady and young
girl went into a boat and came
ashore.
Excuse me, sir. but would you
please tell me the nearest way to
the hotelf"
"Hotel Beau-Rivage, suppose?"
eyes, sir" 2
It was Tie whom the young girl
addressed. While / gave her the
information looked at her closely.
She was q dark blonde with big eyes
which seemed to look straight into
your heart. Her features were beau
tiful and / was especially taken with
the pose Of her head.
After she had left could not help
thinking OF her and kept thinking
Of her for a long time. The propri-
etress OF the hotel was an amiaole
and most eloquert lady and she was
not slow In getting all the informa-
tion she could from the servants OF
the new arrivals. It was not long
before knew that the new guests,
the Foggs family, were Americans,
and that, Mr. Foggs had male an i'm
mense fortune in fur. His steam
yacht alone would represent a for
tune in France.
TIE next day the Americans came
down to the little pavilion built at
the foot OF the downs close to the
beach.
Miss Annie Foggs wore a wSt:e
dress with short sleeves and she had
the most beautiful arms I ever saw.
When she entered there was a pause,
but only for a moment, then the peo-
pie kept on dancing. I went across
the floor and asked the American
girl to honor me with dance.
with the greatest of pleasure, :"
she said.
She danced we'll and never SEEM
ed to get tired.
Three times week we had a hop
In the little pavilion.
Mr.. Fo~gs no longer thought OF
leaving lis daughter, whose will was
law unto him and he decided to stay.
The Americans and were socn In
separable and the old couple were
exec edingly kind to ne.
~ do not think they cared to know
ny business, at least they never
asked me. Miss Annie and toJk
long walks together every day. We
sid rot exchange sweet words, but
10th of US knew that deep In our
tearts q feeling was growing which
promised fcir to develop into love.
None cf us cared for the gossip OF
the other guests and We kept on with
our daily walls, although they were
fer mere DANGEROUS to US than the
steer "':e7 which the goats climb.
Suddenly, one day, Annie said:
There Is something you want to
Tell me, Mr.. Toucaard."
"Ard what should that be-, Miss
Anrie?"
She Looked at me and her brown
eyes were scft as velvet.
eyes, know there Is something
you want to tell me, but you do not
dare because you are poor"
'Do you want ne to tell you what
It Is? believe you love me. dare
not say now that love you, but ]
like you immensely. And then there
is another thing. I'm engaged to
marry young man at New York
but dc1't care for him. He is a
miserable d"ncer and has big ugly
hands and thinks too much of his
business and very little OF me-"
Are you going to break your en-.
gagement?'
mo; that cannot be done. My
ather has arranged the marriage,
FL he will not break his promise,
especially as my aancee is the own.
er Of some of the largest oil Wells
in the United States.
Then I do not understand what
you mean"
"Don't you understand. Mr.. Touch
ard, that you are to 90 with us to
New York. There my father will
give you position in his business
and we will see each other as often
ag possible. dear"
"Your father will offer me a posi-
tion?"
"Yes, and he will give you $4,000 a
year. That will do for start"
looked at her. for did not at
first believe she was in earnest. but
one glance at her face was enough
TO convince me that she was. was
Young. loved Miss Annie. and 1t
was rot clear to me what difficult
situation was going into.
II accept the honor, Miss Annie
"Perhans love you. too size
said slowly, looking down into the
sand where she was drawing figures
with the point Of her parasol. Brs
when she raised her head saw two
tears in her eyes.
The same evening Mr.. Foggs came
tn me and shook my hand.