El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1911-05-11
A Pierrot Hero
By william Pollack.

a ccoRDING to most of the femin'
- inc population of Silyersea
Hugh Charities was out and
away the handsomest man in thai
fashionable resort.
10 He sang, too. His admirably trained
light baritone voice was ever source
OF pleasure to most of the frequenters
of the Silversea pier and the BY
ISLANDERS" Concert party.
But although Hugh Charities must
have known that score Of hearts were
at his feet for the picking up. and that
many mammas would gladly have
opened their arms to him as pros
pective soninlaw, he remained singu.
larly unspoilt.
Always he was the essence of anna
bility and politeness with his host OF
admirers, but nothing more. He wrote
in their albums, he autographed hun
dreds of picture postcards OF himself
and he discreetly dealt with the sew
eral amorous letters which came to
him; but there he stopped. He neither
sought nor encouraged attentions, and
he very plainly showed that he pre-
ferred bathing, rowing and golfing
with men. to dangling about with
gushing girls or wheedling women.
And so for six weeks things went
sfble, more and more sought after and
sighed over, the Bystanders more and
more patronized and popular.
Then one day Hilda Marchant came
upon the scene The very first after
noon that she sat on one of the chairs
in front of the bandstand stage, Hugh
Charities noticed her.
For the rest Of the performance no
could barely keep his eyes from con-
tinually straying in her direction, and
when he got up to sing, 1t was only
by an effort that ne avoided looking
straight at her.
Occasionally, too. as he sat on the
stage, he fancied he caught her steal
ing glances at him from under her big
hat; and by half past 4, when the BY
ISLANDERS finished for the afternoon,
and all Silversea was trooping off to
tea. he was possessed with restless
desire to talk TOTO know-this girl,
who, of all the hundreds he had seen,
had stirred and attracted him the most
She was not at the evening show,
but next morning. shortly before
starting home for lunch. he espied her
on the sand assisting small curly
haired boy to finish off the roof OF an
enormous sand castle
An unaccountable feeling OF disap-
pointment came over him at the sight
of this small boy. Hang 1t all, surely
she was not married. OF course, it was
ridiculous to imagine that she was;
still. to satisfy himself, he would just
make certain
He sat down on a seat on the parade
and watched the pair. In five minutes
the castle was completed. a boulder
turret placed on top. and then the
builders said goodby to it, and started
to walk on the beach.
AS they did so he moved along to
another chair, closer to the steps
which they would have to ascend to
reach the parade. Yes: he could GER
tainlv see without being at all con-
spicuous here. Rather deliberately he
opened his paper and pretended to
read.
He got up from his chair and walked
away with astonishing briskness just
after she had passed. happy over the
thought that the third finger OF her
left hand had no ring upon 1t
For the following three afternoons
the girl accompanied by the boy, came
and sat and listened to the Bystand-
ers.
On the fourth day a trifling acct
dent gave him his chance to speak.
He was walking down the pier to-
wards the dressing rooms. when. ahead
Of him. he saw the girl and the boy.
He felt his heart give an odd sort OF
leap. and for moment he slackened
his pace and thought. An instant later
he had decided to overtake them, and
trust to luck.
He walked on quickly. When he
was within three yards of them. the
boy suddenly espied a new sort OF
automatic machine. and ran forward
to inspect 1t. In his excitement, how
ever, he tripped and fell.
Like a flash the girl and the man
dashed TO help him up and comfort
him. They touched him simultaneous
". and raised him between them.
For two seconds the child wavered
between laughing and crying. and de-
eided to laugh.
I'm not hurt at ALL" he declared
stoutly II want to see the new penny
IN the slot machine. Come on, Miss
Marchant''
Yes" said the girl; but first you
must thank Mr.. Charities for helping
you up"
She bIushed slightly as she spoke.
Thank you, Mr.. Chartres," said the
10Y gravely.
'T think I've seen you at the show
everal times smiled Chartres to the
yirl as they moved away.
She flushed.
yes. I've have been here since
1onday"
Fathers coming tomorrow" volun- !
eered the boy do you know him? |
Everybody does; he's a lord"
The man raised his eyebrows.
Really? No. I don't think I know |
i'm.
His name is Lamborn," said the |
10y. isn't it. Miss Marchant?"
Lord Lamborn?" repeated the man. I
Really, this is" He stopped sud- /
enly. Are you going to listen to I
IS this afternoon. Miss Marchant? Yes /
Veil. let me find you seat"
He took a good hard look at the
oy as they sat DOWN
Now must fly. or 1 shall be late"
e said as he lifted his hat and moved
way, followed by a hundred feminine
yes.
From that time on Charities saw
Iilda Marchant every day. Sometimes
4 the afternoons. she brought the
oy. Jack-Viscount Lacey-with her;
others she came alone in the even
1gs.
BY the end of week he had quite