Mexico Missouri message., 1914-04-23


imaginings respecting her beauty was
so much more than confirmed that for
moment he could only stand and
stare.
For one thing, she was younger than
he had believed; she could not have
been more than twenty-nineteen. he
| decided Her complexion was of the
| velvety, creamy sort, tinted high upon
the cheeks with the faintest rose pink.
that matches nothing as wen as hazel
/ eyes and that beautiful shade of hair
/ that is too dark to be red and too light
to be brown. and which novelists have
so frequently described as Titan that
the word has almost ceased to have
meaning.
But without character the most flaw
less features in the world are like unto
n hollow mask; the girls face was in
stinct with character, with courage and
resolution, the fine hazel eyes aglow
with intelligence under their long dark
lashes. In short. her whole vivid per
sonality was full of charm and witch
cry that might well transform to wine
the blood in Youths veins.
This vision, 1t must be understood,
burst upon Tom all at once; he had
no time to linger over details, for In
fash her expressive countenance mir
rored a multitude of emotions, and he
was looking not only into the finest
eyes that had ever met his, but into
pair of extremely startled eyes as well.
Next the girls lips parted. and she re-
coiled with q gasp of sheer astonish-
ment.
And now must be recorded of Tom
one of the incest things 1t has been
privileged thus far to say of him; it
was really a pity that Van Vechten
could not have been present to APP
plaud. He looked uncommonly hand
some and natty In his fresh white-duck
uniform; and his cap. with the anchors
and the words "Kohinur" and Cap
tain" thereon all in heavy gold braid,
was very becoming TO him. All az
once he became acutely aware of tho
holiness and ardor OF his gaze, and
lowering his eyes, he whipped off the
cap and bowed low to the astonished
young lady.
Il told you" said he exultantly. that
| would know you anywhere"
; And that one little speech, when she
CANA TO ponder over it, would be
found to contain more of genuine com
pliment than he might ever hope to i'm
press upon her in lifetime of assur-
ances.
She was still too dumfounded, how
ever to note his words. Her regard
darted from his face to his cap and
uniform and back to his face again.
= Then, mechanically, she half-turned
away as If she would fee.
But Tom checked this impulse He
was now standing erect, his arms fold
: ed across his broad chest, one hand
still holding the cap. He smiled and
, said easily
Seems as though I'm always TO
scare you. Please don't run away
Anyhow, stay long enough to tell me
what's so ferce about my looks. Won't
you?"
For moment longer their eyes held
i one another's. hers still alive with be-
= wildering amazement; but quickly
L these expressions died away, and she
u recovered her poise as quickly as II
Il had been routed. Her cheeks flushed
+ prettily, and she laughed.
"You!" she exclaimed. "Of all per
: sons! Captain-Captain Phinney! II
: it isn't the strangest thing-but, no,
: she broke off, st is not so very re
markable after all. You"
q She stopped with an abruptness thai
passed unnoticed by Tom. Unable
T. longer to repress some expression o.
5 his joy, however yelled 1t might he
l he said:
i 1T is remarkable, though. It's the
Il rippingest thing l ever heard of-tha
y should have found you again, yol
e know-that l should be standing here
q talking to you, like this.
3 CTO BE CONTINUEDD