The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1916-07-12

NE11glITANNkSHV the seaward-front1ng
RMTI1yWANNSM veranda of a middle
nVNI51S5SASVJH c1asshote1 at middle
HElSS1EalA class resort on the
eastern coast of the
United States. The hour was early
and no other loungers shared the
morning calm. The two were ap-
parent1y in perfect accord with a
perfect day. In relaxed attitudes,
not speaking, they absorbed the sum-
mer hour, misted with day dreams
that were colored, if not created, by
the sun1it seascape before them.
A swish of the swinging doors at
the main entrance, few PAGES to
their right, disturbed their reveries.
A youth in the uniform of the Ameri-
can Navy came briskly out, sprang
lightly down the steps and swung
rapidly away down the beach walk,
his head lifted and his face turned
seward, where beyond the white
trimmed rollers an o1ive-green man
of-war lay at anchor in the offing.
He was nattily groomed, slender
boy, but his stride was masterful, as
one who feels the earth beneath his
feet and has no fear of falling.
George, drawled the lady Ian
guidly, but in a tone of trained
hauteur, do you know that that
sailor was a guest at Ha1cyon House
last night? / saw him registering. :
Without replying, the gentleman
gazed abstractedly at the disappear
ing form of the impetuous young
mariner.
II believe you don't think it worth
while to notice what I say this morn
ing" complained the lady petulantly.
"On the contrary, my dear, my
attention is even now conferred wholly
on the subject of your last remark, .
affirmed the gentleman, his eyes still
following the boyish blue jacket, now
vanishing shoulders-down below the
horizon of high board fence. Did
you consider it a social event worthy
of comment, Margaret, that a man
from. behind the gun-or from ir
front of the stokeho1e-has slept
under the same roof with US for q
night"
Never mind, please" commanded
Margaret coldly.
But | do mind, dear. When / was
looking at that sailor boy, Twas think
ing of another one | once saw, much
like him in build and age, but undel
JsA1~a~,+ rrr f,-~-,, +J,10-r f
third-rate hotel where purse-poor foil
pretend to be somebody. Would 20,
like to hear about him, Margaret"
"I would like to hear about any
thing interesting enough to cause yot
to talk, graciously averred the lady.
swell, thenl You remember Fran
els Weem Smith-the same who's,
name one had always to pronounce il
full in his hearing if one didn't wish tt
offend hin-who swan in the sam,
puddle of diplomatic small fry Will
me. About three years ago he and
were despatched on a mission of NJ
importance, by Government, to al
island group of the South Seas, wher
several national bullies were wrang
ling over a very small insular pie
As the route is infrequently Travelled
and no other immediate transporta
ton was to be had, a United State
ship, the YaaUlbdn, third-rate cruiser
then anchored at the Mare IslanC
Navy Yard, near San Francisco
was placed at our disposal. Sue
a trip, under such conditions, to us un
derpaid pacihcators, seemed a veritabl
holiday of major delights; and to add t
the illusion, our orders included permissio
to take our immediate families with US
was the irony of life that neither of US ha
family. had not yet been made happ
by girl named Margaret, and Smith
Francis Weem-was widower, encumbere
by one child, an adorable little girl of tel
named Edith.
It was always difficult for me to thin
of this same cynical, shut-shell terrapin of
Smith as having an affection for anythir
except his dinner and his private intellec
but he idolized little Edith, and, of cours
he took her with him on this summer-is
cruise that would probably be ever aft
the travel memory of her life, for doubt
Smith will ever be able to afford Continent
tours for Miss Smith, however much ]
might like to.
"The trip out and down was as ideal
one could have hoped for On the W:
horne howeyer txvo DAVIS o,,4 fror, c.,