Life — October 13, 1887 — page 5: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

‘LIFE: R. WILTON'S ADVENTURE. CHAPTER 111, pr WILTO surprise upon being introduced to” Miss Higgins quickly changed to the deepest interest, and after she had looked up into his eyes with one of her tender, appealing glances that seemed to say, “Oh, Ido so hope you will like me and be good to me!” his interest grew even deeper still, They got on won- derfully well together, these two, for Miss H gins was such a joyous little body, and took such an interest in everything, and was so fresh, unspoil- ed and unworldly, that she seemed like a breath of fresh air on a broili day. And then she was evidently so happy in Mr. Wilton’s society, and ap- pealed to him in all things as though he were a very Solomon, and once she added a spice to the con- versation by chaffing him a bit in a coy little way, and then, immediately retracting, hoped that he didn't think that she had been bold or impertinent in speaking so to hin! She bold and impertinent? Ha, ha! and Mr. Wilton laughed aloud at the bare supposition, whereupon the questioning look of pain in her eyes gave way to one of such tender, joyous gratitude, that Mr. Wilton felt both demoralized and beatified, and suddenly came to the conclusion that this world was not such a very bad place after all! The world became very dreary again, however, when the time came for him to leave, and she — poor little girl! —how quiet and sad she wasat parting ! What a look of pain and longing filled those bedutiful, speaking eyes as she bade him good-bye and turned dejectedly away ! Mr. Wilton did not know exactly what the matter was, but he knew that he felt very strangely, and proceeded to stow himself away in the bow of the boat, where he could think of her undisturbed. What a revelation she was! how totally unlike other girls! thought Mr. Witton, as he compared her to the young ladies of his set — young ladies who were finished, calculating women of the world, and who had no time or sympathy to expend unless there was compound interest to be obtained on the outlay. Deary me, it was all sostrange! And how those eyes haunted him ! how they got into his soup at dinner ! how they kept him awake in the night ! and how they stared at him from his shaving-glass in the morning! Altogether, Mr. Wilton felt that the matter needed further investigation, and so he went over to the “ Pier" again, How glad she was to see him—the dear little girl! She tried hard to conceal her joy, but what was the use with those tell-tale eyes! He had “come over—all the way over —to —to—see—Aer ? Really and truly? Yes?” and then a little flush of delight spread over her face and down her snowy neck, and she gave our friend a look that would have melted a brass idol, and made him fairly squirm with happiness ! 201 Mr, Wilton returned to Newport in a state of mental exaltation; he did not know when he had ever been so happy, and forthwith pre- ceeded to make inquiries as to the price of a commutation ticket on the boat which plied between Newport and the spot made holy by the presence of the Higgins. Mr. Wilton’s supply of happiness, however, began to run out on the following day, and so, with a view to laying in a new stock, he cruised over tothe * Pier" again, where he was profoundly disgusted to find his idol surrounded by a lot of Western men of the class known to Mr. Wilton as “tarriers.” These men dropped away one by one, how- ever, and left them unmolested. And then what a delightfal time they had together, strolling on the beach, and sitting on the rocks! And how charmingly she looked in her soft white dress ! how like a flower! and how she worshipped him! Mr. Wilton knew that of course she would not have let him dream of such a thing if she could have helped it, for she was far too womanly, too proud and too modest ; but — poor litle thing! — how could she control that look of adoration in those eloquent eyes! Mr, Wilton, on his part, was proud and happy to confess that he was helplessly and hopelessly in love, in fact nobody had been so much in love before ; and, in consequence, he was a much altered man, Every good and noble impulse in his nature seemed to be stirring. Ambition awoke, and he longed tobe at work, longed to be doing something Ye and grand, and worthy of the blessed Damosel from Missouri! Of course he had his moments of despondency and hopelessness, and he did not attempt to conceal the fact that there were many obsta- cles to be overcome, the most formidable of which would be his mother’s opposition, for as she had “married down” herself, she would feel deeply on the matter and object most vehemently ; and Mr. Wilton felt that it would require an awful amount of courage to go and inform her that he wished to marry a Miss Hi—No, he couldn't doit! Higgins? Great Jove! what a name it was, to be sure! And then, in addition, he had serious misgivings as to the manner in which New York would receive the importation from St. Louis. He could see in his mind's eye the women of his set glancing at her in a distant way as though she was a far-off speck on the horizon, and then saying in their soft English voices: She? Oh, a Miss— Miss Higgins, I believe, from somewhere out in the Indian country. Fine NOTRE casa or Fite FOREWARNED, FOREARMED. Scene: The seventh story of @ Western hotel. comicbooks.com