Life — November 26, 1896 — page 9: what you’re looking at

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

ing to the maiden, compelling her to turn away in some confusion. For it must be remembered that this was not only her first appearanceinany society, but it had come with unprecedented suddenness. Her wardrobe, being a thing of the future, might also have troubled her under different circum- stances, but at this informal period no fashions had been set in clothing ; in fact, no standards of any kind were as yet established for the guidance of beginners. She seemed even more amazed than he, and stared at everything about her in a charming bewilderment. ‘‘ Where did you come from?” he finally asked. “Tam sure I don't know!” she answered ; ‘‘1 just found myself here.” Her voice was gentler, more melo- dious than hisown. He put his hand to his side as if something were miss- ing, but his face expressed no regret. “You are very beautiful! far more interesting than anything in this garden.” “Thank you,” she replied, with a blush; ‘‘I have never seen myself, but it is very kind of you to think so. “T am glad enough you have come,” he continued. ‘I have lived here some days, and it’s dull being alone.” «* Where are the others? " she asked. “The other animals?" “The other people.” ‘« There are no others.” She seemed disappointed. But this brief conversation had given her more confidence in herself, and she replied, with a suspicious look, ‘‘So you are the only man!” "Yes," Now this was an unacceptable truth to a belle who was making a brilliant début. ** How do you know that?” ‘Because I haven't seen any, or heard of any; and I have inquired far and near.” ‘Have you been everywhere your- self?” and then, as her eyes swept the distant hills, she added, *‘It seems quite a place! There must be some variety in the way of men.” * LIFE: “Well, it's what all the animals tell me, and the birds, too; and some of them are tremendous travelers.” As he gazed in admiration upon this new companion, he could not conceal his contentment in being able to make such a reply. But she was evidently far from satisfied. After a pause, during which she caused him to feel that he was taking an ignoble advantage of a trusting girl, she in- quired, without looking toward him, “‘ Then what on earth do you do with yourself?” “Oh, nothing much; generally as the others do.” “Then there are others ?” “‘T mean the other animals.” “And how do they pass the time?” ‘Oh, stroll about and eat things, mostly fruit and berries; and take naps.” ““Whata life!" “Tt zs dull.” “Dull! I should die!” ‘‘ There are some fine views.” But she made no reply, and there was another silence, in which he felt her contempt. At last, in a con- soling manner he remarked, ‘ But then you will have me/” “Really!” He blushed and tried to assert him- self against a foolish diffidence that was constantly possessing him ever since he had met this person. **What I mean is that you will have one companion, such as it is, while I have been all alone by myself.” She put her hand to her mouth as ifto conceal a yawn, then sighed as she asked: ‘‘And the neighbors? pleasant people?” * But there are none, I say." ‘Not hereabouts, perhaps, but fur- ther away. Off there, or there,” she exclaimed nervously, pointing in dif- ferent directions, “There is nobody anywhere. I have inquired and hunted, and we are the only ones.” “Impossible!” and she arose to her feet with a look of alarm. ‘I can't believe it. It isterribly inconsiderate ; and I am sure it’s unusual.” “Unusual!” he repeated; ‘ why, Are they 395 what is the usual custom?” “I don’t know, but it seems queer. Are you sure it’s all right? I was never in such a position before.” ‘But you never were in any posi- tion before,” he answered with a smile, She made no reply, simply express- ing by her manner an increased dis- trust, and strolled slowly away. He hastened after and did his best to make her cheerful; he told her how delicious was the fruit; how re- freshing to lie down when tired; of the delightful heat of the sun when the wind blew cold, and how welcome the cooling wind and the shadowy places when the sun was over-hot. But she paid little attention, and ap- peared thoroughly depressed, turning away as if mankind had ceased to in- terest. She gazed about at the sky, the trees, the birds and butterflies, fixing her eyes, at last, with an absent look, upon a towering megatherium nibbling tree-tops in the distance. Passing her hands through the long tresses that hung about her shoul- ders, at first in an idle way, she at last began to gather them into a definite shape. ‘‘ Your hair is very beautiful,” he remarked. ‘ How fast it must have grown; and you so young!" She looked up at his own head and asked, after hesitating a moment, ““What happened to yours? Did something bite it off?” ‘*No; it was never any longer.” “That's too bad!” “Oh, I don’t care; I supposed it was the regular thing until you turned up.” “I wish I could see my own face. I have no idea how I look.” **You look like me, in a general way; but you are far more beautiful, of course, as I was only an experiment.” ‘“‘How do you know how you look?” “IT have seen my reflection in water.” This was quite exciting; and she showed a livelier interest than in any subject they had yet approached. So together they started off to find the mirror, comicbooks.com