LITERATURE.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2239, 2 May 1881, Page 4

LITERATURE.

OUPID AT THE SEASHORE. Mary Beed Crowell. Madge Lambert gave a vexed little toss of her head—a gesture intended to be awfully annihilating to Mr Rupert Oheßsingtor, standing on the lower step of the piazza at the Sea Spray Bouse. ' Very well I Go, of course, Mr Oheasington, if you prefer; but really I think it is too bad of you!' •Of COUIB9 it is,' added pretty little Miss Balleray, with the golden locka and babyblue eyes, that were considered almost irresistible by the generality of the sterner sex- ' Of course it is too bad, when you know that for a dozen ladies stopping at the Sea Spray th=re are only such a very few gentlemen. I know what the trouble is though, don't I, Mr Chessington ? You're tired of all of us—the ssme ones over and over, and you are reserving your forces until the much talked-of anxiously expected heiress and beauty arrives.' Chessington turned lazily around and laughed. ' I am afraid I shall have to incur an awful risk in contradicting a lady,' he eaid, good-naturedly. Haughty Madge Lambert flashed him a half-indignant, half-earcaatio glance from her black eyes. * And then, when she has arrived, I daresay Mr Chessington will suddenly lose all his wonderful interest In his solitary boat rides and fishing excursions, while we forlorn maidens get through the day as well as we can, for lonesomeness. Mr Chessington, you're selfish I* ' Well, yes—rather, if always wanting the best of everything conoerned is what you call selfish,' he said, pleasantly. ' But I'll redeem my character, Miss Lambert, by proving to you that which will doubtless set your heart at rest. I don't believe in your wonderful coming beauty and heiress, to begin with. And, in the second place,'— and then his handsome blue eyes flashed a second—' I would commit hari liari before I'd marry an heiress. There I I am vindicated!'

He bowed and walked off, just a liitle to the discomfiture of the fair bells on the piazza, went off toward the beach, where his boat and fishing-tackle awaited him, with more of a disgusted, impatient look on his face than was at all customary with him.

'What a lot of Idiots a fellow comes aoroas in the coarse of his life ! Because a lot of pretty, ohattering girls lose their heads when a wealthy beau cornea along, they argne, with a woman's senseless persistency, that the men are as mercenary and money seeking as themselves. Marry an heiress ! Not if she were beautiful as Venns, and every word she dropped was transmuted to a Kohinoor!'

And then Mr Ohessington pushed off in his surf boat, dashing and plunging through the breakers like a sailor-fisher born and bred, to row a miie or so out, straight to another fishing boat, containing* a couple of bare-footed little boys of seven and ten, with tremendously wide-rimmed hats, and bright, sunburnt faces and big brown eyes. And a tall, gawky lad of sixteen or seventeen worried and anxious looking, who was evidently not a little dismayed at the momentarily-increasing swell of the sea and tbe freshening south wind. And a young girl, with wonderful lovely gray eyes, grave thoughtful, yet bright and flashing, as she looked at Chessington while he rowed nearer and nearer, in response to a halloo from one of the youngsters. A decidedly nice-looking girl; hardly what one could call pretty, and yet the pure, fair complexion, ever so slightly suntanned, the scarlet mouth so tightly closed, the waving, deep gold colored hair, braided in a thick, magnificent braid, and hanging down to her waist, and the glorious gray eyes, made a whole that Rupert Chessington quite thoroughly admired as he pulled up alongside. ' You seem to be in a little difficulty,' ho said, as he laid down his oar and touched his hat courteously. She bowed. ' Joe seems to be somewhat demoralised, I think. There is no danger, is there ?' Ohessington glanced at ' Joe's' scared face, and the restlesß antics of the boys in the little boat.

' If you had a man in charge who understood his business, there would be no shadow of danger. As it is, this young fellow has no excuse for venturing so far out.'

'We were fishing,' she said, in a pleasant apologetio little way. ' I think Joe hardly realised how far we had gone. ' Well,' with a swift, troubled little look that was more anxiety than fear, 'we will do the best we can. Perhaps you would tell Joe what to do with the boat.'

Chessington took in the situation at a glance. ' Joe ' w»s too thoroughly sacred to be capable of any orders, and, left to the mercy of the freshening wind, tho plunging waves, the little boat might or might not reach shore safely. *lf you will allow me to exchange places with your pilot, I will row you ashore. I am Rupert Chessington, of Chessington and Van Lawn, brokers. Wall street, at present stopping at the Sea Spray House.' h e touched his hat again, and bowed slightly, and smiled—a frank, pleasant emiie, that was received just as frankly and pleasantly. ' You are very kind, Mr Cheßßington, and I will thankfully accept your offer. My name is Jessie Lane.'

She laughed, as the oddness of the mutual introduction amused her, and Mr Rupert Chessington made up his mind, then and there, that she was the very nicest girl he had met in many a day. ' Well, theD, Joe, you spring in here and row yourself to shore. You won't have any trouble to take yourself only, will you ? ' The alacrity with which the overgrown lad ohanged from the Nellie to the Ulytlo

was sufficient answer, and neither Cheesing ton nor Miss Lane could avoid a smile at hia expense, as, Chessington seated in the Nellie, Joe rowed off for dear life in the other boat.

' I daro say ha thought it was all right,' Jessie said, apologetically. 'Ho had no business to think ro, though. Shall I take you straight back, Miss Lano ? or wculd you rather fish awhile loDger ? ' •If you I will fto bajk, Aunt Mattie will tie worried SbOUt Pie, an,d if I should keep dinner « a ting—' She leaned contentedly against the side of the boat, trailing her hand in the flashing water, while the two children Bat quiet as church mice, w..tchiug Chesiington, with awe and admiration as hi pulled long, st:ady strokes, that sent them spinning along, while 'heseington reflected,— ' She is the moßt sei sible girl I ever came across. Pretty modest, dignified, pleasant, with no sham reserve about her, any more than too much freedom. And what a thorough lady she is ! I know it as well as if I had mfct her a thousand times '

And Jessie, sitting so contentedly oppo" site him, her grey eyes drooped to the saining waves, thought—if eve there was a true gentleman, in manner, speech and actions, it was this handsome stranger, who was row Ing her to shore. ' If you will tell mo opposite which hotel lam to row you,' he s id, as, after a most delightful hour's conversation, he lested on his oars, and awaited her command. She laughed. * Oh, not at any hotel. I am stopping at one of the fishermen's cottages, about three miles farther down.'

Becretly, Chessington was delighted at the prospect of continuing in her society. ' Ye 3 ; I know where you mean, I think. The place we call Glen Inlet.' ' Yes. And you can't Imagine how lovely it is there-old-fa«hloned, rather crowded, quarters, to be sure, but with not the f aintrst vestige of anything like style or amusement.' ' And you actually, are boarding there, Miss Lane ? Why didn't you come to one of the hotels ? The Sea Spray, for instanoe, is a good house, and a pleas&nt company is ther.',' Jessie laughed. ' Not I! I came to the s°ashore to enjoy myself, and get away from fashion and dress, and such things.' ' And you succeeded in enjoying yourself ?' • Admirably—since five weeks ago. You are the first devotee of the world that I have seen since I came to Glen Inlet.' Her gray eyes sparkled mischievously. • Is that really so ? ' he asked, looking after her. ' 1 hope, though, you will not condemn yourself to such isolation any longer —at least for me. May I join your solitary amusement, Miss Lane ? I promise to be your most obedient.' A delicious, faint flash crept softly over nor rare, pale face, as she laughed. 'I am not sure Ted and Uick will allow it. They are my Inseparables.' :TAnd she looked at the two littlo b irefoots. Chessington gravely produced a handful of pennies, which he gave them. ' Now, young gentlemen, may I escort you and Miss Lane on a charming excursion I know of to-morrow ?' ' I mnst make it conditional then,' Jessie said, gaily. ' Please promise ma you won't tell any ono there is anybody down in the Inlet, will yon ? Occasionally fishing parties come to arrange with Uncle Ben—l call the Bettzes Uncle Ben and Aunt Mattie—horrible, isn't it ?—but I always contrive that no one sees me, for I am determined not to be drawn into fashionable society this summer, if I can possibly help it. I don't want to see company.' ' But you don't regard mo as company ? ' He looked with admiring, respectful eyes straight in her own, and that exquisite little flush warmed her face again. ' No, I don't regard you as company 1 ' After that it was all up with JEtupert Chessington, and he went back to the Sea Spray, acknowledging that he was in love at last, and with an unknown, obscure girl, who, doubtless for pecuniary reasons, was summering at Glen Inlet. He liked her all the better for it, too. He honored her for her lensibleness, and he was over head and ears in love with the dainty, gray-eyed, golden-haired girl. The next three weeks were the most blessed one ihe had ever spent in hia life. He appalled the souls of Miss Balleray and Madge Lambert daily, by his persistent neglect of them and their dear dozen friends.

He continued his solitary excursionssolitary until he came to Glen Inlet, where Jessie was always ready to accompany him, or entertain him, and betwitch him, until one day he told her he loved her very dearly, and that it was the one wish of his life to have her for his wife.

And Jessie, with her lovely gray eyes, shadowed with the tenderness of love and trust unspeakable, looked in his handsome, eager face, and told him she had loved him from the moment he had rowed up beside her that summer day. And as he took her in his arms, and imprinted a lover’s ardent kiss on her warm, scarlet mouth, and wrapped his arm about her supple waist, his heart gave a great throb of blissful thanksgiving for this blessing on him. # # * * The rude piazza of the Sea Spray House was a bewildering, bright scene, with the half-dozen or so gaily-dressed girls standing in earnest conversation, chattering like magpies, as Mr Chessington came leisurely to the house. Madge Lambert tossed her pretty dark head, saucily. * There ! Didn’t I say Mr Chessington would not fail to be on hand to greet the heiress? You men can’t withstand such a golden temptation. Mr Chessington, she has arrived.’ ‘ She ! Who ?’ Madge laughed, sarcastically. * There isn’t the least use of your pre* tending you don’t know whom I mean. Your indifference is charming, but not the genuine article. You know I mean the heiress we’ve been expecting so long.’ Chessington smiled—a sort of pity coming over him as he remembered how much happier he was than the man who should be fortunate with this wonderful new comer. * Yes, I really had forgotten. Arrived, has she ? ’ Miss Balleray went up to him, in her gushing way, ‘ I prophesy yon will be the very first to go wild over her. She is just what I imagine yon will like. Great, big gray eyes, and the goldenest hair. And she actually has been staying all summer down at old Bettz’s, the fisherman’s cottage. But then Jessie Lane always had her own cnrions tastes and ideas. At all events, she is here now, and I am jnst dying to introduce you to her, Mr Chessiugton.’ He stood confounded for a minute, while he tried to realise it Jessie, his darling, the heiress whom he had declared, before them all, he would sooner commit suicide than marry ! Jessie, his gray.eyed, thoughtful little girl, in her cheap blue-flannel suits, with no gloves or veil on band or face, she the groat heiress, whose comings and goings, whose doings and sayings, were chronicled in the daily papers —whose dresses were copied by leas favored mortals, whose presence was as welcome as the sunshine 1 ‘ And she is pretty, too,’ Madge Lambert said, a little venomously, as if it was quite a shame, ‘ 1 saw her as she went to her room. ’ Chessington looked self-possessed np at the array of faces. *1 am glad yon think Jessie is pretty. I think she is the loveliest girl living, bo you did not know I was engaged to her ? ’ And then followed a sudden lull in the merry chatter, that eloquently expressed the dumbfounded astonishment Cheasington’s announcement made. So Cupid had his own way at the seaside just as surely as though there had been no such thing as fate to overcome.