An Old Man's Darling

The sea the sea the open sea;The blue the fresh the ever freechanted the fresh and delicious voice of a young girl walking along the sands of the seashore in the summer sunshine at Cape May.Cross my palm with silver and I'll tell your fortune bonnie maid said a cracked discordant voice.The singer paused abruptly and looked at the owner of the voice—a lean decrepit old hag who extended her withered hand imploringly.Nay now good soul answered she with a merry laugh fortune will come to me anyway even if I keep my silver piece.Aye—aye it will said the old crone wagging her head like a bird of evil omen; it aye comes to faces as bonny as your own. But it's I that can tell you whether it be good or ill fortune.Here then said the girl still laughing and putting a silver piece into the trembling old hand; be cheerful now and tell me a brave fortune for my money.The old sibyl did not appear to relish the light and jesting tone of the other and stood for a moment gazing at her in grave and portentous silence.What a contrast the two presented as they stood looking at each other!The girl was beautiful with all the delicate freshness and slimness of eighteen. She was a dazzling blonde with sea-blue eyes and hair like spun gold falling beneath her jaunty sailor hat in long loose curls to her graceful waist. She was fair as a lily with a flush like the heart of a sea-shell on her round dimpled cheeks. Her brow was fair and broad and fringed with soft childish rings of sunny hair. Her nose was small and straight; her mouth was curved like Cupid's bow its short exquisite upper lip lending a touch of archness to the patrician mold of her[Pg 2] features. The small delicately shaped hands and feet were in keeping with the rare beauty of her face and form. She was simply clad in a jaunty sailor costume of dark blue serge trimmed with white braid and pearl buttons and carried a volume of poems in her gloved hand.