The Man on the Box
ird day, Warburton curled up in his steamer-chair and lazily viewed the blue October seas as they met and merged with the blue Octob
ed with all the care and love his heart and mind were capable of, to produce this finished child of fancy; or that this same author, even at this very momen
you would have come close to his height had you stopped at five feet nine. Indeed, had you clipped off the heels of his low shoes, you would have been exact. But all your nice calculations would not have solved his weight. He was slender, but he was hard and compact. These hard, slende
bile his features might be, these eyes of his were ever ready for laughter. His nose was clean-cut and shapely. A phrenologist would have said that his head did not lack the bump of caution; but I know better. At present he wore a beard; so this is as large an inventory of his personal attractions as I am able to give. When he shaves off his beard, I shall be pleased to add further part
at the door and whispered that a little game was in progress, and that his money was needed to keep it going. I dare say that you know all about these little games. But what would
th cattle-men and Indians; the pagan bullet which had plowed through his leg. And now it was all over; he had surrendered his straps; he was a private citizen, with an income sufficient for
d invariably terminated in that queen of cities, I make Paris the starting point of his somewhat remarkable adventures. Besides, it was in Paris that he first saw Her. And now, here he was at las
pened full wide, br
ed. He closed his eyes
like, and but once. She is well worth turning around to gaze at. Indeed I know more than one fine gentle
so I am positive that they were as heavenly blue as a rajah's sapphire. Her height is of no moment. What man ever troubled himself about the height of a woman, so long as he wasn't undersized himself? What pleased Warburton was the exquisite skin. He was always happy with his comparisons, and particularly when he likened her skin to the bloomy olive pallor of a young peach. The independent stride was distinguishingly American. Ah, the charm of these women who are my countrywomen! They come, they go, alone, unatteer to pass between his chair and the rail; and this knowledge filled the rascal with exultation. Nearer and nearer
ardon!" he sa
her coat, smiled fa
ed most lightly on the memory. Mr. Robert says that he never wil
The steward that night informed Warburton, in answer to his inquiries, that he, the villain, was dreadfully seasick, and was begging him, the steward, to scuttle the ship and have done with it. I have my doubts regarding this. Mr. Ro
when he learned that the suff
Until now he hadn't had the courage to put the quest
ey and daughter," answere
own? On the contrary, he believed that the father of such a girl must be a most knightly and courtly gentleman. He was
tood. That he misstepped innocently does not matter; mire and evil have neither pity nor reason. To spend what is not ours and then to try to recover it, to hide the guilty step: this is futility. From the al
and selfishness? Money! What has this siren not to offer? Power, ease, glory, luxury; aye, I had almost said love! But, n