Page:Guy Boothby--A Bid for Fortune.djvu/35

Rh walked the earth than the girl I had just been permitted the opportunity of rescuing; and from that moment forward my time slipped by in a rosy mist of enchantment. I seemed to retain the soft pressure of her fingers in mine for hours afterwards, and as a proof of the perturbed state of my feelings I may add that I congratulated myself warmly on having worn that day my new and fashionable Sydney suit instead of the garments in which I had travelled down from Torres Straits, and which I had considered quite good enough for even high days and holidays. That she herself would remember me for more than an hour never struck me as being likely. So it was purely a one-sided matter, as you will conjecture.

Next morning I donned my best suit again, gave myself an extra brush up, and sauntered down town to see if I could run across her in the streets. What reason I had for thinking I should, is more than I can tell you, but at any rate I was not destined to be disappointed. Crossing George Street a carriage passed me and in it sat the girl whose fair image had exercised such an effect upon my mind. That she saw and recognised me was evident by the gracious bow and smile with which she favoured me. Then she passed out of sight and it was a wonder that that minute didn't see the end of my career, for I stood like one in a dream looking in the direction in which she had gone, and it was not until two hansoms and a brewer's wagon had nearly run me down that I realised that it would be safer for me to pursue my meditations on the side walk.

I got back to my hotel at lunch time, and during the progress of that meal a brilliant idea struck me. Supposing I plucked up courage and went to call! Why not? It would be only a polite action to enquire if she