Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1866-08-31

We sailed from Liverpool on
dark spring day, with a lowering sky
above, and fast roughening waves be-
low, a keen wind blowing from the
shore, and promise of a far heavier
breeze when once we'll out to sea.
The passengers in the first cabin
were few, and some of them were al
ready lying in their berths before the
Mersey was fairly left behind. One
lady, however, who seemed a better
sailor than her companions, remained
in the saloon reading book, while
the doctor and [ sat chatting, not very
far away.
Seeing my medical friend glance
curiously once or twice that way, |
took an opportunity to follow his ex-
ample. My scrutiny was well re-
warded, for never had I seen a fairer
face. Soft, dark eyes, shaded by long,
sweeping lashes, a finely oval face,
framed in bands and braids of jetty
hair, a small mouth, whose express
sion of patient, hopeless sa dness
struck me more forcibly than any
thing else-had | been an artist, in
stead of a mere penny-a-liner my
sketch book would indeed have con-
tanned a gem.
While I sat gazing at her, rather
rudely, perhaps, she raised her eyes
suddenly and met my own. A faint
flush dyed her pale cheek, and in a
moment or two she rose from her
seat, laid down her book, and retreat
ed to her cabin. Feeling vexed and
annoyed with myself for having so
manifestly driven her away, l turned
again to the doctor, and was about to
make a remark to that effect when a
tall, handsome man, apparently about
thirty-fve years of age, entered the
cabin, and strolling to the farther
end, sat down upon the sofa, ard took
up the very book which the young
lady had been reading. | was almost
as deeply impressed by his appear
ance as | had been by hers. Al,
though dressed in plain clothes, his
frank, open air, his sunburned cheek
and laughing dark blue eyes, pro
CLAIMED the gallant sailor as plainly
as if he had been giving orders upon
his own deck. But spite of his frank
careless manner, he seemed at this
moment absent and i'll at ease, anC
turned the leaves of the book over
and over, as if he was more engaged
with his own thoughts than its con
tents, however interesting they nigh
be. Suddenly he started, and glanced
narrowly at the fly leaf. Something
was written there that made hi
swarthy cheek flush deeply. He bi
his lip, considered for moment, ant
then coming towards the doctor, ask
ed him if he knew where the list o
passengers could be seen. Being re
ferred to the purser for the informa
ton required, he went out on deck
and |, having the curiosity to see wha
had startled him so, took up the boo
which he in his turn had left upon tn
sofa. 1t was volume of Tennyson'
poems, bound in blue and gold. O
the fly leaf was written, in a delicat
running hand, "James to Hilda. Fol
ever true" And one leaf was turne
down at the we'll known lines, "Breal
break, break, on the cold gray crag
oh, sea-"
"Here is indeed a M n C e.
thought l to myself. as | replaced th
volume, and awaited the next act
: the drama, which | fancied was abol
5. to be unfolded before our eyes.
II The second bell rang, and all wh
s. were able to leave their cabins seate
n themselves at the bountifully sprea
s. tables, determined to do full .justit
to the "frst dinner out" if to 1
more. As | took my place, | four
t. the gentleman whose appearance ha
p so interested me directly opposit
and even while [ answered some o
servation of his about the weatht
of the young lady left her cabin, al
took a seat a little further dow
She glanced timidly towards him, b
of he looked her full i'll the face, as
might have looked at any strange
and gave not the slightest sign
rt- recognition, if, indeed, such had be
expected.
Sorely puzzled, l watched the
: both as the meal progressed. L
!, doctors keen blue eyes were also
# ten bent upon the pair; but no o
to else appeared to connect them W
1naa each other in their minds at all.
A sailor neighbor talked rapidly a
ar. n well during dinner; but l motto
IN. that he ate little, though he drank
ed. ID great deal of wine, and his eyes she
: with a strange restless light, as if
by knew that some important crisis
APPS his life was fast approaching, VIII
~ L..