The Plymouth Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1869-1941, 1870-12-29

ATLANTIC MAU-FIRST-CLsSS.

been involuntary; and so it wss one dav
last year, when, having seen nv small
quantity OF personal luggage OF ooarS the
great screw liner lying at the Shsrf get
ting up her steam, ready for her race across
the Atlantic, was loaing about. watching
with considerable amusement the arrival
OF passengers, for the most part excited.
worried, and the prey Of porters and cab
men, who seem TO DC troubled with no
more PROJECTIONS in Liverpool than in the
metropolis 4 lighted cigar was between
my lips, md was irving to enjoy it--for
Judging from old experience of my seusa,
Mons IN rough sea- l did net anticipate
nucd comfort for the next two or three
days at the least-when a very ordinary
looking man, evidently q commercial
Traveller for cutting house, walked un
and asked me for light, staring at me the
while in SD offensive a mar lner that as 7
handed my cigar, glanced down at his
eft hand to see that it was not meddlino
with my watch chain.
Looks like a commercial, but mav s,e =
pick-pocket," | said-mentally. of course
while he pulled at his cignr, putting
mine out in the process.
Going across:" he said abr,,ptly. and
TO use what would probably have been his
expression, taking STOCK Of me the while
"Sir?" iO
Going across the. 5,ond-Haeelsyn ?" he
SAID again, coolly. AID nodding his head
vessel o
Ny thanks | said. in tone
mean. 10 DC. perfectly Belgmvian in its
hauteur, ). 1 turned aside: for | had met
the appe al of pair Of dark eyes-a lady
was III distress, and, between porters and
pdgg 4ce, apparently perfectly bewildered.
>. Are you going on board % | asked
Yes, oh yes" said the owner OF the
eyes. eagerly. Are you connected with
tho steamer, Sir?'
"Er-Go, not exactly" / said, taken
somewhat aback; and / felt disposed to
say, DO | look as if l was -" Allow
me, though-these men,"
les. yes, said the lady; &" they ask six
snnilngs for bringing my luggage from the
station. Is it correct:'
Absurd. No said; half crown
Is ample. And, espousing the lady S cause,
dismissed the TavenOus monsters who
prey upon the unprotected. and then sent
her luggage on board the Helselyyn, casting
Inore than once glance aside to see that
my rev acquaintance was tall with hand
some, well-marked features. very ladylikc,
Ane. dressed in the first fashion
Seems odd, / thought. travelling quite
alone. Strong minded woman, perhaps"
But this latter thought was 81 aside the
next moment as | handed her along the
gangwav for thnre wis r,,,iat earnest
trusting LOOK In her dark eyes; and the IN
sTers she gave to my entreaties that she
would not be alarmed at the rushing wat er,
the unesSy motion of the steamer, and the
pushing, excited crowd. were grateful in
the extreme. felt iattered, and not at all
sorfg that such companion was 10 share
ne voyage.
If you would lead me to the cabin
where | could see the stewardess" she
sail, and | Immediately handed her to the
saloon door, where she turned frankly 10
hold out well gloved though rather large
hand. d am indeed much obliged / am
obliged to travel alone; but my husband
will meet me on landing al New York, and
he will, | know, be extremely grateful for
your kindness"
The next moment was standing alone.
confounding her husband AID appealing
to fate 10 know why another should have
first seen and secured about the only wo-
man who seemed likely 10 form an agree
able sharer of my pilgrimage through life
Nice to be a young, martlooking fel-
low" said voice; and, turning, there
stood the bagman, putting away at his cigar,
and staring at me with all his might,
though, probably from business habit he
was referring from time to time to pocket
book he held in his hands. Now, YOU
know. | never make an impression like
that ON lady. | never find the sex ask
ing my protection, and all that sort of
thing. Very nice, though. | should think,
isn't it,
tie accompanied his last words with the
slightest approach to a wink, and closing
the book nc pOked me with Il in the side
when felt SO annoyed that angrily turn
I'd upon my heel and walked to the side,
watching the arrival OF late passengers;
bu: to my great disgust he followed ne,
and, needless of my frownng looks, con
tlnued his scrutiny
tried very hard to get rid Of him, but
snubbing was thrown away. Apparently
be could not understand that his conduct
was obtrusive; and at last. making a vr-
tue Of necessity. / suffered him, and he lit
orally hooked himself on TO me.
But all the same he seemed To have a
shrewd business eye; and while carefully
keeping close to me he scrutinized all who
came on board till the time for starting had
arrived. The cables were cast loose, the
screw revolved slowly, then stopped, then
revolved again, aud the vessel began
grandly 10 move forward, the passenger;
waving their aciieus as they clustered by
the side. Then once more the bagrnan
stared me full in the face, looked undeci-
ded, walked through the throng on deck,
got in the sailors way, stared in face after
face, as dog would who sought his mas
ter, and then, in the same undecided man
ner, returned to me, and stopped by my
side, as if about to speak but directly
after he CHI cked himself and drew out an
other cigar.
How very soon the motion Of the yes
sci begins to affect you" he said, with a
smile.
Affects you, you mean," replied.
"Yes, exactly. Curious, though, amt il {?
Seems as if Nature never meant us to
leave the LAID Of our fathers-the place Of
our birth, as the song says, eh? Ever been
across before?'
eyes, twice." said, sharply; and then
walked away, for now closely yelled, | had
seen the figure of my lady friend emerging
from the saloon door; and upon my going
up and asking concerning her welfare, she
mace no demur about taking my arm and
walking up and down the deck.
] must confess that thought very little
of the scene around. though kept, on the
strength Of old recollections, pointing out
the various familiar objects we were pass
III lci ft-u tiC ttCa III NY uthi INV
the remark my companion had made was
not the truth in short, did not believe
that there would be any husband awaiting
her upon the quay at New York, and that
after all it was but bold subteriuge by
which single and unprotected woman
wished to shroud herself in the respect
paid to the married Of her sex.
That she was respectable was undoubt-
ell; but there was timid, shrinking way
about her, so differen. from the quiet, calm,
se.tpcscssion of a married Lady; and
ftlt assured that no one whose husband
awaited her upon the quay at New York
" ''- 'siily lay herself open to re