The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1871-09-01

was about when he had nearly tor
my dress.
"Can I help you, miss ?" Tw
and the next instant I was literall
dragged to my feet. "Areyo hurt :?
mo, not at all"
! Though feeling dreadfully shaken,
could not help laughing, my fellow
sufferer, the poor German, looked g
forlorn as he at last succeeded in sram
bling to his feet.
II beg den dousand pardon"
"One does not always find 1t com
Portable to be at q lady's feet" Tn
dark eyes of my new friend laughe,
roguishly. II have camp-stoOl here
miss-n
He hesitated.
"Kate."
Ibid not tell him my last name, a
chance might cause our meeting Ii
the future, and 1t was as well to b.
careful.
"Thank you, this is very pleasant
I was seated by the small cabil
which covers the stairway.
"That boat opposite breaks the full
blast OF the wind"
He looked at q life-boat directly IL
front of the place where I was sitting
to draw my attention.
1 do not know how the afternoon
passed, but was surprised when tn
summons came for dinner, and wa
| sorry to 60 to the cabin, the change
had so relieved my aching head.
zone feels better when one has some
one nice to talk to-" my teasing sistel
Lettie whispered as met her on thu
stairway.
"Don't be silly, Lettie."
II thought you were going to be 81
dreadfully particular. 1t is not well tG
make acquaintances on shipboard."
1t was too provoking, my sister was
but using my own words. My eyes
filled with tears of vexation as she
spoke, and my headache returned In
full force, while all my pleasure for the
day was gone. Lettie is only fifteen,
q romp and tease, who has been
dreadfully spoiled. I should not have
minded her, but was so unnerved by
the horrors of sea-sickness that any
trife putme out
"Are you coming to dinner ?"
Lettie bounced into the state-roOm,
where 1 had taken refuge, full Of life
and mischief. mo, thank you"
Poor little sister! She patted my
head quite patronizingly, and the next
moment, was gone, while 1 listened to
the clatter of knives and forks, and
wondered if 1 would ever feel well
again. l tried to think of Paris, and
my purse of bright Napoleons which 1
intended to spend in that city, but l
could not feel interested.
"Kate'-Lettie was back again with
an orange in her hand, while hand
full of almonds and raisins were show
cred over me-"wOn't you come on
deck, sister? will fix you if you will
Gomez
"Vo, feel too badly"
II am so sorry" Lettie was gone,
only to dart back again in a few mo-
ments with face full of mischief.
"Somebody watched yonr place all
through dinner, and he has just asked
me if you are not coming on deck.
What shall say? "Shoo, fly, don't
boder me ?"
''Do 60, LettieW
My sisters spirits and clatter were
too much for me, and l lOnged to be
left alone in my misery.
For half hour my head ached viO-
lently, and then, the pain being some
what lessened, my thoughts returned
to those on deck.
81 do wonder If Lettie will deliver
any ridiculous message-it would be
just like her. I wonder where papa
is, have not seen him all day.n
was beginning to feel lonely and neg
lected, and would have liked to 20 on
deck again, but was afraid to make the
attempt alone. While 1 was thus
thinking, my mischevious sister, half
penitent for giving me trouble, again
darted into the state-rOom.
"It is glorious on deck. You must
come, Kate. Wait till my hands are a
little warm, and will help you dress"
1t was pleasant to look at Lettie, as,
seated on our trunk, she rubbed her
little red hands one over the other
to make them warm.
"Papa has been talking with such q
nice gentleman. know he likes him.
His name is John Gilcreast, and he
lives in New Yorksaand is a lawyer
and rich. He is 90lng to Scotland
about some pOky business he was talk
ing to papa of. l did not understand
him, and papa told me to come down
for you. tits he, too, Kate"
"What he?'
"Oh, the man who upset the wine
on your dress. Papa told him how
mamma died five years ago, and he
told him how much he loved you and
me, Kate; that we were all the child
rem he had, and that We also lived in
New York. Then I told him how we
were going abroad for your health"
"NOw, Lettie."
"Well, Kate, it is best to be interest
ing, you know. Come, are you ready?"
And before I realized what she was
about, my vigOurOus little sister had
me cloaked and hooded and we were
up the stairs to the deck.
The next evening we were full of
life and spirits, and by this time felt
almost myself, though my headache
had not entirely gone. There were
three young girls besides Lettie and
myself on the steamer; and there were
several young men counting papa,
who was always full of fun, and hap
py with the young people. We had
played cards all day till we were tired,
and 1 told every ones fortune, and
now we must have something new or
we should become utterly stupid.
"SuppOse every one gets married to
each other?" Lettie, who was always
saying something she ought not, shook
her head wilfully In answer to my re-.
proving looks. "Mr. Gilcreast, whom
will you take? Shall we draw lots, or
shall the gentlemen have the privi-
lege of choosing?"
"Choose, by all means" Papa was
the speaker.
"I am going to take Miss Marion"
ooh, papa, how mean you have
taken the prettiest girl on the ship"
Lettie blurted out. And Lettie was
right, for Marion Waring was very
lovely. Then Mr.. Gilcreast selected
me, and some one else took Lettie, and
every one was at last fixed.
"INho is the oldest girl? She must
be married first" Marion Waring
was only a year older than Lettie, and
we found on inquiry that l, being sew
enteen, two years older than my sis
ter, was really the oldest girl
present.
"Who has a prayer-bookw We
look as serious as possible while the
Episcopal marriage service was being
read. Lettie even slipped a ring of
her finger and gave to Mr.. Gilcreast at
the right time, then we signed our
names on a piece of paper, and we
were said to be married laugh
ingly declaring that he felt too much
interested in his own happiness to be