Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1876-11-09
MisrelIaneous.
THE DAPHNE.

Grams IN marriage. AS such, it was the
custom OF all their young minated friends
TO apply to them for solace and advice in
moments of need.
Suddenly there was heard upon the re.
sounding piazza the rapid rat-a-tat-tat OF
ladies' ieet.
More trouble" said the gentleman.
at sounds like Mamie Armitage," re-
sponded the lady, listening with her hand
lowering like dove over her tea-service.
There was a passage Of bell-ringing
and lntcrlocution, in which a servant
played part. Then there was a sound
of a rushing of skirts. The matron arose
and fastened into the bijou parlor adjoin-
ing. The door was burst open, and there
appeared wild and gasping fairy, all in
blue and white. She had bracelets on
her wrists; jingling ehatelaine de-
pended from her belt; and some of the
pretty blond hair had struggled down upon
her round forehead. She seemed to be
violently repressing herself Her bosom
was in tunult, and she wrung her soft
hands. She gazed for an instant at the
tea.room door. which was slowly closing,
and then she opened her red lips. threw
out her arms, and in the very fury OF sor-
row, darted upon her friend, crying:
"Oh Polly. Polly-Ive quarrelled with
GEORGE"
"Quarrelled with George!o
"1es, quarreled with George. It's
true, its true. Oh, please don't make me
say it again please don'tr' And she
cast herself upon her friends neck, and
winding her arms about her, she pressed
her burning cheeks upon that secure and
tender refuge. the shoulder, and gave her.
self up to grief.
The master of the castle appeared al
the door. But there instantly came into
his wife's face, as it confronted him over
the throbbing form of the confiding one, a
sudden cats paw. Therefore, he quietly
retreated, and returned to his table again
"Quarreled with Georger' pursued
the sympathizer; lean it be possible Is
it"-(slowly)-"is it-a--tiff, Mamie or
is it, (quickly) very serious matterp
"Why, we have separated" cried the
sufferer; I'VE have had very hard words,
and we have taken leave of each other
forever
Here there was long silence. one of
tiles, and which are occupied insensibly
by both parties in an approach to com
mon ground. One of the two people be-
came more calm as her friend was calm,
and the friend became more sorrowful
even as the other was sOrrowful.
Poor Nannie," she murmured in her
ear. ''poor child-you were so happy.
too
''Oh, oh, so happy" was the return. in
a broken whisper; $50 very happy. Pol
ly. And it S all over now-I-I think |
shall die"
And what is it about, Mamie p
"Oh, about the Daphne"
What Georges yacht?"
Yves. Oh how | hate the name
1t has made me so terribly miserable,
so long for rest, Polly, so long to hide me
somewhere out of the way of human be-
ngs and human concerns. II am very
weary and art-broken-I-oh, dear-uh
deart'
There was a tale to be told. The shades
were closed, and they went and sat down
where the sea-breeze blew upon them. 1t
was indeed about the Daphne, the boat
which was so truly famous for sailing on
the wind. She was schooner OF seventy
and odd tons burden. shaped like a fish,
winged like an eagle, and posed like
swan. She was only two years old, and
had already out sailed the club fleet in all
weathers, and had borne away the Ivan
Schoonhoven Cup two years in success
sion.
ITO morrow said Miss Mamie. with
interpolated sobs. "you know that this
great race of 1873 is to come off If the
Daphne wins it she will retain the cup
and"
"Oh, | know all about it," was the
bithe response: Tom has been telling
me for three weeks. 1t will be tremen-
dous affair, and should think that all the
world was coming-oh, let me ask you
before | forget; do you remember how
much the Daphne won by. in 1871 ?"
"ln 1871 ?' queried Miss Mamie, in a
feeble voice. ''ln 1871, think it was by
eight and three-quarters minutes; yes,
that is right, eight and three-quarters
minutes"
"And in 1922"
Miss Mamie, with her pretty finger on
her quivering lips, reflected moment.
"ln 1872 the Petrol, George great rival.
came in ahead; but the Daphne had a
time allowance of fifteen minutes, and so
she really beat the Petrol and the whole
fleet by five minutes. know George was
delighted. He said he had rather have
won that race than dozen like that of
lS71.n
"And who owns the Petrol, Mamie ?"
"Oh, Clary Vedder." said she.
"Clary Nedder Why, that little fly
away. Susie Stats is his alliance. She
was the one that was so much in love with
George, in the Trosachs, two years ago.
But he didn't smile upon her, and she's
hated him ever since. All, wouldn't she
be happy if her Clary's Petiel would only
carry off the cup!' And the sstute tacti-
tian shook her head and reflected upon
the matter. But in a moment she re-
turned to earth again with a start For
give Mamie; come, poor child. tell me,
tell ME all about your trouble" and she
wound her arm about her afresh, and
bent her head to listen.
"But George is so taken up with his
pleasure, Polly. 1t is yacht, yacht, yacht,
from one weeks end to the next. Yes
terday he was doing nothing but expert
menting with d new self bleaching boat
fall. He is all the time thinking OF dead
water, and his new wire rigging, and his
copper sheathing. He is allowing bis
soul to rust out. Polly. One can't be