Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1877-08-23
IAN I'LL WIND THAT BLOWS NO.
BODY GOOD"

With the exception of Mr.. Bruce, who,
with an interest In the Ice Company,
was going out to India, accompanied
by his wife and two children-with the
exception of this family, Miss Serena
Selden, and Mr. Arson Surrey, there
were no other passengers on board the
Fatry bound for India and Japan. In
deed Mr.. Surrey had no idea that they
numbered so many souls, and was quite
stunned one morning, when they had
been some weeks at sea, at the sight Of
a real live young lady sitting on deck,
crocheting and talking with Mrs. Bruce
as if she had not rained down overnight.
"Where in the deuce did that heaven
" creature come from, Bruce?" said he
tossing his cigarette away. "Have the
skies fallen that we catch larks."
"That is our friend Miss Selden," re-
turned Mr.. Bruce "She has been too
i'll to leave her berth before since We
started-Tom and Amy's governess.
Let me introduce you, Surrey; it's a
pity not to embrace all the advantages
of travel We're a small family on
board We really ought to know each
other; it's duty We owe society," and
Mr.. Surrey was Immediately presented
in due form.
Il could hardly believe my eyes,
Miss Selden, when [ saw that we had
another passenger just now" said Mr.
Surrey 1t is a most agreeable sur
prise, assure you"
Thanks" she returned. 81 hope
you will have no occasion to change
your mind They tell me that long
voyages are very trying, and betray
ones natural infrmities Of disposition
We shall probably discover all Of each
others weak points"
Mine are at your service, ifthey will
amuse you," laughed Mr. Surrey, not at
ill certain that he had any.
You are really too generousl Don't
expect to hold out so 9ood-naturedly.
We are all pretty sure to quarrel and
hate each other when the voyage is
ended, you know Doubtless Mrs.
Bruce and would be at swords points
this minute, if my illness hadn't post
poned the entertainment"
when my lessons done, Miss Sell
den, will you play cat's-cradle with me,
please?" interrupted little Amy. It's
such long day"
travel already, Mr.. Surrey" she said.
Yes, Amy, any thing to pass the
time"
"Wen, its done now, this minute.
Three tums two is six, three tums three
is nine" rafting off hel table in a
breath. Have you got a string?" Miss
Selden offered the ribbon on her fan.
"That'H do splendid We won't leave
Mr.. Surrey out, will we? He might feel
mis'ble," suggested Amy.
You might pass the compliment to
him"
"O-h, / don't like to do that"
And why not?"
"Cause | heard mamma tell papa
not to give her such thing-before
peoples"
Compliments" laughed both listen
ers; and by the time that Amy had
wearied of cat's-cradle" they were
established on easy terms of converse
ton, and had found mutual acquain-
taince to discuss.
How narrow the world is, to be
surel'' said Serena. cit seems so odd
that you, total stranger yesterday,
should know some of my friends, per-
haps even better than | do"
We were speaking of Professor
Lombard Ibelieve his nephew, Ned
is in India somewhere; perhaps you
will meet him out there"
Who knows?" murmTed Miss Sell
den, struggling with a knot in her thread,
and smiling to herself. :" Have you
syer seen him.
We were classmates ut Yale. We
played many foolish prank together.
He used to swear that he should die a
bachelor, III those days"
Like Benedick, perhaps because he
didn't expect to live to get married. Tell
me about your foolish pranks' at
Yale" and rs everybody is aware that
these stories have family resemblance
to those OF Scheherezade, one being
only tie sequel to another, it was
luncheon-time long before Mr.. Surrey
had finished the recital. On shipboard
one naturally grows into closer ac-
workmanship in a briefer season than
would happen elseWere. A handful of
people drifting about together, cut off
from communication with the rest of
Christendom, contract the habit of re-
lying on each other for comfort and en-
with each others resources than would
happen in years of social intercourse on
terra tirna Thus Mr. Surrey came to
know great deal about Miss Selden's
thoughts and habits of mind, the senti-
ments she expressed, the opinion she
formed of men and things, and he took
a great deal for granted. In the mean
time they spent their leisure hours talk
ing about everything, from Utopian
plans for the amelioration of the present
condition of the poor, to theories con-
corning a future existence and the in
habitants of the farthest planet. They
played romping games with the chill
dren, cards with Mr. and Mrs. Bruce,
and chess by themselves; they even
composed little farce, and acted it in
the saloon, with the captain and mate
and the Bruce family for audience. Mr..
Surrey read aloud during long after
moons, and chatted in undertones dur
ing long twiights, or sang her little love
songs full of tender sentiment and re-
greet, while they watched the shining
wake of the ship. Sometimes they
sighted another craft, which, like ghost,
trembled an instant upon the far hori-
IONS rim," and vanished; sometimes
they spoke ahomeward-bounds ship. and
felt as if the strange ships crew aud
passengers were dear friends whom
they would like to hug; sometimes a
storm crept upon them like a painted
Pawnee, and shook every stout cable
like ribbon, and again they swung in