The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-09-01

and the inhabitants of the farthest planet.
Phey played romping games with the
children, cards with Mr. and Mrs. Bruce,
and chess by themselves; they even COM
posed little farce, and acted it in the
saloon, with the Captain and mate and
the Bruce family for an audience. Mr..
Surrey read aloud during long afternoons,
and chatted in undert tones during long
twilights, or sang her little love songs
| full of tender sentiment and regret,
while they watched the shining wake of
the ship. Sometimes they sighted an
other craft, which, like a ghost, trem-
bled an instant upon the C far-hOrizOn's
rim, and vanished sometimes they spoke
homeward- bound ship, and felt as if
the strange ships crew and 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 ATTITUDES of calm, and
watched strange fish dart like sunbeams
through the sea, and during these sea-
sons Mr.. Surrey and Miss Selden must
nave grown either desperately weary or
desperately interested unawarGs- seasons
during which the flight of sea- bird, the
plunging of some restless sea-monster,
the floating fragment of some wreck, was
an episode and an excitement.
g Dear mew yawned Mrs. Bruce; "even
water-spout or a tornado would be
| welcome change. This is utter stagna-
ton, isn't it, Mr.. Surrey?"
C Do you find it so, Miss Selden?" he
asked, RELOCATING his reply to that young
lady. "WCuld you welcome the sea
serpent, or a piratical crew swooping
down upon US from no matter where?"
II shall he very glad when we
reach Calcutta" groaned Mrs. Bruce. 81
think we are just like that relationship
which sails on and on for ever and ever"
:" l, for one, shouldn't object" said
Surrey, lightly.
" Certainly not. You are going round
the world pour paSser Ie temps merely.
Heavens! l can't understand anyone
choosing this everlasting voyage of his
own will for pleasure. It's a perfect
marvel to me that Serena consented to
come"
" And a perfect Godsend to me, ;" inter
| polated Surrey.
" SO some other people ought to think.
But | wonder you're not more impatient
to reach Calcutta, Serena; do indeed. :"
IAN the Impotence in the world
wouldn't carry me there day earlier"
Well, wasn't so philosophic at your
age" as if that were feather in her cap
of peculiar luster; and taking up her
novel, " Here's goose of a heroine who
I doesn't know which Of her two lovers she
| prefers. l would like to set her adrift
with them on a voyage like this"
And the consequence would be that
she would hate both, you Think" asked
Mr.. Surrey.
The following twilight Miss Selden and
Mr.. Surrey were pacing the deck to.
gether, and he was opening his heart to
her-a sanctuary always pretty securely
closed to most peope-telling her of
his boyhood and his travels, his first
Irritation, and his first hobbledehoy love-
making.
And where will you 90 after you
have done up Japan" she asked; land
after you have made the worlds tour,
will you not long for more worlds, like
Alexander"
After all, | may not go 90 Japan" he
began, drawing Campstool beside the
deck chair she had just taken. lit
depends depends great deal upon
yourself, Miss Serena" he said, boldly,
and leaning forward to look into her eyes.
Upon me, Mr.. Surrey" repeated
Serena. " How can l possibly have any
thing to do with it?'
" 1t all depends upon-upOn-whethe
| you could consent to love me, Miss
| Serena, as have learned to love you"
" Love you, Mr.. Surrey?" rising and
Withdrawing the hand he had taken in
his own, while the light that broke in
upon the proceedings of the last few
months showed her no fiattering picture
of herself in the attitude of frt.
8" Love you? Oh, Mr.. Surrey, don't you
know? Has Mr.. Bruce Xever told you?
Don't you know that l am going out to
Calcutta to be married?"
"To be married." repeated Mr.. Sur
rey, in a stifled v0ice-"to be married?
give you my word, Miss Selden, that l
never dreamed of such a thing. Per-
haps it would have been well to have
mentioned it yourself. | supposed you
were Mrs. BruCe's governess-Mr Bruce
did tell me as much as that. ] beg you
will pardon my confession, and forget it.
Shall | take you to Mrs. Bruce?"
" Yes, thank you. l ought to have men
toned it, only thought you knew, or it
wouldn't signify to YOU" said Serena,
humbly. You will pardon me for tax
ing so much for granted Incver medi-
tated mischief, believe me. l was Mrs.
Bruce's govemess-before my-engage-
ment, or rather till decided to take this
journey. Goodnight" Then hesitat-
ing, and offering the hand she had with
drawn; " We are friends still, Mr.. Sur
rey?" timidly.
Only friends the merest keep much
that | resign" he quoted. ~ don't feel
disposed to verify your prediction that
we should be sure to quarrel before the
voyage ended, though it might prove
diversion, Pleasant dreams, Miss Sell
den"
In community so small, imprisoned
in space 80 limited, two people could
scarcely avoid each other without remark,
| especially two who had been almost in
separable the day before; therefore, by
tacit consent, they fell into the same APP.
parent intercourse in the presence of
others To be sure embarraSsmpnts and