The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-01
An II Wind that Blows Nobody Good.


An III Wind that Blows Nobody Good"
With the exception of Mr.. Bruce, who,
with an interest in the Ice Company, was
going ont to India, accompanied by his
wife and two children-with the cxcep-
ton of this family, Miss Serena Selden,
ard Mr.. Anson Surrey, there were no
other passengers on board the Fairy,
bound for India and Japan. Indeed, Mr..
Surrey had no idea that they numbered
80 many souls, and was quite stunned
one morning, when they had been some
weeks at sea, at the sight of q real live
young lady sitting on deck, crocheting
and 'tdlking with Mrs. Bruce as if she
had not rained down over night.
"Where in the deuce did that. heaven
ly 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 Amys governess. Let
me Introduce you, Surrey; it's pity not
to embrace all the advantages of travel.
We're q small family on board. We
really onght to know each other; it's a
duty we owe society," and Mr.. Surrey
was Immediately presented in due form.
"I could hardly believe my eyes, Miss
Sel'len, when saw that we had another
passenger just now," said Mr.. Surrey.
cit is n most agreeable surprise, I as
sure 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 eachother's weak
points" "
"Mine are Mt your service, if they will
amuse you," laughed Mr.. Surrey, not at
all certain that he had any.
"You are really too generous. Don't
expect to hold out so good-naturedly.
We are all pretty sure to quarrel and
hate each other before the voyage is
ended, you know. Doubtless, Mrs.
Bruce and I 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 cats cradle with me,
please ?" interrupted little Amy. cts
snch long day"
"You sec the dcmoralizing effects
of travel already, Mr.. Surrey" she
said. eyes, Amy, anything to pass tho
time"
"Well, it's done now, this minute.
Three tums two is six, three tums three
is nine, ;" rattling off her table in a breath.
"Have you got string?' Miss Selden
offe d the ribbon on her fan. "That.ll
do splendid. We won't leave Mr.. Surrey
ont, will We? He might feel mis'ble, "
suggested Amy.
You might pass the compliment to
him."
"O.b, I don't like to do that
"And why not?'
"Cause I heard mamma tell papa
not to give her such thinss-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 conversa-
tion, and had found mutual acqnaiutances
to discuss.
"How narrow the world is, to be
sure!' said Serena. 1T seems so odd
that you, n total stranger yesterday,
should know some of my friends, perhaps
even better than do"
We were. speaking of Professor
Lombard. I believe his nephew, Ned,
is in India somewhere; perhaps you will
: meet him out there"
"Who knows murmured Miss Sell
den, struggling with knot in her thread,
and smiling to herself. "Have you ever
seen him?"
"We we've classmates at Yale. We
played many foolish prank together.
He used to swear that he should die q
bachelor, in those days"
"Like Benedick, because he didn't
expect to live to get married. Tell me
about your foolish pranks' at Yale y
and as everybody is aware that these
stories have family resemblance to
those OF Scherezade, one being only the
sequel to another, it was luncheon-time
long before Mr.. Surrey had finished the
recital. On shipboard one generally
grows into closer acquaintanceship in
briefer season than would happen else
where. A handful of people drifting
about together, cut off from communi-
cation with the rest OF Christendom, con-
tract the habit of relying on each other
for comfort and entertainment, and be-
come more intimate with each others re-
sources than would happen on terra
Jfrnaa. Thus Mr.. Surrey came to know
q great deal about Miss Selden's
thoughts and habits of mind the senti-
ments she expressed, the opinions she
formed of men and things, and he took
great deal for granted. In the mean.
time they spent their lei ure hours talk.
ing about everything, from Utopian
plans for the amelioration of the present
condition OF the poor, to theories con-
- cerning future existence and the in
habitants of the farthest planet. Mr.
Surrey read aloud during long after
g. Moons, and chatted in under tones dur
ing long twill ghts, or sang her little
love songs full of tender sentiment ant
regret, while they watched the shining
wake of the ship. Sometimes they
spoke n homeward-bound ship, and fel
as if the strange ships crew and pas
sengers were dear friends whom the,
. would like to hug; sometimes a storm
crept upon them like painted Pawnee
and shook every stout cable Like rib
bon, and again they swung in latitude'
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