The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1879-02-13


had no chance that day, nor the next, to
get her to myself. I tried to think OF
something that / could do or show her that
would amuse and detain her. It seemed
as though I had exhausted oil my re-
sources. when at last brilliant idea
occurred to me; I would show her
the presents I had brought for sister
Nell. They we're all in my little sea
trunk, and I knew that she couldn't re-
sist their attractions. She came up on
deck bright and beautiful as ever.
"'Isn't it delightful she said, to
think that tomorrow we shall be at
home7 I can hardly wait for the time
to come; and yet'-and her voice dropped
into the dearly-loved soft tone the
voyage has been a most charming one,
owing to your Kindness she added,
brightly.
"I longed to launch forth my tale of
love, but thinking it more prudent to
wait until I had secured her wholly to
myself, I asked her, in the most ordi-
nary manner, if she wouldn't enjoy look
ing at some little trinkets that had
picked up in Paris. Her eyes sparkled.
"Yes, indeed she said. Nothing
could be more delightful than to get a
glimpse of Paris while at sea.
81 went below and got all my pretty
nouveautes, and brought them up to her.
Placing chair in quiet corner, and
we'll hid from the other people, then
drawing mine up beside her, I began
showing, one by one, my collection of
odd things.
"' Where did you get them, Mr.. Rem
ingtona I hunted all over Paris, and
found nothing half 30 pretty. What ex-
quisite porte bOnheurs" and she slipped
one after another of my carefully-chosen
bracelets on to her little plump wrists,
and turned them FIRST on one side and
then on the other.
"I knew Nell's taste, and had
searched for something uncommon, and
was we'll pleased with what I had
bought. But Nell and everything were
forgotten with this bewitching creature
by my side, and when she made move
to take them off, I said, laughingly, of
course, 'Oh, don't disturb them; they
look 80 we'll where they are, and it is 80
pleasant, you know, to get glimpse of
Paris while at sea.'
"She kept them on, and l opened
the other boxes. There were rings,
crosses, medallions, chatelaines and
many other ornaments of curious de-
sign. The widow decked herself, and
was in high glee. A child could not
have enjoyed it more. L watched her
with loving eyes, told her where each
one came from, and helped fasten them
on.
Gel feel like an Indian princess, she
said, and ought to have throne and a
crowd of kneeIing courtiera, aud the
picture would be complete
"Cant you imagine throne p
said, 'and take me for kneeling courtiers
WouLln't my lovo cnmpensato-for tho
admiring crowd?'
"She looked up quickly, and was
about to answer, when one of those eter.
nal old bores that, no matter when you
cross, are always to be found on ship
board, came up, and began telling of
his early "reminiscences; what the sea
was twenty years ago-as though the
Sc had ever changed-and how, when
he had first crossed, his friends never
expected to see him again. He had
made his will, and they parted as
though he were to be forever lost to
them. I assure you that I silently
wished in my heart that he had never
turned up again. Without saying a
word, I got up, took my boxes, and left
my Indian princess. I was thoroughly
angry with the old fellow for interrupt
ing our tete-a-tete, and seriously annoy
ed with Mrs. - for listening to and
answering him. I made up my mind
that that game had been played long
enough. I would ask her the simple
question the first chance I got, and
know my fate at once. But the chance
did not come as soon as I expected it
would.
"She went to her room with sick.
headache, so she said, and I paced the
deck alone. We were along way up the
harbor when she made her appearance
the following day. She said that she had
hurried with her packing, thinking that
we we're nearer than we really were to
the city.
"'Oh, Mr.. Remington, had no op.
portunity of returning your jewelry,
and so packed them with my things.
But you are coming, you know, to dine
with me on Saturday, and l will then
give them to you.
Certainly said. 'There is no
time for us to change them now. Wear
them until see you again.
81 had fully made up my mind that
as I had been baff1ed so often, Iwould
now wait until had seen her in her own
home before 1 opened my heart to her,
or rather before asked her my fate.
She already knew my heart. There was
no time to talk all was excitement; we
were rapidly approaching; handker-
chiefs were waving from the docks. The
widow was straining her eyes, and sud-
denly leaving me and going further
forward, saw her throw kiss. How I
longed to catch it looked with jealous
eyes to see who would take it up and
answer it, Foremost among the crowd
was great big man-six feet, and broad
in proportion. It was he who was re-
turning her kisses. Gould it be her
brother, or was it friend, and this
merely pleasant greeting from a
distance2
81 watched him come on board, and
what did the big idiot do but catch her
up in his arms-my sweet one, whom,
though loving, I had never dared to
touch-and kiss her over and over again
1 could have knocked him down.
"On drawing near to them, l saw
that neither OF them noticed me. She
had forgotten my existence. With a
heart-sick feeling 1 turned away. Was
this to be the end? Why had l come
home? I could hear them talking,
though too miserable to listen. They
came nearer, and the same soft voice
kbok loro1 GO Jaorlv aai6. Mr. REM