The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1879-01-01

likesun beams through the sea; and dur
ing these seasons Mr.. Surrey and Miss
Seldom must have grown either desper.
ately interested NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. dur
ing which the flight of sea-bird, the
plupging of some restless sea-monster,
the floating fragments of some wreck, was
an episode and al excitement.
"Dear mel" yawned Mrs. Bruce
"even water-spout or tornado would
be a welcome change. This is utter
stagnation, isn't it, Mr.. Surrey?''
"Do you find it so, Miss Selden?" he
asked, relegating his reply to that young
lady. "Would you welcome the sea,
serpent, or a piratical crew swoopine
down upon us from no matter where ?"
"I-I-shall be very glad when We
reach Calcutta" said Serena. "In the
mean while am not unhappy
"I don't believe we shall ever reach
Calcutta" groaned Mrs. Bruce. 81
think we are just like the phantom ship
which sails on and on for ever and ever. u
"I, for one, shouldn't object said
Surrey, lightly.
"Certainly not. You are going round
the world pour 1oasScr te temps. Heav-
ems can't understood any one choos-
ing this everlasting voyage of his own
his will for pleasure. It's perfect mar
vel to me that Serena consented to
come"
"And perfect godsend to me-" inter-
polated Surrey.
"Some other people ought to think.
But wonder you're not more impatient
to reach Calcutta, Serena; do indeed. "
Cali impatience in the world wouldnt t
carry me there day earlier"
"Well, I wasn't so philosophic at your
age" as if that were feather in her cap
of peculiar luster; and taking up her
novel: "Heres q goose of n heroine
who doesn't know which of her two lov-
ers she prefers. I would like to set her
adrft with them on o 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 people-telling her of
his boyhood and his travels, his firta-
ton and his first hobbledehoy love-
making.
And where will you 60 after you
have done mp Japan?' she asked; "and
after you have made the worlds tour,
will you not long for more worlds like
Alexander"
"After all, I may not go to Japan"
he began, drawing camp-stool beside
the deck chair she had just taken. II
it depends-it depends a great deal
upon-yourself, Miss Serena" he said,
boldly, and leaning forward to look into
her eyes.
"Upon me, Mr.. Surrey2' repeated
Serena. Chow con I Ipossibly have any
thing to do with it?'
cit alldepends upon-upon-whether
YOU could consent to love me, Miss
Serena, as have learned to love you p
"Love you, Mr.. Surrey?' rising and
withdrawing the hand he had taken i'll
his own, while the light that broke in
upon the proceedings of the last few
months, showed her no hattering pic
tlre of herself in the attitude of flirt.
"Love you? Oh, Mr.. Surrey, don't
You know? Has Mr.. Bruce never told
you? Don't you know that I am going
ont to Calcutta to be married ?"
"To be married ?" repeated Mr.. Sur
rev, in stihed VOICE. to be married3
I give you my word, Miss Selden, that I
never dreamed of such thing. Perhaps
it would have been we'll to have men-
toned it yourself. I supposed you
we're Mrs Bruce's sgoverness-Mr. Bruce
did tell me MS much as that. I beg
you will pardon my confession, and
forget it. Shall take 70 to Mrs.
Brucc?" !
"Yes, thank you. I ought to have
mentioned it; only 1 thought you knew,
or it wouldn't signify to you," said
Serena, humbly. "You will pardon me
for taking so much for granted. Inever
meditated mischief, believe me. I was
Mrs. Bruce's governess before-before
Encouragement, or till I decided to
take this journey. Goodnight. "
Then, hesitating, and offering the hand
she had withdrawn: We are friends
still, Mr. Surrey?" timidly.
"Only friends the merest keep much
that resign, nc quoted. II don't feel
disposed to verify your prediction that
we should be sure to quarrel before the
voyage ended, though it might prove a
diversion. Pleasant dreams, Miss Sell
dcn."
In community so small, imprisoned
in space so limited, two people could
scarcely avoid each other without re-
mark, especially two who had been al
most inscparablc the day before; there
fore, by t.cit consent, they fell into the
same apparent intercourse i'll the pres
ence of others. 70 be sure, embarrass-
ments and annoyances waylaid them;
but people who will fall in love, or in
spire the tender passion mat l'ropos,
must suffer the consequences. There
were not as many tctc a-tcte as previous
"; or if unavoidable circumstances
threw the two together, there followed
oppressive silence, or conversations
upon every topic but that which occu-
pied their thoughts. They no longer
killed the tagging hours with chess, or
read from the same page. For want Of
other recreation, Mr.. Surrey unearthed
his Cremona, and drew melancholy, be-
seeching airs from it which made Serena
shiver.
cit is like the song in sea-shell, "
she said. "Why will you play those
dolorous minor chords They remind
me of nothing but desolation.
Mr.. Surrey put his violin away.
"Have you and Miss Selden been
cross with each other" asked Amy, one
day, climbing upon his knee, after see
ing them sit silent for half all hour, look
ing out on the sea, or anywhere but at
each other" have you and Miss Sellen
been cross with each other? Then why
don't you kiss and make up, like the
way Tom and me does?'
"Perhaps Miss Selden and I don't
want to make up" said Surrey, amused
in spite of himself
"Oh, Tom and me always does. The
Sunday book says love your enemies
you know it does.
Miss Sel0en awoke that night with a
dreadful sound in her ears. Was Mr..
Surrey consoling himself with