The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1879-02-08

sell. tried to think OF something that
l could do or show her that would amusc
and detain her. II seemed as though /
had exhausted all my resources, when at
last a brilliant idea occurred to me: |
would show her the presents had bought
for sister Nell. They were all in my little
sea trunk, and / knew that she couldn't
resist their attraction. She came up on
deck bright and beautiful as ever
'1sn't il delightful" she said, "to think
that tomorrow we shall be at home? L
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.
81 loDged to launch forth my tale of
love, but thinking it more prudent to wait
until had secured her wholly in myself,
| asked her, in the most ordinary manner,
II she wouldn't enjoy looking at some little
trinkets that | had picked up in Paris
Her eyes sparkled.
eyes, indeed" she said. "Nothing
could be more delightful than to get a
glimpse Of Paris while at sea"
II went below and got all all my pretty
,lOureautes, aud brought them up to her.
Placing a chair in quiet corner, and well
hid from the other people, then drawing
mine up beside her, | began showing one
by one my collection of odd things
"Where did you get them, Mr.. Rem
ington2 | hunted all over Paris, and
found nothing half so pretty. What ex-
quisite porte boaheurs 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.
81 knew Nell's taste, and had searched
for something uncommon, and was well
pleased with what | had bought. But
Nell and everything were forgotten with
this bewitching creature by my side, and
when she made move to take them off,
| said, laughingly, of course, "Oh, don t
disturb them; they look so well where they
are, aud it is so pleasant, you know, to get
a glimpse Of Paris tohie at sea"
'She kept them on, and opened the
other boxes. There were rings, crosses,
medalions, chastelaines, and many other
ornamants Of curious design. The widow
decked herself, and was in high glee. A
child could not have enjoyed it more.
watched her with loving eyes, told her
where each one came from, and help fasten
them on.
~ feel like an Indian princess, she
said, Hand ought to have throne and a
crowd of kneeling courtiers, aud the pic.
ture would be complete.
Cant you imagine a throne?" | said
"and take me for kneeling eourtiers
Wouldn't my love compensate for the ad
miring crowd p
"She looked up quickly, and was about
to answer, when one Of those eternal old
bores that, no matter when you cross, arc
always to be found on shipboard, came up
and began telling ofhis early "reminiscences
what the sea was twenty years goa:
though the sea had ever changed-and
how, when he had first crossed, his friend,
never expected to sec him again, lie hat
made his will, and they parted as though
he were to be forever lost to them. as
sure you that | silently wished in my hear
that he had never turned up again. With
out saying word, | got up, took my boxes
and left my Indian princess. was thor
oughly angry with the old fellow for in
terrupting our tete-d-tete, and seriously an
noyed with Mrs. - for listening to and
answering him. made up my mind thai
that game had been played long enough
| would ask her the simple question the
first chance | got, and know my fate al
once. But the chance did not come as
soon as | expected it would.
"She went to her room with sick head
ache, so she said, and | paced the deck
alone. We were long way up the har.
Dor when she made her appearance the
following morning. She said that she had
hurried with her packing, thinking that
VIC were nearer than We really were to tho
city.
ooh, Mr. Remington, | had no oppor,
tunity Of returning your jewelry, and Sc
| packed them with my things But you
are coming, you know, to dine with me on
Saturday, and | will then give them to
you"
Certainly" said "There is no time
for US to change them now. Wear them
until see you again"
~ had fully made up my mind that as
| had been baffled so often, | would now
wait until ] had seen her in her own home
before opened my heart to her, or rather
before asked her my fate She already
knew my heart. There was no time 10
talk; all was excitement; we were rapidly
approaching; handkerchiefs were waving
from the docks. The widow was straining
her eyes, aud suddenly leaving me and
going farther forward, | saw her throw a
kiss. How longed to catch it Hooked
with jealous eyes to see who would take il
up aud answer it. Foremost among the
crowd was great big man--six feet, and
broad in proportion. II was he who was
returning her kisses. Could it be her
brother, or was it a friend, and this merely
pleasant greeting from distance?
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 | had never dared to touch
-and kiss her over and over again /
could have knocked him dowu.
"On drawing near to them, | saw that
neither Of them noticed me. She had for
gotten my existence. With heart-sick
feeling | turned away. Was this to be
the end2 Why had | come lone l
could hear them talking, though too mis-.
cradle to listen. They came nearer, and
the same soft voice that | loved so dearly
said, "Mr. Remington, have been talk
ing about you, telling how good and kind
you have been, and how utterly forlorn
should have been had you not always
looked out for my comfort. have come
to thank you, aud my husband wants 10
thank you too.
q Her husband Great heavens And
| thought she was widow, and had made
love TO her! | listened as though in a
dream, and deuced unpleasant one it
was, too. | believe he thanked me, and
she praised, aud he thanked again, and
then they urged me to come to see thom,
and she said, 'Don't forget Saturday"
Whether / said any thing, or whether
| rafnained naufa Il ,s,orn tkc. 49,. A. N