Litchfield enquirer., 1880-07-08
ON THE VOYAGE OUT, :"

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 They had been married three weeks, and were no" Tn London making preparations for iong voyage out to India via the Cape.
 We are speaking of twenty years ago, when the overland route to India was an Expensive luxury not always Within the means Of a young couple who had to live on their pay, as the saying goes Dick Munro was young Indian civilian, who had come home on a years slck-leave, and had fallen in love, three months before it's expiration, with Annie Moreton, whom he married on the shortest woolng and wedding that man in his senses could we'll risk. But he had no misgivings. Tor love IS proverbially so full of faith that at no time ot his life is a man such a true believ- CT as when he filings himself into matrimony, allured thither by his affections.
 And this had been the case with Dick and Annie, who loved at first sight, and pursued their impressions with such hot haste that they found themselves married before they had quite realized that they had met. Of course, in his wife's eyes, Dick was the finest, hanusomest, noblest creature the universe could produce. He was something of all these, but net to the extent of his wife's imagin- ings. Dick, on the other hand, was not quite so carried away by his ideas about his wife, Tor he knew that the world contained far pret- tier women: but none, he felt, were kinder or truer than she. And so this reckless pair had better grounds than the majority for talk Ing the future on trust, and chancing happi- ness.
 Dinner was laid, and Annie was watching for her husbands return from the window of a hrst-tioor apartmentin street off Baker-street. She had not long to wait; presently fine, manly, looking fellow, with open countenance and soft, expressive eyes, came bounding up the stairs, at the top of which he was met by a very adoring little wife.
 tits all square, little woman," he eaclaim- ed, kissing her. ''I have secured capital cabin on the upper deck, off the cuddy. There are very few names down as yet so I had my plck-No. 10. And now let me have some thing to eat, for l am aa hungry as hun-
 Saying this. he disappeared to prepare for dinner, while his wife rang to have it served quickly.
 lit is one of Greens best ships" said Dick, after they had been seated at the table some little time, and his hunger allowed him to talk. Il wish could have taken you over. land but 1 never bargained fer getting mar ried when came home so the first few months went ahead extravagantly, and spent such lot of money that it is just a chance I had funds enough to carry us back round t he Cape even"
 Il am content" said Annie. ''so long as I am with you don't care where I am :" for the gsod little soul was full of admiration and gratitude to Dick for the happiness he had be- slowed upon her penniless girl, by falling in love and marrying her. -
 Il should like to have taken you overland, D reiterated Dick; ''the trip is so much joier, 80 much more life going on an places to be seen. But there is no use regretting; and a voyage round the Cape is not SO bad after all, if you have good ship and nice people on board"
 ''Of course it isn't" said Annie. prepared to find everything delightful.
 'lhe cabin is ten feet square. l say, little woman, it will be a good test of affection to live together in such close quarters for four months" remarked Dick, with smile,
 Annie smiled back, saying:
 II think we shall stand it''
 "There's only plank between us and the next cabin; we shall have to remember this, and keep our voices down to whispering pitch" .....
 "The better to hear what our neighbers are saying,' cried Annie," making light of the last disadvantage that her husband had tc offer.
 As soon as dinner was over smoking began for Annie, like Sarah of old. called her bus band lord and forbade him nothing. In fact, if ever man was in danger of becoming spoiled it was Dick Munro Only he was a good fellow, and knew when he was we'll off He felt supremely so at that moment, sitting in comfortable easy-chair, smoking an un- limited number of cigarettes, with dear little wife sitting on low stool very near, chatting and laughing in her brightest vein to amuse him.
 Presently the talk grew confidential. They had married in such hurry that they had ev- erything to learn of each other except the car dinal fact of their mutual fondness. But now they could take matters easily, and tell each other interesting "reminiscences of their past lives
 And tell me Dick" Annie began, lowering her voice, and drawing nearer as she spoke. ''Tell me, were you ever in love before you saw me ?''
 Dick took the cigarette from his lips and puffed aside cloud ot smoke without reply ing, is though he wanted to evade the inquiry But Annie was persistent, and demanded an answer.
 "What do you want to know for ? you should not be inquisitive, Mrs. Annie," was bis reply, as he smiled. t" ...'
 "Inquisitive? Why, Dick, feel as if I'd like to know every day. of your life since you were born. That's because love yOu"
 She looked up in his face with such tender pleading that Dick-softest-heart of men, where a woman was in question-could not resist her.
 Why, Annie, Samson must have given in to you, you know so we'll how to coax. What is it, then, you want to find out?"
 ''If you were ever in love, you know be- fore you knew me-"
 ,p rit ftyy girl met" ..a a. 1a- ..-
 That is not what mean. know you are f1irt, you need not tell me that but were you ever engaged-to be married, so that-O, Dick, l might have lost your Answer me seriously, yes or no ?" s... .t.l ...'. .--...
 Seriously, then, yes." .....
 'Ah! who to?" she cried, pang of jeal- ousy shooting through her heart, and, uncon- cealed, showing itself in her eyes. -. 2. ''There, now. I am fool. ought not to have told you," cried Dick, who had read in her face what she was feeling.
 ''Indeed you ought. 1 want to hear; tell me all about it. It will be like reading nov el, with my husband for the hero.''
 Dick thought he would rather say nothing more, but she kept pleading; and whatever he may have felt for another woman, he was married now, and his affections wholly given
 
 tainty of himself that made him yield at last to her entreaties although his common sense told him such old stories are better left undis- turbed in their graves. Any dragging up of the old dead bones is sure to cover us with unpleasant dust Dick felt all this, but An nies influence ovecame everything, and he told her. .-
 "Well, and what was she like, Dick? l must know. rts }" i-. -.--f@ S-AA. s .>Fi.s
 ''She was beautiful creature tall, thin, with glorious eyes and dark hair' D. ''. 'i 'And how was it you did not marry her?'' came more faintly from Annie, as She contrast ed her own fancicd homeliness with the pic turehe had drawn ~ @A"itts'H3 Ht# I7s'7 '.
 Dick, puffing away at his cigarette, his mind busy raking up the ashes of dead love to ainuse the living, did not mark the rapid changes on his wife's face, nor did he see how every word he spoke was being gathered apd garnered in her heart and memory +hi
 ''Why didn't marry herr" answered Dick ''For very good reason. I couldn't"
 ''Why hadn't you money. enough ?'