The Elk County advocate. [volume] (Ridgway, Pa.) 1868-1883, 1881-03-10
LOLA.
rrIE STORY OF AN OCEAN VOYAGE.

TIIE STORY OF AN OCEAN VOYAGE.
| Vas homeward-bound from one of
nv various excursions across the ocean.
by which had for many years beguiled
the tedirm Of my monOtOnous bachelor
existence, and having settled my belong
ings in my stateroom, / turned out to take
Il survey of my fellow-passengers 1t was
altumn and the last of the summer tour
lists We're returning, and both saloons
and decks We're crowded with animated
groups. Every one seemed cheerful and
gav, and already several embryo tliIta-
tions could be detected among the young
people, of whom the passengers We're
largely composed. Being an outsider
myself, travelling alone, and having left
such tender pursuits far back in the
vagueness of the past, [ amused myself
with merely watching and listening, and
il is perhaps not surprising that L soon
found myself wealied. 1t was for the
most part such senseless chatter, such
arrant friyolity that ] heard, such con-
scious posing and airy fiuttering that l
saw. OF course after while [ found eX-
ceptions to this tendency, but the quiet
and sensible people on board, as usual,
occupied the background
Failing to find myself interested then
in these surroundings, I began a leis-
urely inspection of the vessel, wandering
about its hooks and crannies, and famil-
iarizing myself with my little island
home. And so strolling along, I came
upon small, quiet, gray-clad figure
seated alone and looking wistfully oven
the waters. As shewas quite unconscious
of my proximity, I stepped a few PAGES
of'and examined her closely. She looked
almost a child so small and slight she
was, and vet one would not have dared
to treat her as n child. There was a self
reliance and serenity about her entirely
unchildlike, but, all the same, very
pretty to see. Her compile Xion was dark
and very rich, and her cheeks charm
ingly rounded and curved, and her
eyes, turned seaward, We're the largest
and darkest j ever remembered to
have seen. Indeed, so uncom-
mon was their size that, when some
sound aroused her and she turned them
slowly on me, / was dazzled by them
they gave her face such a strange aspect,
and yet it was a peculiarly far from
being unlOvely. She was Spanish
lld' oSSu Illuu III Slduce-dlu lne
mute, uncertain way in which she locked
Mt me prompted the conviction that she
felt herself, even at the outset of this
voyage, hampered by the fact that she
knew no other tongue. After that one
long, steady glance, she turned her face
away again and heard her sigh gently.
After moments hesitation / moved just
step nearer and addressed her in her
own language, asking if it was her first
voyage.
She turned with a swift impulsive
smile and looked at me again. The great
eyes were radiant with pleasure, and,
with an exluisite.utterance that made my
own Spanish seem harsh brogue, she
answered fearlessly and naturally that she
was going to America for the first time,
and, indeed, was for the first time at sea,
You will be seasick almost certainly,
then, l said. "Are you prepared for
that 2"
"Oh, yes" she answered. 81 have
hoped that perhaps might not be, but /
am prepared for anything"
There was patient resolution in her
tones that piqued my curiosity, espe-
eially as she presently informed me She
was all alone and going simply under the
captains care. She was full of Joy al
meeting some one who spoke her Ian
nage, and constantly intermingled with