Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-02-11
eeRIGrNAL
THE WAYSOF THE WORLD.
eeR1GrNAL SERIAL sroRY.l
BY JUN1Us HENRI BROWNE.


face, as he stepped out upon the aft.deck-
and imagined he could perceive every one
of his features, despite the darkness.
Royden had no suspicion that he was
watched; but he must have felt hostile
influence, for he was very restless. He
would rise and walk about for few mo.
ments, and then sit down again, rarely
taking his cigar from his mouth.
At the end of fifteen minutes he walked
toward the cabin door, almost touching
Ehrlingen as he passed. The Germans
fingers tingled with desire to seize him and
throw him into the Sound. Although the
passengers came out once in while took
turn on the deck or sat down, nobody
happened to be there at that moment.
elf l should throw him over, putting
my hand on his throat" flashed through
Ehrlingen's brain, nobody would be the
wiser, and Christina would be avenged.
But he did not stir. He will return"
he thought; something will happen to
him. need not destroy him he will de-
stroy himself
He could not understand why he should
feel so. He had never felt SO before but
the feeling mastered him. Still, he kept
his seat, waiting as if he were an ordained
witness of approaching Fate.
Within five minutes Royden returned
he had been to the bar for glass of
brandy-and with him were four COM
panions-one of them the man who had the
two state rooms, and who had introduced
the others. They had drunk together ;
they seemed to be cognate, not less than
cognac natures. They were all smoking
and taking loud, frequently evincing their
lack of confidence in the strength of the
English language by the employment of
oaths. They took chairs-the air was
warm, and would have been sultry but for
the motion of the boat-and began speak.
ing of the weather.
"Gloomy night this, said one "we're
going to get storm, l guess. How dark
it is at times This is night to give a
fellow the blues. I feel uncomfortable
somehow, sort O. shaky."
" You've had too many cocktails, old
boy" cried another. That's what's the
matter with you. You'd better taper off. :"
give had only four or five drinks all
day." remarked third, " and feel some
thing like Wardwell. I shouldn't wonder
if this d boat would blow up, or have a
collision or something. l remember that
it was just such a night on the Mississippi,
about five years ago, when the Magnolia
struck a snag; knocked hole in her bot
tom, and sank in ten minutes. I'd have
gone to Davy Jones, if hadn't been able
to swim. We lost over thirty lives"
"I don't believe in presentiments or any
such rot, said Royden but I've had a
queer feeling myself for the last hour. I'm
not disturbed by it, though. A gentle
man isn't afaid of anything; he is prepared
for any emergency. But if l were super
stitious or a common man, I'd rather be
ashore would by c."
'Maybe we've been remembering our
sins, laughed the person called Wardwell.
81 know I've committed hell of lot.
every fellow who isn't milksop COM
mits sins, 'quoth Royden. ga gentleman
isn't expected to be whining parson.
Wickedness is picturesque. You never
saw woman who wasn't fond of wicked
man"
"You know how it is yourself" ex-
claimed one of the party. They do say
you're a devil OF a fellow among the
women"
"I've had my affairs" complacently
drawled Royden. "The women who have
loved me best have always told me they
loved me for my vices. No doubt that was
true; but you can't often believe 'em.
Never trust a woman is good adage.
The worse you treat them, the better
they'll like you. There's good deal OF the
spaniel in women"
That's rough on women, by C. !"
bawled Wardwell; ''but there's more
truth than poetry in it. Ugh Hear
that dismal moan of the wind The devils
after some of us, boys. Something's going
to happen, sure. Let's go down to the bar
and brace up"
The entire party accepted the invitation.
Ehrlingen, who could not help hearing
every word that had been uttered, was
struck by the fact that those men shared
to degree his feeling. The coarse con-
ceit and cynicism of Royden had so
angered him that he could scarcely keep
silent. 'But he'll come again was in
his mind
And come he did with his boisterous
associates. Once more they sat and smoked
and aired their vulgarity, until they were
ready to go to bed, especially as the vessel
was getting very unsteady with the rising
waves.
Royden alone declined to go in. He
wasn't sleepy; he felt d nervous some
how, and he wanted to smoke another
cigar.
"Alone with him again" murmured
Ehrlingen. 81 wonder what it means"
Royden had finished his cigar he got
up, and in passing the German made false
step-whether from the effect of his pota-
tions, or from a lurch of the boat, will
never be known-and struck his chair
heavily.
"Get out of the way, G. d. you 81 he
cried; and as Ehrlingen jumped up in
wrath, he pushed him nearly over.
Tue German seized him by the collar,
exclaiming, look out for yourself, you
scoundrell You've annoyed me too much
already"
Who the h are your"
"Don't you know me? I'm August
Ehrlingen, the friend of Christina Uhlger,
whom you seduced and deserted, you mis-
cradle cur"
80, you're that spoon of Dutchman, "
drawled Royden with Undesirable inso-