The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1884-05-29

She looked at him with widely-Open-
ed eyes for q moment, during which
he decided for the fiftieth time that the
eyes were brown and not deep gray,
as he had decided the other fifty
times.
..Why did you run away?" she asked
after q moments consideration.
"Well, you see, was with my sis
ter and two or three others; just nice
little party, all the ladies married, so a
fellow didn't always have to be on par
ade. We had a jolly, comfortable time
until we got to Paris on our way home,
and there sister took it into her head
to join woman who had been roaming
about the continent with lot of girls
on an extensive husband hunt-one of
those women who never look at sim
gle man without picturing him to her.
self walking up the aisle with a white
tie, with half a dozen groomsmen Mt
his back, and who has always just the
girl on hand who will walk up the 9TH
er aisle in white satin and meet him
demurely at the altar. l had no fancy
for being cooped ON a steamer with
such an experienced angler"
'.And the governors niece was one
of the girls?"
''Some governors niece, 50 l heard.
Now, what is the naughty thing you've
been doing? Come, confidence for
confidence"
For sole answer, however. Miss Elton
leaned back in her chair and began to
laugh immoderately. Julius looked at
her for some moments, then catching
the infection, began to laugh too, much
to the edification of the walters, who
were beginning their preparations for
dinner.
II have no doubt it's awfully funny"
he added, as she wiped the tears from
her cheeks, ''but l could enjoy it more
if I knew just the point of view from
which you see it.
perhaps you could" she replied
demurely, checking an impulse to laugh
again. 1--WE seem to be in the way;
suppose we move"
..Come on deck" he exclaimed, ris-
ing with alacrity and offering his arm.
''Thank you, no; l don't feel quite
equal to the deck this morning."
She made him ceremonious obei-
sance, and her cabin door had closed
behind her before he had fully realized
her purpose.
She did not reappear during the day.
1t was their last day at sea and Julbls
was in despair. The jetties' light was
in sight when he retired, and when he
awoke in the morning the smooth glid-
ing motion of the ship announced that
haste to see the low shores of the Mis-
sissippi. in fact he felt at the moment
that he hated them; yet he sprang up,
dressed with dispatch and mounted to
the deck. Everybody was there but
the one he sought. He stood near the
companion way, watching furtively and
starting at every step. She did not
come, neither was she at the breakfast
table.
The hours glided by, the city rose in
to view. passengers came on deck with
sachels and umbrellas. prepared TO.
going ashore, but still that particular
cabin-door remained closed. They
were at the wharf, the staging was run
out, and q dozen or more citizens rush
ed across with that strange eagerness
SO inexplicable to the voyager whose
eagerness impels him in the opposite
direction. Julius, still maintaining his
watch at the companion way, ielt him.
self gently put aside by tall. gray
haired gentleman. In Drown coat,
who went with careful haste down the
brass steps. He heard little cry. and
peering through skylight he saw Miss
Elton in the arms of the gray-haired
gentleman, her head pressed against
the brown coat, and her eyes upturned
to meet his spectacled gaze.
'Her uncier' he muttered peevishly.
"who the devil is he anyhow?"
He moved discontentedly to the side
and looked at the people hurrying
ashore.
"Hello, Julius! Going to spend the
night aboard?" cried Drake coming
up with duly chalked valise in each
hand.
'Oh, Mr.. Hilder," exclaimed another
and more musical voice. ''Wait, uncle,
must introduce you; Mr.. Hilder has
been very kind to me-"
What, Julius! Why, my dear boy.
how dye? My wife wrote me you were
coming over with her." His hand was
grasped with a hearty pressure, and he
found himself gazing into the specta-
cled eyes of Mr.. Smollett.
''Oh, stupidest of stupidsn' he ex-
claimed as, he thrust slippers and
brushes into his valise in the privacy
of his cabin. ''Bagged by the Smollett
ogress after all. by Jupiter'' he added
as he gave a last twist to his fair mus
tache before the misty mirror.-NeaO
Orleans Times Democrat.