Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1884-05-29


to me, y and she puckered up her white
forehead into an expression OF compunc-
tious perplexity.
''Well, he said, after waiting some
time for her to resume. lis that all"
"That answers your question, does 1t
notq''
my question as originally put-ycs, !
believe It does but it has been SO ampI-
fed that YOU can hardly expect me to be
satisfied with that meagrc answer.
"Amplifcd! / don't understand.
sThose two ingenious hypothesis, for
instance-were they both pure fiction, or
which was the true statementW
s.Both pure inventions, !" she returned,
laughing and blushing again. 81 am not
that brilliant creature, governors niece,
nor vet that more useful and respectable
one. a teacher of music. The governors
niece was just bit of satire. l travelled
few weeks once in company with such
person. and the constant iteration with
which she dwelt upon her title, and the
amount of respect it seemed to inspire IN
the minds of those who heard it, gave me
the impression that it was the highest
rank an unmarried woman could attain
in America. / think the impression must
be we'll founded, too, as noticed 1t pro-
duced quite an effect upon you.
"Not the effect you imagine. was
startled for moment, confess, but sim
ply because of a slight coincidence.
"A coincidence! Do you know herr"
and hot blush and a look of consterna-
ton sat together upon the fresh young
face of Miss Elton.
'tNever saw her; but there was plot
to make me cross the ocean with such a
person and lot of other women, which
| defeated by running away" -
"Oh you ran away" she breathed the
words out in startled, half-whisper.
eyes, they went in a Cunarder, and
my friend Drake and / slipped off and
took the steamer at Havre."
She looked at him with widely opened
eyes for moment. during which he de-
cided 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 awayF" she asked,
after moments amused consideration.
"Well, you see / was with my sister
and two or three others; just nice little
party. all the ladies married, so fellow
didn't have to be always on parade. We
had Jolly, comfortable time until we
got to Paris on our way home, and there
sister took it into her head to join a
woman who had been roaming around
the continent with lot of girls on an
extensive husband hunt--one' of those
women who never look at single man
without picturing him to herself walking
up the aisle with white tie, with half a
dozen groomsmen at his back, and who
has always just the girl on hand who
will walk up the other aisle in white satin
and meet him demurely at the alter. l
had no fancy for being cooped up
on steamer with such an experienced
old angler"
"And the governors niece was one of
the girls?"
"Some governors niece, so I heard
Now, what is the naughty thing you've
been doing! Come, confidence for con-
fidencep
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 edifieation of the walters, who were
beginning their preparations for dinner
Il have no doubt it's awfully funny"
he added, as she wiped the tears from her
cheeks, "but could enjoy it more if |
knew just the point of view from which
you see it.
'sPerhaps you could, T" she replied, de-
murely, checking an impulse to laugh
again. eve seem to be in the way; sup
pose we move"
"Come on deck, he exclaimed, rising
with alacrity, and Offering his arm"
THANK you, no. | don't feel quite
equal to the deck this morning"
She made him ceremonious obeisance,
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 Julius
was in despair. The jetties' light was in
sight when he retired, and when he awoke
in the morning the smooth gliding mo-
ton of the ship announced that they were
In the river. He was in no haste to see
the low shores of the Mississippi, 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
1 furtively and starting at every step. She
did not come, neither was she at The
breakfast table.
The hours glided by, the city rose int
view, passengers came on deck will
satchels and umbrellas, prepared for going
ashore, but still that particular cabin-doo
" aln 81