Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-06-08


transcendental. mean that peculiarly
American institution, a precOcl0us en-
gagement; to be married, Of course"
NOgelstein very properly reflected that
it was no use his having entered the diplo-
matte career if he were not able to bear
himself as if this interesting generaliza-
ton had no particular message for him.
He did Mrs. BOnnycastle, moreover, the
Justice to believe that she would not have
taken up the subject so casually If she
had suspected that she should make him
vince. The whole thing was one of her
Jokes. and the notification, moreover, was
really friendly. Il see, / see,'' he said in
q moment. THE selt-made girl has, Of
course. always had past. Yes. and the
young man in the stOre-frOm Utica-is
part Of her past"
s'You express it perfectly" said Mrs.
BOnnycastle. Il couldn't say it better
myself"
1'But, with her present-with her future,
| suppose it's all over. How do you say
it in American She lets him slider"
"We don't say it at ALI" Mrs. Bonny-
castle cried. 'She does nothing of the
sort; for what do you take her? She sticks
to him-that, at least, is what we expect
her to do" Mrs. Bonnycastle added,
more thoughttully. "As l tell you, the
type is new. We haven't yet had time for
complete observations"
"Oh, of course, l hope she sticks to
him." Vogelstein declared. simply, and
with his German accent more apparent,
as it always was when he was slightly
agitated.
For the rest OF the trip he was rather
restless. He wandered about the boat,
talking little with the returning pic
niekers. Toward the last, as they drew
near Washington, and the white dome of
the Capitol hung aloft before them. look
ing as simple as suspended snow
ball, he found himself on the deck,
in proximity to Mrs. Steuben. He
reprOached himself with having rather
neglected her during an entertainment for
which he was indebted 10 her bounty,
and he sought to repair his omission by a
little friendly talk. But the only thing
he could think Of to say to her was to ask
her by chance whether Miss Day were, to
her knowledge, engaged.
Mrs. Steuben turned her Southern ewes
upon him with look of almost romantic
compassion. TO my knowledge? Why,
of course I'd know! | should think you'd /
know, too. Didn't you know she was en-
gagged: Why, she's been engaged since I
she was sixteen"
Vogelstein stared at the dome Of the +
Capitol. ITO a z entleman from UtieaE' I
''Yes, native of her place. She is eX- +
pecting him SOON"
'.Oh, I'm so glad to hear it, said Yogel- /
stein, who, decidedly, for his career, had 4
promise. And is she going to marry I
him ?"
s'Why, what do people get engaged for? /
/ presume they'll marry before long"
But why have they never done so in so /
many years z"
s.Well, at first she was too young, and 4
then she thought her family ought to see
course they could see it better
with her-and they spent some time there.
And then Mira Bellamy had some business
difficulties which made him feel as if he
didn't want to marry just then. But he
has given up business. and 1 presume he
feels more free. OF course it's rather long.
but all the while they have been engaged.
It's true, true love- said Mrs. Steuben,
who had little flute like way Of sounding
the adjective.
rs his name Mr.. Bellamy: = Vogelstein
asked, with his haunting Renaissance.
ID. f. Bethany, ehg And has he been
n a store|'
Il don't know what kind of business il
vas; it was some kind of business, in
{ tea. / think he had branch in New /
York. He is one of the leading gentlemen
If Utica. and very highly educated. He's
good deal older than Miss Day. He's a
Tery fine man. He stands very high in
Utica. l don't know why you look as if
you doubted it,"
YOgeIstein assured Mrs. Steuben that he
doubted nothing, and indeed what she told
lin struck him as all the more credible as
{ seemed to him eminently strange. Bel
amy had been the name OF the gentleman 1
who, a year and half before, was to have
net Pandora on the arrival Of the German
steamer: it was in Bellamy's name that
he had addressed herself with such
illusion to Bellamy's friend, the man in
he straw hat, who was TO tumble in her
Mothers old clothes. This was a fact
which seemed to Yogelstein TO finish the
picture of her contradictions; it wanted
1t present no touch to be complete. Yet,
wen as il hung there before him, it con-
inued to fascinate him, and he stared at
{, detached from surrounding things. and
ceiling a little as If he had been pitched
)ut of an overturned vehicle, till the boat
pumped against one of the outstanding
lies Of the wharf at which Mrs. Steuben's
larty was to disembark. There was some
leIay in getting the steamer adjusted to
he dock, during which the passengers
stood watching the process over its side,
md extracting what entertain ment they
night from the appearance Of the various
persons collected to receive it. There
we're darkies, and loafers, and hackmen,
md also individuals with tufts on their
.hins, tOothpicks in their mouths, their
lands in their pockets, ruminatiOn in their
avs. and diamond pins in their shirt
ronts, who looked as if they had sauntered
)Yer from Pennsylvania avenue to while
away half an hour, fOrsaking for that in
erval their various pastures of inclina-
ion in the porticos Of the hotels and the
l0OrWaYs Of the saloons
'.Oh, am so glad! How good Of you to
,Ome down." 1t was voice close to
shoulder that spoke these
words, and the young secretary of lega-
ION had no need to turn to see from whom
{ proceeded. 1t had been in his ears the
greater part Of the day, though, as he now
perceived without the fullest richness Of
of which it was capable. Still
ess was he obliged to turn to discover to
whom it " as addressed, for the four simple
words that | have quoted had been flung
across the narrowing interval Of water. /
and a gentleman who had stepped to the
edge Of the dock without NOgelstein's
observing him, tossed back an immediate
reply.
Il got here by the three O'Clock train.
They told me in X street where you were,
and | thought l would come down and
meet you"
.'Charming attention." said Pandora
Day, with her friendly laugh; and for
some moments she and her interlocutor
to continue the conversation
only with their eyes. Meanwhile Vogel-
STEMS, also, were not idle. He looked at
Pandora's visitor from head to foot, and
be was aware that she was quite uncOn-
scious Of his own proximity. The gentle
man before him was tall, good looking /
evidently he would stand /
well not only at Utica, but, judging from 4
the way be had planted himself on the /
dock. in any position which circumstances I
might compel him to take up. He was /
about forty years old; he had black 1
moustache and business-like eye. He /
waved a glOyed hand at Pandora as if /
when she exclaimed ''GraciOus, amt they |
long!7 to urge her to be patient. She was |
patient for minute, and then she asked /
him If he had any news. He looked at her I
for a moment in silence, smiling, after |
which he drew from his pocket large |
letter with an official looking seal, and |
shook it loosely above his head, This |
was discreetly, coyertly done. No one ap-
peared to observe the little interview bat |
Vogelstein. The boat was now touching |
the wharf, and the space between the pair |
was incOnsiderable.
Department Of State!' Pandora asked, |
her voice.
'.Thats what they call it."
.'Well, what country?'~
whats your opinion Of the Dutch|' /
the gentleman asked, for an answer.
sob, gracious!'' cried Pandora.
''WelI, are you going to wait for the re- |
aurn trip" said the gentleman.
Vogelstein turned away, and presently !
n