The N.C. Republican, and civil rights advocate., 1884-05-22


to me; but when he hears how naughty
have been | don't know what he will say
to me-" 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, is that alar
THAT answers your question, does it
not?"
my Question as originally put-yes, l
believe it does: but it has been so ampli-
fed that you can hardly expect me to be
satisfied with that meagre answer"
"Amplified! ! don't understand. F"
Those two ingenious hypothesis, for
/ instance-were they both pure fiction, or
which was he true xtYt srn9nt?"
! Both pure fnyuatioRe, sito rcturI ed,
laughing and blushing again. "I am not
that brilliant creature, governors niece,
nor yet that more useful and respectable
one, a teacher of music. The governors
niece was just a bit of satire / travelled
a few weeks once in a company with such
a 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 well founded, too, as noticed it pro
duced quite an effect upon you"
mot the effect you imagine was
startled for a moment, confess, but sim
/ ply because of a slight coincidence.
"a coincidence! Do you know herr"
and hot blush and look of co3etorna.
ton sat together upon the fresh Ho4a--
face of Miss Elton.
"Neyer saw her; but there was plot
to make me cross the ocean with such q
person and lot of other women, which
I defeated by running away"
tss ooh! you ran away?" she breathed the
swords cut in a startled, half-whi~per
Yes, they went in a Cunardo., G4,.
my friqnd Drake and | slipped off and
! took the steamer at Havre."
/ She licked at him with widely opened
eyes for moment during which he de
cided for the tiftieth time that the eyes
were brown and not deep gray, as he
had decided the other fifty times.
''Why did you run awayG" she asked,
after moments amused consideration
I w
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
women who never look at single man
without picturing him to herself walking
up the aisle with a 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 a steamer with such an experienced
old angler"
''And the governors niece was one of
the girls2"
/ ''Some governors niece, so | heard.
/ Now, what is the naughty thing you've
been doing! Come, confidence for con
/ tidence"
For sole answer, however Miss Elton
leaned back in hcl chair and began to
laugh immediately. Julius looked at
her for SOME moments then catching the
infection, began to laugh, too, much to
tlo edification of the walters, who were
beginning their preparations for dinner.
Il have no doubt it's awfully funny"
he added, as she wi ped the tears from her
cheeks, 'but 1 could enjoy it more if
knew just the point of view from which
you see it."
Perhaps you could" she replied, de-
murely, checking an impulse to laugh
again. owe 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 a ceremonious obeisance,
and her cabin door had closed behind her
before he had fully realized her purpose.
1 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-
| tion 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
get 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 into
view, passengers came on deck with
satchels and umbrellas, prepared for going
ashore, but still that particular cabin-door
remained closed. They were at the
wharf, the staging was run out, and
dozen or more citizens rushed across
with that strange eagerness so inexpli-
cable to the vovager, whose eagerness
impels him in the opposite direction.
Julius, still maintaining his watch at the
companion way, felt himself gently put
aside by tall, gray haired gentleman,
in crown coat, who went with careful
haste down the brass steps. He heard a
little cry, and peeping through sky
light he saw Miss Elton in the arms of
the gray haired gentleman, her head
pressed against the bown coat and her
eyes upturned to meet his spectacled grze
Her uncle!n he muttered, peevishly
''who the deuce is he, anyhow"
He moved discontentedly to the side
and looked at the people hurrying ashore.
"Hello, IuliusI Going to spend the