Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-06-27
AN AWKWARD MOMENT.

EEaH Al W Il 81 &h-C0 ASS 4lk4SS
You must have been in some pretty
tight D aces at different times, Roger. We
know what you got the cross for, but l sup
pose that the chances were often very
nearly as heavy against you"
The man who made this remark was
seated opposite his friend before the cheer
full fire in the smoilng-room Of a London
military club. Both had the bronzed faces
and prematurely erizzled hair which be-
token long soiourns under almost tropical
skies. The one who had been addressed as
Roger was slightly the elder, and upon
his broad chest bore the tiny scrap of rib
bon that indicated that the wearer had won
that most priced OF English decorations,
the Victoria Cross lie did not reply for a
minute or two to his companions words.
Apparently they had called no many RENT
niscences, few of which were agreeable, but
at last = smile lighted up his features, and
he said:
yes, old boy; I've very often thought
my lite wasn't going 10 last 81 second longer
but the most awkward moment l ever put
in wasn't in the field"
NO? Then | presume it was when you
were besieged in the Residency during tie
mutiny -
1T wasn't in action at all. It was on
board ship"
Wreck p
NO. That is to say. the ship wasn't
wrecked, but l thought l was
Tell me about il
well. | don't mind. Its twenty years
ago and the telling can't hurt any one
now. Still. You Will understand that the
names I shall give you are not the true
ones. and you must promise not to Try to
find out what those were"
"All right I'll be content with the
story"
himself back in his chair. q" Il occurred
lust after we'd finished up the last of those
black devils l had pretty nearly got over
the wounds | received in the affair for
which the Queen gave me the cross, and
reported myself as fit for duty. Tie
Colonel. however, bless his old heart
wouldn't hear of il, and insisted on my tax
ing years leave. There was no canal in
those days. and the rleasantest way of go
ing home then-and | don't know that it
isn't now-was one Of the fine clipper ships
round the Cape. I was fortunate enough
to get a cabin to myself on board the Win
chester. of Grcene's line. The purser, Wat
son, had met AT some mess dinners III
Calcutta, and he promised 70 make things
as pleasant as possible. We had very few
passengers, mostly invalid officers, two or
three civilians and four ladies' | saw three
of the ladies' ON deck when we sailed, and
none of them impressed me as being spe-
cially charming The Captain, whose name
was. we'll say, John Smith, looked like one
of the regular navy. lie wore q uniform
and sword, and was Tery severe of aspect
and stiff of bearing. found out aiterward
that he was regular martinez, and the
half dozen midshipmcn and the minor Off
GERS stood in considerable awe OF him. On
being introduced he favored me with 4 for
nal Grasp of the hand and jerked out few
words of having heard of me before.
We did not begin to drop down the river
till the dav was fairly advanced, and had
scarcely cot my traps in order when it was
time to dress for dinner. In those days the
captain would have been insulted if his
passengers did not turn ont il full! evening
foggerv We soldiers were seated at table
in accordance with cur rank, and as | had
only Just got my company. l was pretty
well down toward the foot, or purscr's end.
This | did not al first feel inclined to regret
as the prospect appeared that we should be
little more free and easy than were the
fOgieS up al the top. But when | had fairly
-bL StLtiti 4lltp ny lisANAl itS1-NNA Nv - u
the Captain. and Immediately began To de
ul0re my iuSigniticancc Seated on his
right was the prettiest eirl | had ever seen
Her eyes were-well, tits no use giving you
an auctiOueer's catalogue Of her charms
You Just picture your ideal. and she would
corle very near il. Al ! knew WAS that
was completely knocked over. ! am sure
my neighbors must have thought | was
either suriy or stupid, for never addressed
Il H..
replies made to their remarks. All my
attention was given to a silent watching Of
my new divinity. and / fr8ntically enYied
the Captain and q bluff old Colonel who
were privileged TO sit beside her.
As soon as dinner was over ! got hold
of my friend Watson and inquired the
name of the young lady
She's u Miss Latimer,' he said come
out with this voyage. / suppose, only for
her health. since she's going right back.
Understand she's an orphan and got some
money. Dresses well, at least Shall /
introduce you|
of course l Jumped at the offer, and
very soon the magic words Were spoken
which privileged me To speak TO my Idol.
You see even now ! get enthusiastic and
romantic IN my language when ! talk
about her. so you can imagine the con-
dition Of hopeless smitc IN which | was
then. Wei She proved TO be just as
charming rs she looked, and before ] turned
in for the might ! was deeply, desperately
in love.
: don't suppose there is any place in the
world 50 favorable for lGye-making as a
comfortable passenger ship. Not one OF
these new ocean gTeyhounds that dash at
break-neck speed through all kinds OF
weather and land you AZ your destination
almost before YOU have time 10 know any
one aboard. bat n fine clipper vessel, whose
only propeling power is natures breath
and TO the passengers on which every
change Of weather or shift OF wind IS OF
vast import and interest These afford
endless themes for talk, and mutual inter
est seems 10 draw people closer together
Miss Iatimer had quite an affection for the
Winchester. which had brought here safely
from England. and was then bearing her
back She and the Captain appeared TO be
ON excellent terms, and she was often IN
vited to walk on the Captain own SIDE OF
the qUartcr-deck-a pathway winch We
were supposed not TO venture 10 tread with
ont a special summons
There was something about Miss Lat
mer-ROSe was her name-which was IT.
resisjiby attractive 10 me 1 do not know
exactly how 20 describe it, except as n Gu
rous compound Of Irli=h innocence and
woman'y frankncss. One would never
dream of Stirling with her, and | fancy
few people would have yentured on any
direct ioVe-mahing without a speedy ac-
compartment of an humble entreatv for
her hand. She was awfully kind to me;
used always TO be afraid that I'd overexeri
myself, and was constantly making me tell
stories of my experiences. | am afraid
that sometimes | ovcrdid the Othello bust
ness, but she never seemed to mind.
80 )aV after QaV SlipDgt gyvov II, IN, ,.-