Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-21
Written for THE EVENING STAR.
DANGERS OF THE SEA.
BY MARY PRESCOTT.
fCopyrighted 1851

i by MAXI IhESCOTTs
| Copyrighted 1851
\ Ariadne had been on the Nereid a whole day
but owing TO seasickness, she had not so much
| as glanced at the passenger list. Having, how.
| ever, found her way upon deck, the morning Of
/ the second day, she felt equal to no greater
literary effort, than reading it over, and pom.
| dering upon identities.
| upon my word, Selma" she said presently
looking up with a gasp, There's a real, live
lord, on board. wonder how we shall find
| out which one he is? Lord Kingsbury! II
sounds sweetly; the title is always kind OF
| spell that evokes memories of manorial
| estates and a large rent-rol. I see a fine path
| and noble trees and statuary and fountains
| and-Oh dear.-do you suppose we will get &C
| Quainted with him? Come, Lena, can't you
take an INTEREST,""
1.-The rank is but the guineas stamp" said
| Lena, looking up from her novel. II think
your noble lord is that old gentleman in the
| sealskin overcoat, who limps; lords are always
equity, you know. He doesn't appeal to me-
"How discouraging you are, Lena. Now
| suspect"-just then a young man who had been
doing in a deck chair a little way behind
them, threw off his rug and began to pace the
deck, after the manner of those who would as
sure themselves and the world of the trust
worthiness OF their sea legs. He had fine car
riage and his bright chestnut hair blew across
his white brow in heavy rings while he gave a
passing glance at Ariadne and Selma as he
walked, from pair of "klling' brown eyes, as
Ariadne expressed IL; a half indifferent. lOrdly
glance, tempered with q touch of amusement.
Now, that's my idea of lord" whispered
Aradne,
"But a lord is not always young"
mo; but if he isn't Lord Kingsbury, his lord
ship is myth. Now the question is, hO.o shall
We get acquainted with him."
"Speak in the singular, please. If he wants
to know you he will manage it, without your
lifting finger. Helooks as if he were laughing
at u.s."
'Let those laugh who win. Where has the
bird flown? hoped he was on a walking-match
across the deck?"
HE went into the card-roOm. daresay he
is gambler; they're almost always good look
ing. They've been betting on the ships speed;
she made two hundred and ninety knots yes
terday, and that young gentleman in the brown
ulster took the pool
"He doesn't look .takin.' He must belong in
the Storage"
II don't think So" answered Selma "He
moved my deck chair last evening, when the
wind blew too fresh on the other sider
"And you talked with himr'
certainly. And what's more, he talked
like a-a-he's just splendid! He has read Rus
kin and Huxley and all my favorites. He had
the poets at his tongues end
"a nice place for them. You oughtn't accept
attentions from such people, Selma; suppose
he's some drummer, and he looks as if he a te
with his knife. You might not like to know
him in New YORK;
al should be glad to know him in heaven"
confessed Lena. 81 don't believe your Lord
ling can hold a candle to him, conversation
ally"
Fudge! 1 hate men who read Ruskin and
talk philosophy and quote pOetry-they are al
most always poor and peculiar, live on q salary,
and have no ideas about flirting"
just then the young man in question picked
up the parasOl which the wind had snatched
from Ariadne's hand and had sent half across
the deck. He brought it to her. with "a pleasant
bow. THANK you, she said quite stiffiy; but
without seeming at all crushed he took the
vacant chair beside Lena, and resumed the
broken thread o. last evenings discourse Ari-
adne resumed her book. but finding that Lena
was bent upon drawing her into the intimacy,
she announced her intention of taking consti-
tutiOnal, and left them to their own devices
Il don't mean TO encourage that hObblede-
hoy, she said to Lena, later. at won't do for
you to know him at ALL Selma, and shant
cOuntenance Ii"
"He asked if you sang" laughed Lena ssThey
are getting up a concert for the benefit of the
Seaman's Society. 1 told him you sang like a
lark, and he wondered if you would practice
some duets in the saloon with him."
"Impertinence! shall do nothing of the
kind"
There he comes now. to invite your high
and-lnightiness.'
He was a short, blonde man in rough clothes.
smile which changed his whole ASPECT. He held
roll OF music in his hand.
DID you request your cousin to practice with
me?' he asked Selma. lit will be au Immense
favor, turning an appealing glance upon Ari-
adne, cit would be in truth charity.R
Yes, answered Selma, II asked her-but-"
decline Snid Ari,,
lOftily;.sea sickness and ma sic not rie nd, .
Pardon" he said, II was not aware--you are
so plucky to keep upon deck. But perhaps you
sing yourself, turning to Lena.
Yes, ii you wouldn't mind my mistakes"
"Ihats what we practice Tor, to correct
them. he returned, and he offered his arm, to
-Ariadne left to her own sweet will, got brayev
upon her feet, in spite of the sea sickness, she
had limited at, and paced the deck; and pres
entity a steamer came In sight, aud everybody
was alert with glass, and the dark eyed hero,
portunity to offer her his arm, together with
sundry opinions concerning the voyage, the
passengers, Europe and America; after which
lie gracefully assisted her to her seat This is
your chair, is it not lac asked.
He knows my chair, already" she thought,
with a thrill Oi Satisfaction.
Let me adjust the pillows" he added
.'Shall / wrap your rug about you? Will you
have the ioot-rest elevated? SO, do please
you:
"Entirely,' laughed Ariadne
MAY L sit and talk LITTLE" he ventured
lone grows horribly bored, talking to ones fei-
iow-Inen IN the ciird-rOOIn. You are not travel
ing alOne?'
NO, my cousin is with me-,
"Oh, the young gentleman who has gone be-
THAT hObbledefoy, Gracious, no. NV cousin
Selma and are travelling together" and then
they both laughed. Nothing establishes famil-
lar relations between two strangers, SO soon as
mutual laugh.
"hObbledehOy,' he repeated. "You haven't
much respect for him"
~ don fancy him; he has rather forced him.
sell upon our acquaintance"
The following day. when Ariadne went upOn
deck, her lord met her, as if he had been wait
ing ior the event, and begged she would walk
board:' he asked. 1--WE spoken to nobody but
yourself and the hobbledenoy.'
The hobbiedehoy,-who do you think he iSp
Some swell, isn't he? It's great fun to specu-
late about the names on the list. / heard some
men betting about ii in the card-roomn
But suppose everybody knows you," SAID
Ariadne.
How you fiatter me; why should they know
me more than another
Vow, pray, don't be humble. The Yam.
kee, You know, IS fond of a lord
He regarded ner with an induigent half smile
OF assent.
Lords are common enough with u.s." he
answered, with becoming humility, and after
that they played q game at cribbage, and
talked about English politics and English
parks, and then the gong called them below.
nave you enjoyed your music?" she asked
Lena.
'.oh, so much, he has such u sympathetic
voice. How have you been getting On?'
Famousiy, Lord kingsbury has been ever SO
dear me- you are positive it's hee,
lie as good rs confessed ii, but said lords are
enough htlnR fr.ra <af