News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1885-05-07
AN AWKWARD MOMENT
TFrom Harper's Weekly

[From Harper's Weekly.l
"You must have been in some pretty
tight places at different times, Roger,
We know what you got the cross for,
but l suppose that the chances were
often very nearly as heavy against you.
The man who made this remark was
! seated opposite his friend before the
cheerful fire in the smoking-room of q
London military club. Both had the
bronzed faces and prematurely grizzled
hair which betoken long sojourns 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 ribbon that indi-
Gated that the wearer had won the most
priced of English decorations, the Vic
torla Cross. He did not reply for a
minute or two to his companions words.
Apparently they had called up many
"reminiscences, few of which were
agreeable, but at last smile lighted up
his features, and he said:
eyes, old boy; I've very often
thought my life wasn't going to last a
second longer; but the most awkward
moment I ever put in wasn't in the
field"
"No. Then I presume that it was
when you were besieged in the Resi-
dency during the Mutiny ?"
''It wasn't in action at all. 1t was on
board ship"
"Wreck ?'
''No. That is to say, the ship wasn't
wrecked, but thought was"
''Teu me about it."
''Well, I don't mind. It's twenty
years ago, and the telling can't hurt
anyone now. Still you will understand
that the names shall give you are not
the true ones, and you must promise
not to try and find out what those were.
"All right. I'll be content with the
story"
Here goes, then" said Roger, set
tling himself back in his chair. ''It
occurred just after we'd finished up the
last of those black devils. I had pretty
nearly got over the wounds I received
in the affair for which the Queen gave
me the cross, and I reported myself as
fit for duty. The colonel, however,
bless his old heart wouldn't hear of
it, and insisted on my taking q years
leave. There was no canal in those
days, and the pleasantest way of going
home then-and I don't know that it
isn't now-was by one of the fine clip
per ships round the Cape. was for
tunate enough to get cabin to myself
on board the Winchester, of Greepe's
line. The purser, Watson, 1 had met
at some dinners in Calcutta, and he
promised to 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 be-
ing specially charming. The captain,
whose name was, we'll say, John Smith,
looked like one of the regular navy.
He wore a uniform and sword, and was
very severe of aspect and stiff in bear
ing. l found out afterward that he was
regular martinez, and the half dozen
midshipmen and the minor officers
stood in considerable awe of him. On
my being introduced, he favored me
with formal grasp of the hand, and
al 1o oh
heard of me before.
eve did not begin to drop down the
river till the day was fairly advanced,
and L had scarcely got 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
out in full evening toggery. We soldiers
were seated at table in accordance with
our rank, and as I had only just got my
company, I was pretty well down toward
the foot, or purser's end. This 1 did
not at first feel inclined to regret, as the
prospect appeared that we should be
little more free and easy than were the
fogies up at the top. But when I had
got fairly settled into my place, I looked
toward the captain, and Immediately be-
gan to deplore my insignifcance. Seated
on his right was the prettiest girl had
ever seen. Her eyes were-welI, it's no
use my giving you an auctioneer's cata-
logue of her charms. You just picture
your ideal, and she would come very
near it. All knew was that / was COM
pletely knocked over. am sure my
neighbors must have thought ! was
either surly or stupid, for I never ad-
dressed them, and I was scarcely con-
scious what replies made to their re-
marks. All my attention was given to
q silent watching of my new divinity,
and I frantically envied the captain and
a bluff old colonel who were privileged
to sit beside her.
GAS soon as dinner was over I got hold
of my friend Watson. and inquired the
name of the young lady.
"'She's a Miss Latimer,' he said;
came out with us this voyage, l 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 youP
"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 I talk
about her, SO you can imagine the condi-
ton of hopeless 'smite' in which I was
then. Well, she proved to be just as
Charming as she looked, and before I
turned in for the night 1 was deeply,
desperately in love.
81 don't suppose there is any place in
the world so favorable for love-making
as a comfortable passenger ship. Not