The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1885-05-22
AN AWKWARD MOMENT.

"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 cheer
f,,l fire in the smoking room of London
military club. Both had the bronzed faces
and prematurely grizzled hair which be-
token 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 indicated that the wearcr had
won that most priced of English decora-
tions the Victoria Cross He did not re-
DIV for a minute or two to his compan-
ion's words Apparently they had called
nm many "reminiscences, few of which
were agreeable, but at last smile lighted
up his features and he sad
Yes. old boy Ive very often thonght
NV lie wasn't going to last second lohgs
err but the most awkward moment ever
put in wasn't in the Eeld.
"Noy Then | presume IL was when you
were besieged in the Residency during the
1t wasn't in action at all 1t was on
board ship"
No. That is to say, the ship wasn't
wrecked but thought was
Tell me about II.
/ We'll. / don't mind It's twenty years
ago. and the telling cant hurt any one
now. Still, you viii understand tnht Ins
. names l shall give you are not the true
/ ones and you must promise not TO Try 10
find out what those were -, -
All right I'll be content with the
story"
! himself back in his chair It occurred
lust after we'd finished up the last OF
those black devils. | had pretty nearly
+ GOT over the wounds | received in the
affair for which the Queen gave me the
Gloss and | reported myself as ht toT
/ duty The colonel, however eiesS
his old heart wouldn't hear of it
nnd insisted on my taking wears leave
There was no canal in those days, and the
pleasantest way of going home theu-ant
don't know that it isn't now-was one o
the fine clipper ships round the cape. =.
was fortunate enough to get cabin u
myself on board the Winchester, 0
Greene's line. The Purser, Watson; hat
met at some mess dinners Ia Calcutla
and ne promised to make things as pleasan
as possible We had very few passengers
mostly invalid officers, two or thre
civilians, and four ladies'. / saw three Q
the ladies on deck when we sailed, an
zone or them impressed me as 6ein
specially charming The captain, who's
the minor ,c,,i oiiin.rs ~ ssy John smith iooke
awe OF him On being introduced h
favored me with a formal prast, ~ ~
mama ana Jerked out a few words OF ha,
lug heard OF me before
We did not begin to drop down tb
river tlll the day was fairly advanced an,
had scarcely got my traps IN order wbel
dsns mas ,hi .iine TO dress Tor dinner In tho,
uayS the cHptain would have been fusIllfr,
II MS passengers did not turn out In fuI
evening togXery. We soldiers were seata,
al Ia oie Ia accordance with our rank An.
as had only just got my company. i Wa
pretty well down toward fba Soot =
purser's end This did not al first f...I j.,
fh fhllned 20 regret, as the prospect appeared
tHSt we should be 3 little more free nd
easy than were the fogies up at Tho ftn
| bpt when had fairly got settled into niX
/ Place, looked toward the captain and
tHitsileuIa1eiJ began to deplore my insiv
| nlncance. Seated OH his right ySas tLs
| Prettiest girl | had ever seen Her,.y.s
| Were-weu, it's no use giving Won sn
SWuetioecers catalogue OF her charms
1 You Just picture your ideal md She
| would come very nearit All knew va
that was completely knocked over I
am sure my neighbors must have Thought
adSheT Mas eItheT surly or stupid, for never
addressed them, aud | was scarcely c,n.
scloes what replies | made to their re-
marks. All my attention Was given Tn !.
snu.ltt sntent watching OF my new divinity, nnd I
LaHOlCally enTied the captain and 4 bIufY
oid colonel who were privileged to sit he
side her. ~ 81 %
As soon as dinner was over got hold
OF my friend Watson and inouired tbs
name Of the young lady
% Sne q Miss l.atimsr, he said come
~ i WI Shls voyage | suppose. only for
TndsrSts since ah shes going right back.
SHuels'ano she's an orphan, and got some
money, money Dresses well. at least. shall I
OF course I Jumped at the offer, and
very soon the magic words were snok en-
Which privileged me TO speak to NV idol
tou see even now / get enthusiastic aud
romantic in my language when 1 ts,Ik
soout t ner1 SO you can imagine the CON
nfnaCo
then Well, she proved to be iust -
cnarning as she looked and before turned
IN ~ ,or the night was deeply. desperatslx
don't suppose there is apy place =,
the world SO favorable for love-makino as
= comfortable passenger ship. Not one Of
- s,i9sse i new ocean gray hounds that dash
AT oreak-neck speed through ali kinds ~
weather, and land you Mt your DESTINATION
Almost before you have time to know anv
one aboard but fine clipper vessel, whose
ana TO the passengers on which every
change Oh weather or shift of wind Is Of
vast import and interest These affor,j
endless themes for talk, and mutual inter
N iss satimer had oufte an affectfor fn,
the h t7tsheeter, which had brought her
safely from England, and was then hear.
ing ,1a...,as ner ,o oeck She and the captain APP
PeAfed 10 be on excellent terms and she
was often invited to walk on the captain's
own sue OF the quarter deck-a pathway
~ ~ nISie , We We're supposed not to venture TO
Lreda without special summons
Inere was something about Miss Iati-
% ner-hose was her name-which was fr- 1
reststioly attractive to me do not know |
exactly how to describe it, except az n Gu |
r1ous compound Of girlish innocence and
WomanIy fTankness One would never |
iream OF flirting with her, and fancy
,,ew people would have ventured on any
tirect lovema king without a sneeliv AZ
of a humble entreaty for her
asnd She was awfu1ly kind to me used
Nv Ways 70 De afraid that I'd overexert my
eh. aud was constantly making me tell
sorles OF my experiences. ] am afraid
nat som etirnes I ovcrriid the Otheno bus
ness put she never seemed to mind.
Day after day slipped away in an &C
,,ssy OF happiness tempered with occasion
i quaims OF doubt hesitated to put nv
ate 70 the test, for II by any chance she
mould refuse me-Rnd despite INV belief
hat my affection was returned. such an
vent was barely possible-it would be
cry unpleasant to meet her every dsy for
n IEaEEE NNn~..