Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1885-08-20
An AWKWARD MOMENT.


n
Y .spors Weekly
yon must have been In some pretty
srbt places at different times, Roger.
~ know what you got tho cross for,
! ~ I suppose that the chances were
aep very nearly as heavy against you"
The man who made this remark was
|oated opposite his friend before the
.hserfuI fire in the smoking room of
onaon military club. Both had the
,,onzed faces and prematurely grizzled
air which betokens long soiourns I'M
~ almost topical skies. The one who
al been addressed as Roger" was
slightly the elder, and upon his broad
cbeat bore the tiny scrap Of ribbon that
~ ;rdiested that the wearer had won that
,oost urized Of English decorations, the
Victoria Gross. He did not reply for
.mipute or two 10 his companions words.
Apparently they had called up many
"reminiscences, few Of which we're agree
able. but at last smile lighted up his
features, and he said
qYes, old boy; I've very often thought
M life wasn't going to last q second
longer; but the most awkward moment
81 ever put in wasn't in the field"
"No? Then presume it was when
you were besieged in the Residency
during the Mutiny9"
at wasn't in action at oil. 1t was on
board ship"
M "Wreck?"
NO. That is to say, the ship wasn't
Ia wrecked, but thought ] was.
& "Tcll me about it,"
La swell, | don't mind. It's twenty
years ago, and the telling can't hurt any
one now. Still, you viii understand
Nj that the names / shall give you are not
the true ones, aud You must promise
"a not to try to find out what those
MI were"
IAN right. I'll be content with the
# story"
Here goes, them" said Roger, set
e" tlltE ulltlhcll btCh III Ills CilillI. ~ bC-
81 Cured Just after we'd finished up the
Ri last Of those black devils. had pretty
Fl nearly got over the wounds l received
81 in the affair for which tho Queen gave
N me the cross, and reported myself rs
81 ft for duty. The colonel, however,
81 bless his old heart wouldn't hear Of it,
and insisted ON my taking a years
"a leave. There was no canal in those
n days, and tho plcasanLest way Of going
"A home then-and / don't know that il
isn't now-was by one OF the fine clip
per ships round the Cape. was for
a tnnate enough to get cabin TO myself
on board the Winchester, of Greene's
line The purser. Watson, had met
Of some mess dinners in Calcutta, and
he promised 10 make things as pleasant
as possible. We had very few passen-
gers, mostly inyalided officers, two
4 or three civilians, and four ladies'.
] saw three Of the ladies' on deck
when we sailed, and none of them inn
pressed me ~ being specially charm
ing. The captain, whose name was,
veil say, John Smith, looked like one
Of the regular navy. He. wore a Uni
form and sword, and was very severe of
aspect and stiff in bearing. / found
cut afterward that he was n regular
martinez, and the half dozen midship-
men and the minor officers stood in con-
siderable awe Of him. On my being
introduced, he favored me with a
formal grasp of the hand, and ierked
out few words Of having heard of me
before.
we did not begin TO drop down the
river till the day was fairly advanced,
and l had scarcely got my traps il or
der when it was time to dress for din
ner In those days the captain would
have beon insulted il his passengers did
not turn out in full evening toggery.
We soldiers we're seated ut table in ac-
oordance with our rank, and as
! had only just got my company,
] was pretty well down toward the
foot, or purser's end. This j DID
not at first feel inclined to regret, "a the
prospect appeared that we should be a
little more free and easy than were the
fogies up at the top. But when i had
got fairly settled into my place, / look.
ed toward the captain, and Immediately
began TO doplore my insignifcance.
SEATED on his right was the prettiest
girl had ever seen. Her eyes were
Well, It's no use my giving you an auo-
uoneer's catalogue OF her charms. You
Just picture your ideal, and she will
come very near it. All knew was that
lwas completely knocked over. am
sure my neighbors must have thought
was either surly or stupid, for never
addressed them, and i was scarcely
conscious what replies | made to their
remarks. All my attention was given
70 silent Watching OF my new divinity,
and l franticslly envied tho captain
and bluff old colonel who we're priv
LEGGED 10 sit beside her.
As soon Ms dinner was over / got
hold OF my friend Watson, and inquired
the name of the young lady.
She's Miss Latimer,' he said ;
came out with us this voyage, sup
pose only for her health, since she's go
ing right back. Understand she's an
orphan and got some money. Dresses
Well, at least. Shall introduce you"
"of course ! jumped at the offer, and
very soon the magic words were spoken
winch privileged mo 10 speak to my
IDOL You see even now got enthusi-
ast'c and romantic in my language when
= talk about her, 30 you can imagine
the condition of hopeless 'smite' in
which was then, Well, she proved
10 he Just a. charming as she looked,
and before / turned in for the night /
was deeply, desperately III !!e"a.
don't suppose there Is any place in
The world 30 favorable for lovo.making
as comfortable passenger ship. Not
one OF these new ocean greyhounds'
That rush at break-neck speed through
all Kinds of weather, and land you ut
your destination almost before You have
',me to know any one aboard, but fine
clipper vessel, whose only propclling
power Is natures breath. and to the
passengers on which every change oil
weather or shift OF Wind is of vast i'm