, 1885-10-18

l1ohtN Win urpIl NJ Muitla
while he sank back in his seat with tie
resigned air of a man in the hands Of
his enemies. We had both been care-
fully concealing the fact that we were
married men and the blunt
ment OF the lady was a painful shock.
Waters gave n side nod at Blair, as
much as to say Hes given it away"
| looked reproachfulIy at my old friend
at the head of the table, but he seemed
to he absorbed in what III sentimental
lady was saying.
1T is this, she continued. Here il
IA young lady. Her lover sends her a
basket, There may ba somo hidden
meaning that she alone will understand
in the very flowers chosen, or in the mr.
rangement of them The flowers, let
us suppose, never reach their destina-
ton. Tho message is unspoken, or,
rather spoken, but unheard. The young
lady grieves at the apparent neglect,
and then, in her pride, resents it. She
does not write and he knows not why.
The mistake may be discovered too late,
and all because a basket of flowers has
been missent.'
Now, Blair, said Waters, 'ff any
thing can make you do the square thing
ouIefg lndl appear VIII.
81 shall not so far forget what is due
to myself and the dignity OF this table
rs to reply to our erratic friend. Here
is what | propose to do-first catch our
hare. Stewart. can you find out for
me at what table and at what seat Miss
Mcmillan isl
While the steward was gone OF his
errand Mr.. Blair proceeded.
ii will become acquainted with her.
Mcmillan is a good Scotch name and
Blair is another. On that as a basis |
think We can speedily form an %acquain-
tance. | shall then in a casual manner
ask her if she knows a young man by
the name of Edwin j., and shall tell
you what effect the mention of the
name has on her
Now, as part owner in the flowers
up to date, | protest against that. l
insist that Miss Mcmillan be brought
to this table and that we all hear ex-
actly what is said to her, put in Mr..
Walters.
Nevertheless We all agreed that Mr..
Blairs proposal was a good one and the
majority sanctioned it.
Meanwhile N sentimental lady had
been looking among the crowd for the
unconscious MISS MCMILLAN.
Il think l have found her" she
whispered to me. DO you see that
handsome girl at the captains table.
Really the handsomest girl on board. "
Il thought that distinction rested
with our own table"
Now please pay attention. Do you
see how pensive she is, with her cheek
resting on her handl l am sure she is
thinking of Edwin
81 wouldn't bet on that" / replied.
There is considerable motion just now
and there are indications of storm.
The p%ensiyeness may have other
causes"
Here the steward returned and re
ported that Miss Mcmillan has not yet
appeared at the table, but had her
meals brought to her room by the stew
ardess.
Blair called to Mrs. Kay, the good
natured, portly stewardess of the Der
lin, who at that moment was passing
through the saloon.
rs Miss Mcmillan illf' he asked,
NO, not i'll, replied Mrs. Kay, but
she seems very much depressed at
leaving home, and she has not left her
room since We started"
There said our sentimental lady
triumphantly.
II would like very much to see her, -
said Mr.. Blair; 81 have some good news
for her"
81 will ask her to come out. 1t will
do her good" said the stewardess as
she went away.
In a few moments she appeared, and
following her came an old woman with
white hair and her eyes concealed by n
pair of spectacles.
Miss Mcmillan - said the stewardess,
this is Mr.. Blair, who wanted to speak
to you"
Although Mr.. Blair was, as we all
were, astonished TO see our mythical
young lady changed. into a real old
woman, he did not lose his equanimity,
nor did his kindly face show any sur
prise, but he evidently forgot the part
he had intended to play.
You will pardon me for troubling
you, Miss Mcmillan, y he said. but this
basket Of flowers was evidently in
tended for you and was sent to my room
by mistake.
MissMcMillan did not look at the
flowers, but gazed long at the card with
the writing on it, and as she did so one
tear and her another stole down the
wrinkled face from behind the glasses,
There is no mistake, is therel" asked
Mr.. Blair. You know the writer.
There is no mistake replied Miss
Mcmillan in a low voice-'he is a very
dear and kind friend" Then, as if un-
able to trust herself further, she TOOK
the flowers and hurriedly said; Thank
you" and left us.
There, | said TO the lady on my left,
your romance turns out to be nothing
after all"
no, SIR she cried with emphasis;
''thc omance is there, and very much
moro of a romano than if Miss McMf-
Ian was a young and silly girl OF 90.n