The Cecil Whig., 1885-11-28

"That's what we practice for, tc
correct them,' he returned, and he Of
fered his arm to the saloon.
Ariadne, left to her own sweet will
got bravely upon her feet, in spite O
the sea- a-sickness she had hinted at
and paced the deck; and presently 3
steamer came in sight, and everybody
was alert with glass, and the dark.
eyed hero she had named Lord King.
bury took the opportunity to offer hel
his arm, together with sundry opinions
concerning the voyage, the passengers,
Europe and America, after which he
gracefully assisted her to her seat
"This is your chair, is it not?' he
asked.
"He krows my chair already she
thought, with thrill of satisfaction.
"Let me adjust the pillows he
added. 'Shall wrap your rug about
you? Will you have the foot-rest ele-
waited? So, do please youP
Entirely laughed Ariadne.
''May 1 sit and talk a little?' he
ventured. zone grows horribly bored
talking to ones fellow-men in the
cardroom. You are not travelling
alone2'
''No, my cousin is with me-
"Oh, the young gentleman who has
gone below to sing?'
"That hobbledeboyl Gracious, no.
My cousin Selma and l are travelling
together and then they both laughed,
Nothing establishes familiar relations
between two strangers so soon as a
mutual laugh.
"Hobbledeboy,' he repeated. "You
haven't much respect for him.
81 don't fancy him he has rather
forced himself upon our acquaintance.
The following day, when Ariadne
went upon deck, her lord met her, as
if he had been waiting for the event,
and begged she would walk with him.
"Do you know many people on
board?' he asked.
'1've spoken to nobody but your
self and the hobbledeboy.
"The hobbledeboy-who, do you
think he is? Some swell, isn't he? It's
great fun to speculate about the names
on the list. l heard some men bet
ting about it, in the card-room.'
"But l suppose everybody knows
J0u,' said Ariadne.
"How YOU iatter me; why should
they know me more than another?'
"Now, pray, don't be so humble.
The Yankee, you know, is fond of a
lord.'
He regarded her with an indulgent
half smile of assent.
"Lords are common enough with
u.s." he answered with becoming humil-
ity, and after that they played game
at cribbage and talked about English
politics and English parks, and then
the gong called them below
"Have you enjoyed your music?"
she asked Lena.
"Oh, so much, he has such a SYM
pathetic voice. How have you been
getting on?'
"Famously; Lord Kingsbury has
been ever so kind"
"Dear me, you are positive it's he? ?"
''He as good as confessed it, but
said lords are common enough at home.
Wasn't it pretty Of him7 He has the
most gracious way"
'In short, you are rather mashed ?"
"Hush, Lena. Don't use such slang !;
you must have caught it from your
hobbledeboy."
"What has Lord Kingsbury been
doing all day?" asked Aariadne one
night, having been confined in her berth
all day with headache.
"Oh, he has been glum enough to
please you," and Lena.
otis just like novel, isn't it? And
have you been going on with that little
hobbledeboy, as usual2"
81 don't know what you mean by
going on with him. l should think
that was slang" retorted Lena. "He
is very kind, and reads such nice books.
l think perhaps he's poor, but | don't
care fig for money and titles. Ipre-
fer intellect and heart"
"Sour grapes. If you can't have
money and titles it's well to be con-
tented with what you can have-a hob
bledeboy if you can't do better.''
When Ariadne returned to the deck
next day her admirer beamed upon
her, wrapped her in herrugs and added
his own, brought her champagne and
made her laugh with the relation of
the previous days events and an exag-
gerated sketch of his own forlorn con-
dition.
CHOW really, my lord, don't be so
funny" she begged delightedly. 1T
makes my headache to laugh"
''Don't call me Maf," he whispered,
ct sounds too formal
"And, pray, what shall l call youF
Call me Guy
Gust the name of all others would
have chosen thought Ariadne. $50
romantic"
"Now tell me something about your