The weekly register. [volume] (Point Pleasant, Va. [W. Va.]) 1862-1909, 1885-09-16
MISS M'MILLAN.
naEs sharp n pstrril Fne Tt.ssl

lI.uie NiaFp n Detrrii Frre tfastl
In the cabin Of the City Of Berlin two
long tables extend from the piano at one
endAto the bookcase at the other end Of
the ample dining.room.
Tn each side Of this main saloonare
four small tables intended 10 accom-!
modate SIX Or seven personS Atone
Of these tables sat q pleasant party Of
four ladies and three gentlemen, Three
ladies were from Ietrolt, one from
lent In lngland. AT the head Of the
tables sat Mr.. Blair, the frosts Of many
American winters in his hair and
beard, while the lines Of care In his
rugged, cheerful scottish faee told Of q
life Of business crowned with generous
success.
MI. Waters, q younger merchant, had
all the alert yiyaeity OF the pnShing
American He had the distinguished
honor Of sitting opposite me at the small
table.
Blair and WateS occupied tie same
room, 10. 1s and Is. The one had
crossed the Atlantic more than fifty
times, the other nearly thirty, Those
figures show the relative proportion Of
their business experience.
The presence Of M. Blair gave 10 our
table a sort Of patriurchal dignity that
We all appreciated. If louder b irstot
laughter than uSualcame from OR table
and the other passengers looked in uir-
ingly our way the sedate and seli.pos.
sessed face Of Nj Flair kept US in coun.
tenance, and we, who had given way to
undue levity, felt ourselves enshrouded
by an atmosphere OF genial seriousness.
That prevented our rtable from getting
the reputation Of heing funny.
Some remark that Blair made brought
forth tho following extraordinary state.
ment from Waters, who told it with the
air Of man exposing pretentionS Of a
whited sepulchFe.
Now, before this voyage goes any
further, . he began, II have a serious
duty to perform which can shirk no
longer, unpleasant though it be- Ar.
Blair and myself occupy the same state
room. Into that state.roOm has
been sent a most lovely basket
Of flowers 1t Is not an extra.
ordinary basket Of flowers, assure
you, ladies. There Is a beautiful floral
arCh.oyer a bed Of color, and | believe
there Is same tender sentmen con.
nected with the display-'Bon Voyage,
Auf NiedersehGn, or some such
motto marked out in red buds. Nov
these Howars are not for me. | think,
therefore, that Mr.. Blair owes it 10 this
company, which has so unanimously
placed him at tho head Of the table, to
explain how it comes that an elderly
gentleman gets sucha handsome floral
trihute sent him from some unknown
person in New ork.
We all looked at Mr.. Blair, who gazed
with imperturbability at Mr.. Waters.
"lt you had all crossed with Waters
as often as have you would know that
he is subject to attacks like that He
means we'll, but occasionally he gives
way in the deplOrabIe manner yon have
.uSt witnessed, Now all there Is Of il
consists in this basket OF iowors has
been sent lno doubt by mistake, ] to our
stateroom. there is nothing but card
on it which says Room 49, Steward,
he cried, ''would you 20 to room Is and
bring that basket Of lowers and set IL
on this table, We may as well all have
the benefit Of them. F"
The steward soon returned with a
large and lovely basket OF flowers,
which he set on the table, showing the
the caster and other things aside to
mako room for It.
We all admired it very much and the
handsome young lady on my left asked
Mr. Blairs permission to take one ofthe
roses for her own.
Nov, m nd you, said Blair, 81 can
not grant flower from the basket, for
you SET 1t is as much tho property Of
Waters MS Of myself, for all Of his yirtu.
ons Indignation. It was sent to the
room and ho is one Of the occupants.
The flowers have evidently been mis-.
directed"
Tho lady referred to took It upon
herself to purlOin tho flower she
wantel. AS she did SO a card came in
view with the words written in a mas.
culine hand:
10 Ais 4cAtllan, with the loving regard.
Miss MCNIillan!' cried tho lady; 81
wonder II shO is on boardi I'd give
anything to know"
We'll give glance at the passenger
list, said Waters
Town among the Ms on the long list
o. cabln passengers appeared the namo
Miss Mcmillan"
"Now," said /, "lt seems to me that
the duty devolveS upon both Blair and
Waters to spare no pains in dolicately
returning those overs TO their proper
owner. think that both have been
very remiss in not doing so long ago,
They should apologize publicly 10 the
young lady for having deprived her Of
the Offering for day and q half, and
then think they owe an apology to
this table for the mere pretense that
any sane perSOn In New York or else.
wherc would 70 10 tho trouble OF send.
ing either Of them a single flower"
There will beno apology from me"
said Waters. "lf do not receive the
thanks Of Miss Mcmillan 1t will be bO.
cause good deeds are rarely recognized
10 this world. think it must be evident,
even to the limited intelligence Of my
journalistic friend across the table,
that Mr.. Blair intended to keep those
flowers In his stateroom, and-ofcourse
make no dirett charges-the conceal.
mcnt OF that card certainly looSs lad.
1t may have been concealed by the
sender OF the flowers, but to me It looks
bad"
). ''ot course said Blair dryly, ''to you
II looSs bad. 10 the pure, etc. y
Now, said the sentimental lady on
my left, while you gentlemen arc vast.
ing the time in useless talk the lady is
without hOr roses. There is one thing
that you all seem TO miss. 1t iS not the
mere Valua Of the bouquet. There Is q
subtle perfume alout an Offering like
this more delicate than that which
nature gave the flowers
"Hear, hear, troke In Waters.
u told you," said Blair aside, 'the
kind Of fellow Waters Is. He thinks
nothing OF intCrrupting a lady.n