Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1886-06-16


surb thing had never happened to him be-
fore. "What could have been thinking
OFF" he mused. abstractedly shuffling TIE
cards. The answer came readily, "Of AIrs.
Pennington" "Then," reasoned the Ma
jor very properly, eff |, devoted card
player, was thinking of Mrs. Pennington
instead of the game, / must surely be Il
love.''
{ Such a serious discovery justified the Ma
ior in complaining of headache, and re-
turing from the card-table to the saloon deck.
Walking slowly up and down, he proceeded
to think the matter out. Now that he had
come to himself, as it were, he knew, he
felt that he was in love. A troubled but
not unpleasant feeling in the neighborhood
of his heart told him that it was but too
true.
He had experienced the same feeling
several times before, but in much mild
er degree. On such occasions he had f ugh !
.s;th ana conquered iG, or taken refuge N
flight. But he was no longer young and
had less fight in him, and flight was impos-
sible. Nor, to tell the truth, had he a
particular inclination for either. Why
should he? Had he not come to the con-
clusion in Melbourne that it was time he
settled down in life? Was he not too old
to wander about the world unloved and
uncared for? To settle down with and be
loved and cared for by Mrs. Pennington
was destiny to be desired. True there
was slight disparity in their ages but a
man is as old as he feels, and a woman is as
old as she looks. The Major felt thirty
five, and Mrs. Pennington looked a young
thirty-a very suitable difference indeed.
They had both travelled, and were man
and woman of the world-another circum-
stance to be reckoned among the pros. A
woman Of experience and worldly wisdom,
the Major concluded, would be more con-
genial companion for him than modern
society young lady.
With his usual courage and promptitude
Major Dymple decided to seize the first
favorable opportunity of proposing to Mrs.
Pennington, reserving to himself, however,
the right of first discreetly questioning her
aunt-a genial, garrulous old lady who ac-
companied her-as to their social position.
'sOf course l know nothing of her," he
murmured to himself, ''and,;' his sense of
justice obliged him to add, ''she knows
nothing of me. She may be penniless,
but, hang it! have enough for two mod
crate people"
With which generous thought he retired
to bed.
The next afternoon the Major secured a
quiet tete-a-tete with Mrs. Remington S
aunt 1t required very little diplomacy
OF tact to elicit the desired information,
for the old lady, besides her garrulty was
very ingenious and great on family his
tory. Had it been necessary the interest
ed inquirer might have heard the story of
the Lincolnshire house of Dornoccar, of
which Mrs. Pennington was daughter,
from the days of Rufus. Sufficient, how
ever, that the family was old, reputable,
and proud, though in the latter days COM
paratively poor, in consequence, Of course,
of an ancestors unswerving and unselfish
allegiance to the first Charles. Further,
the Major learned that the late lamented
Pennington had been barrister. He had
settled in Queensland for the sake of his
health, which was very delicate, and there
had left his wife widow two years since
All this, to which should be added the in
timation that Mrs. Pennington had an in
come quite sufficient for her reeds, was
eminently satisfactory.
The Major was constrained to unbosom
himself at once. He gave faithful account
of his circumstances, and told of his attach
ment. The old lady betrayed no surprise.
She bad seen the way the wind was blowing
for some days, and she frankly confessed
that she had formed a good opinion of the
Major. which she believed her niece shared.
But she deprecated haste. Mrs. Pennington
was entirely her own mistress, and the
Major could speak to her if he liked, of
course; but the old lady thought it would
be proper and advisable to wait until the
friendship had ripened, at least until they
had reached England and knew more of
each other.
The Major admitted that there was reason
in what the old lady said, but he did not
pledge himself to follow her advice. On
the contrary, he secretly resolved to strike
while the iron was hot. He was not the
only suitor Mrs. Pennington had On board.
The Major saw probable rival, and a
formidable one, i'll certain Mr.. Sparkle,
one of the card-players-young handsome,
and reported to be wealthy. Mr.. Sparkle
was buoyant, amusing fellow, and the
Major remembered with pang of anxiety
that the fair widow always had hearty
laugh for his nonsense and buffoouery.-
No there was certainly no time to be lost
The Major could find no opportunity of
carrying out his intention that day, but he de-
termined to be more successful on the next,
even if he had to descend to the convention
al Can you spare me few moments
private conversation ?" to secure a tete-d-
tete. Later in the evening he tried to divert
himself at cards with Sparkle and the rest,
and in couple of hours his abstraction
cost him ten guineas.
At midnight he RETIRED leaving his COM
panions who seemed bent on making
night Of it, still playing.
The Major had slept about two hours.
and was in the most interesting part of a
beautiful dream, in which Mrs. Pennington
figured as the heroine, when he was awak-
ened by a noise in the cabin. 1t was
Sparkle and one of his companions, both in
somewhat elevated copdition.
care you awake, MajorT' whispered
Sparkle.
''No, I'm not" grunted our hero.
1--WE have run short of liquor-want a
night-cap before turning in-thought you
might have some"
'1Flask in lower bunk" answered the
Major from under the bed clothes.
''Thanks, old fellow"
In u hazy sort of way the Major thought
it was like their confounded impertinence
to come into his cabin in the middle of the
night; but before he had time to get angry
he fell asleep again.
'dere IL is announced sparkle, aICer
cropping about the lower bunk for minute.
''Out with it" answered his companion.
SCOT glass?'
mo Sure to be one here some where
Let's see. Ah, here we are. Hullo ! it's
full of water"
"Chuck it out of the port-hole"
1t being terribly hot night the Major
was sleeping with the port-hole OPEN
Leaning over the bunk, and being careful
not to disturb the sleeper, Mr.. Sparkle
threw the contents of the tumbler into the
Indian ocean.
Then the two gentlemen, with ludicrous
solemnity, drank the Majors health.
"Good fellow, the Major" remarked
Sparkle gratefully; and the pair stumbled
out Of the cabin and made for their respec.
tive quarters.
The Major was an early riser, and when al
8 O'Clock the next morning he had not left
his cabin the steward ventured to knocl
at the door,
There was no reply, so the steward rap
ped little louder
"What is it ?' asked muff1ed voice.
"Nine O'Clock, SIR"
"All right''
But when another hour passed withOu
the Major appearing the steward suspected
Al,r& Ill IL