Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1886-06-05
STEERAGE AND CABIN

| was in the Steerage. S1e WAS
in the cabin. Not that / wis not as
much astonisbed 20 see her, as pos
Sibly, she was to see me. | had no
idea that she was in the Persia,
though knew it was settled some
time before that the Dufours were
going to Europe.
1t was "A glorious moonlight even,
ing the third night out. How well
| remember it! The first mate was
a good friend of mine. He had
known me in my callow days OF
spending and pleasure, for | had
gone as cabin passenger more than
once. | was indebted to him for
the neat arm chairin which Iposed,
nightly, to ENJOY my cigar and
make mental apostrophies to the
moon. Now and then | could go
or the passenger.deck at night,
through his courtesy; and as | was
not yet seedy, though my clothes
were far from new, I fancy did no
tliscredit to the aristocratic loun'
gers who never noticed me, as, at
his leisure, WAS always in company
with Alvord, the mate.
Musing, as usual, l sat OH the
lower deck, my hat thrown back
my gaze intent on her majesty the
moon, when | heard a voice that
sounded familiar. 1t said:
"Oh, mercy!" and then a moment
after: "Don't leJ's stay here, LII"
looked upjust as the beautiful
proud face was turned, profile to-
ward me.
"Gracious leavenS!" Isaid under
my breath. "Lilly Dufour! the
bankers daughter"
I did not see her companion,antl
before could move Or speak, If
had been so mindel, both ladies
had gone.
smiled to myself, though my
face burned and my cars tingfed
Only a few months ago and [ had
been her partner i'll a german given
at one of the most arlStOcratic homes
in New York. Her beauty i'm
pressed me; the acquaintance ri
pened into love. She had accepted
Inc, and l was the happiest man i'll
the universe. Then great misfor
tune occurred, involving me in the
disgrace of the head OF the firm
Innocent though l was, l had to I'M
dergo many searching inquiries be.
fore the true verdict was made pub
lie. Stripped of money, my good
name under a cloud, for time, at
least, l looked for sympathy from
my lovely fance, and I was az.
tonished beyond measure at the
GOODNESS Of her reception, the al
most indifference with which she
listened to my defense. And when,
again. she declined to receive me,
and wrote me Il cold little note in
which she informed me, in u beau
tiful Italian hand, that our engage
ment was at all end. l was absO-
Elutely petrified with amazement.-
How often she had talked of love
in u cottage! How eloquentlv de-
cIaretl that, failing fortune or fail
ing health, and even HONOR, her
heart would be true to itself aud
me; her love the shield and the re-
ward. could not believe it possi-
BILE. tried to sec her, but was al
ways repulSed. l wrote, but re-
ceived no reply. l haunted her
walks, her drives. She never
looked at me.
Desperate and disheartened, /
cared not what became Of me. For
weeks I moved, ate. worked like an
automaton. l was ut my worst
when note came from young
lawyer, formerly my chuln, and a
coed fellow to boot:
"DEAR HAL-There is splendid
news for you. Come down TO the
Office as soon as you can.
Yours, FRED
What news was there that mat
tered anything to mes l scarcely
cared to obey the summons. That
evening Fred stopped me ON the
street.
"Why didn't you Gomez" he
asked. "Oi course you got my noteY
There's millions in III"
"Millions in what7" interroga-
ted.
"Pounds, shillings and pence. l
happened on an advertisement in
an English paper yesterday. Fye
heard you say your family name
was Preston; that there was some
GOODNESS between your mother and
your English relations. Now here
is certain lIalsted Preston, Esq,
who has just died at the age of sew
enty-two, auu ne eaves-well,
enough ana penny TO Tile son OF HIS
sister, who married Il Thomas DE
Long, in America. Of course he
must be your uncle, and they are
searching for the heir. So you see
you are wanted"
looked at my much. worn suit
For d moment my heart beat as if
it would leap from my body. Now,
if This were true (and | knew | had
an uncle Halsted Preston in Devon
shire-I was named for him), !
was the peer of any bankers daugh.
ter in America.
keep quiet about this matter,
will yonf', | asked. "Don;t let it
get i'll the papers just yet. / have
rood reasons for asking If. Above