Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-06-06

A
~ have not remarked IT, said Mrs.
FL, mIpQtop. .But I remember now that
Major olympic confded 10 me one day that
the only being able 10 ruffle bis temper Is
bore: and 90 YOU know. Mr.. Sparkle,
quite sympathize with himi" Whereupon
Mrs. FIcm,DQton returned 10 her book.
The day passed without the Major leay-
ing bis cabin. Some luncheon aud dinner
we're brought him by the steward, but sent
away barely touched. On the following
morning, as he still did not appear, the
doctor was sent to him. The visit lasted
for few minutes only. When Mrs. Flem-
ington met the doctor on deck afterward
she anxiously inquired after the patient.
"Is the Major better, Doctor"
"There is no change In his condition"
"Is IL q dangerous ILLNESS 7"
.Oh no! mol at all. Its an inconyenient
and unpleasant attack. but II Is neither
dangerous nor, fortunately, contagious"
"Then Major olympic will be on deck
again aocnf"
81 fear not" replied the doctor. " In
fact, don't think we will see much OF HIM
for the rest Of the voyage"
Mrs. Pennington looked very disap-
pointed.
.'Js Msjor olympic subject to these at
lacks 7" asked her aunt, who had Just
joined them.
IL don't think he has ever had one be
FORE" replied the doctor.
"And is he suffering? ?" asked the widow
tcnderly.
"Acutely, but not physically. His suf-
ferings are of the mind" And TO avoid
further questioning the doctor beat re-
treat.
"This sudden indisposition Of the Majors
Is very singular" remarked the old lady.
"Perbaps ought to tell you, my dear, that
Major olympic confded to me his intention
of proposing to you. 1 advised him not to
be too hasty, to wait until you had seen
more OF each other. He has evidently not
spoken TO you on the subject, or you would
have told me-"
"No, he has not" replied Mrs. Fleming
ton, with q heightened color.
II think you like him." said the old lady,
| who was at heart o matchmaker"
81 like him very much" answered her
niece simply.
Mrs. Pennington spent very dull day.
Sparkle devoted himself TO her, but failed
to enliyen her. His wittiest salles fell dis
mally fat; his most ludicrous absurdites
were received with sadness. In the eve
ming, however, he was more successful. As
they sat on deck together at about hall. past
10 Mr.. Sparkle joked and Mrs. Pennington
laughed. Suddenly they saw tall and I'M
mistakable figure wrapped in long over
coat. The widow involuntarily rose to her
feet.
'Is that you, Major Dymplef"
There was no reply. The figure quickly
disappeared.
"Rest, lest, perturbed spirits" quoted
Sparkle.
Mrs. Pennington retired to her cabin in
anger and modification, having made up
her mind that the Majors illness was q
pretence. and that his object was to avoid
her.
An hour later the Major again appeared
on deck and looked cautiously around.
He could bear the confinement OF his cabin
no longer. lie wanted fresh air and exer.
else. As the saloon deck was now deserted
he paced quickly up and down. HIS
thoughts were very bitter. He had heard
Mrs. Pennington aughing-laughing gay
ly-while she knew that he was i'll. He
used to enjoy her merriment; but the sill
very Deals he had just heard stabbed him
10 The soul, for they were occasioned by
the witticislns Of his rival; and, torturine
thought, they were possibly at his expense
Pansing in his walk, the Major leaned
over the stern, and gazed at the agitated
water beneath. One little slip-a queI
vault over the taffral-and In very few
minutes he would be miles astern, floating
alone on the great wilderness OF water, tC
sink at last, murmurlng the name OF ont
| fair, false woman, to a lonely reStlng-place
in the cold, hungry deep. Or, less poetic
thought, he might be caught in the arms Of
the propeller. aud crushed out OF eXistenc'
I'm its revolyiDgs. But in either case The
effect would be the same: Mrs. Flemngtor
would be doomed TO a lifelong remorse-
Satisfied with the pleasant fancy, the Ma
Tor resumed his walk, and in a few mo-
. ments he was, with singular Inconsistency
| mentally consigning bis deadliest enemy
Mr.. Sparkle, TO the happy fate he had
sketched out for himself.
The Maior was not the only restless sou
aboard that night. He suddenly discovered
that there was man pacing the second 50
p loon deck, whom in his pre6ccupation HI
, | had not hitherto observed. Occasionally
, they met in their walk at the railing
which divided the two decks, and thu
r Major became seized with longin.
| TO address his fellow-watcher Mus
there not be a bond Of sympathy be
tween them. that they two, OF all the pas
sengers, should seek that quiet hour fo
! | solitude and reflection? Our hero at tina
moment would have fed upon the approach
OF the captain, Mrs. Pennington, Mr.. Spar
r kle. or any OF his friends. but he would
have gladly chatted with tAe cook, th'
| baker, OF any one he had not met before
= | HIS forty-eight hours confinement mad
: | him long for companionship, and so he VA
drawn toward this stranger OF the secOnf
, saloon. Accordingly, he hazarded ats
beautiful night" when they next met a
| the railing.
/ The stranger responded with alacrity
: He was q very small and very attenuate(
man, with pale, lean face, straight bacl
l hair, an aggressive nose, and bright, dlrE
{ eyes which suggested restless, sanguin
( shirt too big for the weak little body.
"It is indeed beautiful night, sir. tn
4 man who elects to stew in hot, stuff
cabin on such night is wanting in tast
and poetic feeling"
Without pausing to consider to what eX
tent he merited this indirect compliment
{ the Major accepted it graciously.
| 81 quite agree with you, sir" he said
/ "Midnight on the ocean Is u seductive
dreamy hour"
at IL certainly the hour for the dream
> err" replied the stranger, looking up a. tn
stars, land AN dreamer. Physical in
significance, limited education, Lack 0
golden opportunity, and condition in lii
nexorabiy glued 10 the commonplace
i short, fate-has shut me out from the poss
bility Of soaring. But | have my dreams
encourage and foster them; L steal ava
0 by myself and gloat over them, and al
n happy. Now / have the might an
n courage OF Achilles; in an hour
IS have woven for myself as adyer
turous career as that OF Ulysses. At on
e time am o second Shakespeare; at an0thC
1. the mantle OF Charles Dickens has falle
J. upon me. have been all things-poe
priest, politician, philosopher, scientis
soldier, navigator, and king; and as eae
Ut and all have been preeminent. / hay
dwelt in yon golden planets, and l hay
$, penetrated the most hidden depths OF tn
b, mighty ocean. l have tracked the tigt
70 through the jungle 10 his lair, and in III
desert have taken the lion by the bear
Id and slain him. bave-well, I'm afraid
)" have succeeded in boring you"
mot at ALL" answered the Major; 40
IN the contrary, am deeply interested. BI
confess TO being surprised that q man {
IT, your very evident abilities should contir
himself TO dreaming. Small stature ca
not be g good excuse for inaction when "
all remember that many OF the greatest m,
;, that ever lived were OF small and CIV,
*, weakly frames. How often has 1t be-