Clarksville weekly chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1873-1890, 1886-03-20
.-~-alSS M'MILLAN.
ILuI.e sharp b nstroiL rree rr.s. |

IN INC caDln OF the City OF Berlin two
long tables extend from the piano at one
end to the bookcase at tho other end of
the ample dining-room.
each side of this main saloon arc
four small tables intended to accom-
modate six or seven persons. At one
OF these tables sat pleasant party of
Jour ladies' and three gentlemen. Three
ladies' were from Detroit. one from
hent, in England. 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 face told of n
lie OF business crowned with generous
success
Mr. Waters, younger merchant had
all the alert vivacity of the pushing
American. He had the distinguished
honor of sitting opposite me at tic small
table.
Blair and Waters occupied the same
room, No IS and 10. The one had
crossed the Atlantic more than fifty
times, the other nearly thirty Those
ngures show the relative proportion of
tnelr business experience.
The presence OF Mr. Blair gave TO our
table sort of patriarchal dignity that
we all appreciated. If q louder burst of
laughter than usual came from our table
and the other passengers looked inauir-
lngly our way the. sedate and self-pos.
sessed face of Mr. Blair kept us in coun-
tenancee, and we, who bad given way to
undue levIty, felt ourselves enshroudcd
Dy an atmosphere of genial seriousness.
mat prevented our table from getting
the reputation of being funny.
Some remark that Blair made brought
forth the following extraordinary state
ment from Waters, who told it with the
AR OF o man exposing pretentions Of n
whited sepulchre.
Now, before this voyage goes any
further, he began, II have q serious
duty to perform which / can shirk no
longer, unpleasant though it be. Mr.
bar and myself occupy the same state
room Into that state-room has
been sent most lovely basket
OF flowers. 1t is not an extra.
ordinary basket of flowers, assure
you, ladies. There is beautiful floral
arch over bed of color, and believe
there is same tender sentiment con-
nected with the display-'Bon Voyage,
Aut Nledersehen, or some such
motto marked out in red buds. Now
these 6owars are not for mo. | think.
therefore, that Mr.. Blair owes it TO this
company which has so unanimously
placed him at the head of the table. to
explain how it comes that an elderly
gentleman gets such handsome floral !
1fn mt Srn
person in New ork.
We all looked at Mr. Blair, who gazed
with imperturbability at Mr.. Waters.
IF yeu had all crossed with Waters
as often as have you would know that
ne is subject to attacks like that He
means we'll, but occasionally he gives
way in the deplorable manner You have |
just witnessed. Now all there is of if
consists in this-a basket OF flowers has
been sent (no doubt by mistake, to our
stateroom. There is nothing but card
on it which says Room 49,. Steward.
he cried, would you 90 to room IL and
bring that basket of towers and set it
on this table. We may as well all have
the benefit of them. "
The steward soon returned with q
large and lovely basket of flowers,
which he set on the table, showing the
the caster and other things aside to
make room for it.
We all admired it very much and the
handsome young lady on my left asked
Mr.. Liars permission to take one of the
roses for her own.
Now. mind you" said Blair. 81 can
not grant flower from the basket for
you see it is as much the property of
Waters as of myself, for all of his virtu.
GUS Indignation. 1t was sent to the
room and he is one of the occupants,
The flowers have evidently been mis-
directed"
The lady referred to took it upon
herself to purloin the flower she
wanted. AS she did so card came in
view with the words written in mas
culine hand:
10 All ;%eMillan. VITA the loving regards
miss Mcmillan" cried the lady; 81
wonder If she is on board. I'd give
anything to know"
Nv ell give glance at the passenger
list, " said Waters.
own among the Ms on the long list
OF cabin passengers appeared the name
Miss Mcmillan" -I
"Aow,' said /, sit seems to me that
the duty devolves upon both Blair and
Waters to spare no pains in deicately
returning those / overs to their proper
owner. ! think that both have been
very remiss in not doing so long ago.
They should apologize publicly to the
young lady for having deprived her of
the Offering for day and a half, and
then think they owe an apology to
this table for the mere pretense that
any ssne person in New York or else
where would go to the trouble of send
ing either of them a single flower"
There will be no apology from me,
said Waters. IF do not receive the
thanks of Miss Mcmillan it will be be.
cause good deeds are rarely recognized
in 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-of course
! make no direct charges conceal
ment OF that card certainly looss rad