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

"No, I've not"
"Have you made any inquiries abou
him ?'' w
swell, no. We're very good friends,
but must confess to being little selfish,
and l have felt his absence this morning
to be rather an advantage"
"Im sure that Major Dymple would
never feel your absence to be an advan-
tage, said Mrs. Pennington, coolly.
Mr.. Sparkle WINGED. sfShall look him
up?' be asked, hastily.
sIf you wish," replied the widow indif-
ferently
mo, it's if you wish,"
When have a message to send shall
have no difficulty in finding messenger" "
And Mrs. Flemington opened her book,
and appeared to lose the knowledge of
Mr.. Sparkle's existence.
Another knock, and loud one, at the
Majors door.
"Who is it ?'f
Your own Sparkle. May he enter ?"
'sNo."
ooh, hang it p muttered the young gen.
tleman. "That's the second knock in the
eye I've had to-day. must pay him out
for that. Are you feeling seedy, Major ?''
every"
"You should be careful of yourself. y
The voice, if not the words, limited at the
Majors gray hairs. "You shouldn't have
slept with the port-hole open last night
Have you caught cold ?"
'sYes'
"Tbat's bad. You really must take
more care of yourself. Shall you be on
deck presently ?''
"No."
$50 bad as that? Two or three people
have been inquiring after YOU"
"Who ?" asked the Major, with ill-con-
cealed eagerness.
''We]l, let me see now," answered the
malicious Sparkle thoughtfully. "The Sc
cond oficer-he asked; so did Blake; and,
yes, so did Johnstone."
The Major groaned inwardly, and turning
his face to the wall, OR rather to the ships
side, he spoke no more.
Mr. Sparkle returned on deck, and found
Mrs. Pennington where he had left her,
Taking seat by her side, he looked grave.
'1'm afraid the Majors in bad way"
he said
"What's the matter with him ?" asked
the widow hastily.
81 can scarcely say. You see, he's very
reckless-slept with his port-hole open last
night, and in consequence has caught a
severe cold. Very dangerous thing, cold
l didn't see him, but we had long con-
versation through the door,"
'What did he say?" asked Mrs. Flem-
ington.
"Well, should have said that I had the
conversation. He said nothing but yes
once or twice, and mo- several times. Do
you know, fear the Major has not a very
even temper?"
81 have not remarked it," said Mrs.
Flemington. "But I remember now tina.
Major olympic confded to me one day that
the only being able to ruffle his temper is a
bore; and do you know, Mr.. Sparkle, /
quite sympathize with him ?" Whereupon
Mrs. Pennington returned to her book.
The day passed without the Major leaving
his cabin. Some luncheon and dinner were
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 o few
minutes ol,2y. When Mrs. Pennington met
the doctor on deck afterward she anxiously
inquired after the patient.
us the Major better, Doctor ?"
"There is no change in his condition."
"Is it dangerous illness ?"
and unpleasant attack, but it is neither
dangerous nor, fortunately, contagious"
"Then Major olympic will be on deck
again soon ?"
II fear not" replied the doctor. SIN
fact, don't think we will see much of him
for the rest of the voyage"
Mrs. Pennington looked very disappoint-
''Is Major olympic subject to these at
tacks?" asked her aunt, who had just
Joined them.
81 don't think he has ever had one be-
fore," replied the doctor.
ssAnd is he suffering?" asked the widow
tenderly.
sAcutely, but not physically. His suf-
ferings are of the mind" And to avoid
further questioning the doctor beat re-
treat.
s'This sudden indisposition ofthe Major S
is very singular" remarked the old lady
"Perhaps ought to tell you, my dear,
that Major Dymple conided to me his in
tention of proposing to you. | 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-"
s'No, he has not" replied Mrs. Fleming
ton, with heightened color.
Il think you like him." ssid the old lady,
who was at heart a match maker"
81 like him very much," answered her
niece simply.
Mrs Pennington spent very dull day.
Sparkle devoted himself to her, but failed
to enliven her. His wittiest 'sallies fell dis
mally fiat his most ludicrous absurdites
we're received with sadness. In the evening,
however, he was more successful. AS they
sat on deck together at about half-past 10
Mr.. Sparkle ioked and Mrs. Pennington
laughed Suddenly they saw tall and un-
mistakable figure wrapped in long over
coat. The widow involuntarily rose to her
feet.
SIS that You, Major Dymple?"
There was no reply. The figure quickly
disappeared.
Crest, rest, perturbed spirit?" quoted
Sparkle.
Mrs. Pennington retired to her cabin in
anger and modification, having made up
her mind that the Majors illness was a
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 He wanted fresh air and exer
cise AS the saloon deck was now deserted
he paced quickly up and down. Hi:
thoughts were very bitter. He had heard
Mrs. Pennington laughing-laughing gay
ly-while she knew that he was ill. He
used to enjoy her merriment but the
silvery peals he had just heard stabbed
him to the soul, for they were occasionec
by the witticism of his rival; and,, tortur-
ing thought, they were possibly at his ex
pense.
Pausing in his walk, the Major leaned
over the stern, and gazed at the agitateo
water beneath. One little slip--a quie
vault over the taffrail-and in a very few
minutes he would be miles astern, floating
alone on the great wilderness of water, tt
sink at last, murmuring the name of one
fair, false woman, to lonely resting-plac'
in the cold, hungry deep. Or, less poetic
thought, he might be caught in the arms o
the propeller, and crushed out of existence
in its revolvings. But in either case thu
effect would be the same Mrs. Fleming
ton would be doomed to lifelong remorse
Satisfied with the pleasant fancy, thu
Major resumed his walk, and in few
moments he was, with singular incon
sistency, mentally consigning his deadlies
enemy, Mr. Sparkle, to the happy fate h