The Grenada gazette., 1888-02-25
A STEER AGE BELLE
Romance on an Ocean Steamer
from Glasgow to New York.

She was n bcauty-not rich flower
from the conscw watory-but n bright
blossom from the bosom Of nature. As
she lay on The main deck, in front of
the forward companion way, where
the sun shonC warm and the shrouded
mainSail projected her from the cold
wind, few could resist the pleading of
that pale face and those large, lus-
trous eyes for the sympathy we all
need the first few DAYS at sea.
She looked so delicate and seemed
so tmid, and wiihal so pretty. that in
carrying the floral comparison further
on" thought Of The proverb ally modest
violet She made retty picture y-
ing there on the deck, and the half
dozen homely peasant women grouped
about formed good background
against which to throw the photograph
of one SO lovely, aud the bright.col-
ored shawlS they wore over thei.' heads
gave warmth and tone 10 The colorin.,
while the whole was set in II frame of
ropes. rigging and masts.
She was the most interesting invalid
on the vessel and her sweet face and
modest ways appealed to every other
passenger well enough to take any
interest in his surroundings. The
group became q common one, but not
tiresome, in its sameness. When most
Others had recovered from the first
discomforis of Il sea voyage this beauty
was still an invalid, helped to the deck
every morning and watched with jcal-
Gus care during the day by those sim.
pie peasant people huddled together in
the steeragc.
Bat there was ono devoted attend
ant on this invalid who attracted as
much attention almost as did his in.
teresting patient. This was'the youth
full lover who never left her side while
on deck except to minister in some
way to her comfort. He gave up his
blanket 10 make her bed the softer,
and his overcoat that she might be bet
ter protected from the cold September
winds which swept the decks. He was
a handsome boy. scarce out of his
teens. but he knew how to make man.
ly sacrifices for the girl he loved.
Their companions, by common con.
sent, gave the young fellow the first
place by her side, and while the vessel
rolled with the swell Of a heavy sea
the girl clung closer to him, and he
folded her in his arms and tried to
comfort her with his devotion. 1t did
comfort her. no doubt, for she would
lie there hour after hour as innocently
clinginS to her protector rs little
child in its mothers arms The pict-
ure attracted the attention of The cabin
passengers, and every man, woman
and child paused in their strolls about
the promenade deck to look down upon
the young lovers.
Afer the first day 1t became one of
the features Of the ocean life, where
the monotony drives even common
P''" 0'Nhb' 'i'o &" piol'illcnCe never
dreamed of on land. The lovers in
the steeragc became the gossip of the
ladies and the source of comment and
wager among he men. They hello first
place in the minds Of the passengers,
even above the occasional whale, the
possibility Of meeting icebcrgs, or the
running time Of the ship. Pools were
sold in the smoking-room as to the
duration of the romance. how lcng the
young fellow would hold out rs Il
,iursc, and how long sks would be
to him after her appetite and |
her spirits returned.
But. for three days. not nm hour
passed from sunrise until dusk that the