Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1889-10-03

| tain, who seemed inclined to exert to the
| fullest extent his prerogative' OF guardian
"a failing not uncommon with gentle
men of his persuasion.
One bright afternoon, when they were
| within seven hundred miles of New York,
Miss Gray came TO sudden conclusion
| that the state of affairs was uncomfortable
She would have it cut with this young
| man, let the consequences be what they
| might. Perhaps-she found herself
shuddering slightly at the thought-a few
| moments conversation with him might
| dispel her Illusion and prove him I'M
worthy of the time she was wasting in
thinking of him. She paced the deck
slowly, all alone. The passengers were
all down at luncheon, while she, who had
no appetite, remained there. firm in the
resolution to go through with her self
imposed task.
On sudden impulse she neglected to
turn at the limit of the wheel house, but
continued her walk round to the rear of
it, and, arriving at the railing overlook.
ing the stern, whom should she find
leaning down over the water in his ha.
bitual graceful attitude, but the object of
her quest-the young man OF the superb
figure and dropping, golden mustache.
Now those who have made q voyage in
modern ocean steamship are quite IA
miliar with the advantages of the narrow
space between the sternwheel railing
and the rear OF the wheel-house for pur.
poses of tetes.a-tete. Two persons en-.
sconced there-there is room for two,
and no more-are so secure from obser-
vatiou as though they were buried in a
coral ha hnrtnn Of fha
This. then, is the situation the young peo-
pie found themselves IL.
Observing Miss Gray, the young man
drew himself up proudly. allowed his
features to assume the brick-wau ex.
preston the young lady already knew so
well. He bowed stiffiy and turned aside
to leave.
Miss Gray stretched out q white, jew :
eled hand and touched his arm. blushing
violently as she did so. The young man
tried to look naughty, but failed. His
face relaxed into a sunny smile.
Il wish to say to you, SIR" began Miss
Gray, in a strange, forced voice, her
pretty face working little, "that l am
very sorry"
Into her auditors eyes there shot a
swift light of pleasure. He stretched ont
his hands and took both of hers, unre-
sisting, into them. You shall not say
word to me in that strain" he cried, with
an air of brisk authority; you Were Ill
AID weak, aud could know nothing Of me.
Besides, did take liberty; ought to
have asked your permission first, ought l
not:" And he smiled down at her in a
fashion that made Miss Gray, who few
weeks ago would have scoffed at the bare
suggestion OF such thing, feel quite
helpless, but strangely coutented. She
did not withdraw her hands, and could
not look into his face again. after that
first smile. Somehow she felt that his
head was bending down closer to hers;
she felt his breath, quick and warm. upon
her cheek: she tried to draw back, but
could not -.
A wOman's wild cry, a rush of hurrying
feet, sudden reversal Of the engines
that caused the screw to forsake the wa
ter and beat the air in a fashion to jar
the great ship from end to end-then Mss
Gray, in sort of trance, heard the young
man at Ter side utter shout, felt his
hands dragged from the hysterical clasp
of her own, and saw him disappear head.
long over the railing into the boiling
cauldron Of foam far away beneath her.
As though in a nightmare she saw a