Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-03-19

NJ and s1fU-n nave VAihA
where is il 10 be gotr
:. Steward has it, he answered. with
an uncertain kind Of wink Steward says
I'm Grunk-wont serve me You go anu
get the whisky-steward can't say you re
drunk>-an' wen drink i; together
Il didn't dare refuse him. SO got up;
but in trying TO follow ne the n.tie
American hGppenei 20 fall foul OF .
Scotch woman with very large family
OF children under her garments. like
chickens under hens wings. OF course
she went for him tooth and nail. and
soundly belabored him. and took the op-
portunity of just slipping round the other
side Of the funnel and sitting down in
the same place as had been before. And
then. when he had gathered himself up
and apparently been all round the ship In
pursuit of me, he came back, trying TO
peer into our faces SO as TO identity me
again. and take me along for the drink-
However. happily he was too drunk, or
too sleepy or something. 10 be sure OF
me, and the old Scotch hdy stood my
friend and warned him against getting
too near to her; so, at last, he seemed 10
get sleepy all at once, and he just rolled
himself under a hand barrow or hand
truck and went off to sleep | believe,
said Beautiful Jim, solemulv, that II we
had known he was dying we were all to
Ill and frozen and miserable ourselves TO
have moved SO much as finger TO help
him Not. all the same. that lie seemed
in the smallest danger. for ne slept Sc
renely on. and snorei away as happily as
possible
However. when morning came and we
found ourselves alongside of the quay.
some of the ships people came along and
fished him out. and if you'll believe me,
Miss Earle. he was SO petrtied he couldn't
stand-couldnt move hand or foot"
But alive" she asked.
ALIVE! Oh. yes. And they stuck him
up with his back against the funnel to
get melted; and presently heard him say
to himself, in sleepy sort of tone:
AN bedad. I've got al ah-ful crick
in me neck.
And how did you get on after?'
.'Oh, as fine as possible--and when we
got to Dublin we found oaiy first and
second class in the train; but they took US
second class. and said never word, and
we got home and thought no more about
it; but. by that same token, it was an
awful night, the worst I've spent in all
my life"
1t would not be easy to say how deeply
interested Miss Earle vase much so, in
fact. that she forgot all about the letter
and the unfortunate slip.
That "a very fine story" she said.
with tiattering air of appreciation, as
she lay at ease in the big chair and idly
watched the tennis players on the lawn
before
All | little thought | should ever
have the heart to make a sorry out of my
misery" said he, with laugh; but, oh.
Miss Earle, I'm afraid you re irightfully
thirsty and hungry. have kept YOU an
unconscionabie time listening to all my
old yarns DO come and have some ice
or cup or something
Miss Earle said at once that she should
like cup of tea. so they sauntered down
to the tea table and he ministered to her
needs. So their pleasant chat came to an
end. Others joined them as they ate t lieir
Strawberries, and Miss Earle was peremp
torily ordered to complete set Of tennis
players and in vain did she try to get out
Of it.
My dear, you must play" said the
deans beautiful daughter, with kind in
sistence. Il know you are sweet and
good. and will give up for any body; but
| have made up this set for you, and am
determined you shall not be done out
of it.
We'll, let me finish my tea, Nancy en-
treated; and Beautiful jim thought.
though he hardly knew why, that she
would much rather have stayed where she
was. and, OF course, have talked to him.
However, she had to 60 and Beautiful
Jim. left to himself. finished a very sub
stantial rcpast and looked round for some
one to talk to- Mrs Trafford was still
sitting where she had been when he en-
tered the garden. but she was alone now,
Lady Margaret having moved away to
speak to other guests. He made his way
to her at once.
Mrs Trafford. wouldn't you like to
have a turn round the gardenr" he asked.
Il would much rather have cup Of
tea, she replied. laughing.
Jim gave her his arm at once, and very
quickly settled her in comic. sable chair
with some claret cup and plate Of
strawberries. Then he pulled another
chair near to it for himself. and prepared
to have good time and enjoy it.
What is the news. Mrs. Traffordf" he
ssked-everybody went to Mrs. Trafford
for the latest news in Blankhampton
"Well, she said as she dipped straw
berry into the little pile OF sugar upon
her plate, the corporation are going to
take the terrace away from all these
houses. | think that's the Latest of all :"
Awful shame" murmured Beautiful
Jim. to whom Blankhampton Deanery
was merely pleasant but passing oasis
in lifes desert. and not a permanent
Mecca, as it was to the parish set.
And the dean says if they do he'll lock
up the Deanery Close and make private
garden of thatl But they know well
enough that he will never have the heart
to shut the children out just to spite the
corporation"
well, it would be rough on the little
beggars, said he. mo, shouldn't think
the dean would be the sort to do that"
mot he, it isn't in him. and the cor
poration people know it-and act upon it.
Still it will be a great shame if they con-
trive to destroy the privacy of all these
gardens. for nothing is so unpleasant as
being overlooked in that way OF course
you know that Miss Antrobus is going to
be married. she said, with q quick
change of tone
Beautiful jim edged step nearer
'No; indeed did not. And who is the
mani"
An old admirer; man who has been
in love with her for years-for YEARS."
answered Mrs Trafford, unconsciously
slipping into Mrs Hugh Antrobus' grand
and inflated style of speaking. II told
Mrs Autrobus that | hoped she would be
very happy, for happiness In marriage is
such an important consideration And
she said; Oh, de ar, yes Mr. Mandarin
is quite the right husband for Polly His
devotion has been marvellous, and he
has loaded her-simply loaded HEREWITH
valuable presents"
Mandarin What a queer name. said
Beautiful jim, who was deeply interested
in the fortunes of the fair Polly.
81 believe" said Mrs, Trafford, looking
down demurely as she toyed with her
fork and plate. that Mr. Mandarin Ser
father and-er-mother were-er-not
exactly of the same race"
Yes, said Jim, eagerly
"His mother was a German Jewess who
we'll, went out in some capacity to
Shanghai and-and married a rich mer-
chant Of some repute in that city; and
er-the fact is, Mr. Beresfori, when you
have seen him-as | have-I don't sup
pose you will be at all surprised at his
bearing such peculiar name, it suits
him very well, Mrs. Traffor,i ended, put
ting down her cup with a very quiet and
innocent air.
Beautiful Jim by that time was simply
convulsed with laughter
Mrs Trafford," he exclaimed, you
don't mean that the fair Polly is going to
marry a Chinamanl Good God It's worse
than marrying niger"
..Tl.a L. H.. NJ. L.