Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1889-09-20
WON AT SIGHT.

we hau Dccn upon the Medltcrranea
station for about a year, when our com
mandcr ordered the ship to head 70
Marseilles.
was then a young midshipman, an,
enjoyed the leave on shore in foreigl
p 1T with boyish delight There wer
SIX In our mess, and we managed TO ge
shore leave so as to be together, whel
1t WIS possible to do so. This was tn
case one fine Sunday IN the month o
December, mild and summar.Ilko il
the south of France as a New ENGLAND
May day.
The singular experience of one of ou
number l have often told since abou
the mess table or camp fire, but hav,
never put it into print.
We were strolling on the souar,
known as lie Cours ST. Louis, a sort o,
permanent flower market, where the
women sit enthroned in tent-like stalls
OF wood, encircled by their bright,
beautiful and fragrant wares, while tho
manner of arranging the stalls, so that
the vender sits raised some six feet in
the ar, gave novel effect to the scene.
We watched with special delight these
b'ack-eyed, black -ha red and rosy
checked girls, the bush of health in
their faces fairly riyaling that of their
scarlet flowers. With busy fingers
they arranged in dainty com mbiua,ions
the vivid and delicate cQlors, relieved
by fresh green leaves and trailing vines
Of smllax, while we young middics
jokcd pleasantly with them and bought
fabulous quantities of bouquets.
While we were idling away tho hour
in lie Cours St. Louis, with these
roguish and pretty flower venders, we
were all thrown into aslatcso amazc
ment and curiosity by the appearance or
young girl Of about IL, who rushed
among US with startling speed, and
who, hardly pausing to regain her
breath, said, in excellent English:
You are Amer cans, and trust,
gentlemen. Is there one among you
who will marry mel"
"We will all marry you," was the in :
staut response, accompanied by hearty
laughter.
"Ah, you are in sport, but am in
earnest. Who will marry me2"
There seemed to be no joke after ALL
The girl was positively iu earnest and
looked at one and all Of us as coolIy,
yet earnestly, as possible.
Here, Harry" said one who was
rather leader among us, and address
ing Harry, "you want wife," and he
gave cur comrade a slight push toward
the glrl,
For some singular reason Harry took
the matter much more in earnest than
the res. of us, and regarded the new
conner with most searching but re-
spectful glance. Approaching her he
said:
Il do not know exactly what you
mean, but / can understand by your ex-
preston of face that you are quite in
earnest. VIII you take my arm and let
us walk to one sidc2
eyes; hut l have no time to lose, "
and taking his arm, they walked away
together
We looked upon the affair as some
well-prcparod Joke, but were a little an
noyed at the non-Gppcaranco of Harry
at our rendezvous on the quay Our
leave ex irel at sunset, and we dared
not wait for him, as Captain D was
a thorqugh ,discipliparian. and we didn't
card'to provoke him and thus endanger
cur next Sundays leave
On board We went therefore, leaving
Harry on shore. When we reported the
question was, If course, asked where
Mldshipman 3 was, to which query
we could return no proper nswer, as
We really did not know lie knew per-
fecly well that We must all be at the
boat landing just bcf re sunset 1t wa
plain enough to US all that there was
trouble brewing for our messmate.
Harry dill not make his appearance un-
iii the next day at noon, when he pulled
20 the ship in a shore boat, and, com
ing on board, reported at once to the
captain, who stood upon the quarter
deck, and asked the privilege of pri-
vate Interv ew.
The circumstances connected with the
absence oil Harry were very peculiar, and
as he was one of the most correct fell
lows on board, his request was granted
by the captain, who retired to his cabin,
followed by the delinquent After re-
naming with the commander for near
ly an hour, he came out and Joined US.
What is the upshot of it, Harryl'
we asked.
"Well, lads, Pm married - that's
akn
Marricdl' asked the mess, in one
voice.
Tied for hfew was the answer.
.1Iard and fastl"
''lrreyoeably.