Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-11-09
A NOVEL DEALING WITH ooTEMPoRARY LIFE
BY WILLIAM BLACK,
CHAPTER XIX.
WRITTEN FOR THE DISPATCH

tapping in the sunlight, and brisk breeze
blowing, and the curious excitement of de-
parture thrilling through all the heterogen-
eous crowd of passengers-here something
OF hope came to him at last This was bet
ter than haunting lonely restaurants, or
walking through solitary streets; he seemed
to know that Maisrie was no longer in the
land he was leaving; she had fed away
across the ocean-gone back to the home, TO
some one ofithe various homes, of ner child
hood and girlhood. And although it ap-
peared a mad thing that young man
should set out to explore so vast continent
in search OF his lost love, it was not at all
the impossible task it looked. He had
made certain calculations. Newspaper Of
fees are excellent centers of intelligence;
and Scotch-American newspaper offices
would still further limit the sphere of his
inquiries He had dreamed of a wide and
sorrowful sea lying between him and her; but
instead of that imaginary and impossible
sea, why, there was only the familiar Allan
tic, that nowadays you can cross in less than
q week. And when he had found her and
seized her two hands fast, he would re-
proach her-oh, yes he would reproach her
though perhaps there might be more of
gladness than of anger in his tones.
All, false love-traitress-coward heart
that ran away What Qui1otic self-sacri-
fee was 1t, then, that impelled you?-what
fear of relatives?-what fire OF wounded
pride? No matter now; you are caught and
held. You gave yourself to me; you cannot
take yourself away again; nor shall any
other. No more sudden disappearance
no more trembling notes of tarewelI-while
l have YOU by the hand
The last cheers had been shouted by the
people crowded on the deck Of the now dis
tant tender, the great ship was cautiously
creeping down the stream, and the pas
senCers having done with the waving of
handkerchiets (and here and there furtive
driving OF eves). set about preparing for the
vovage-securing their places at table, in
vestIgating their cabins and getting their
things uupacked. These occupations kept
most OF them in their state-rooms until close
on Ginuer-time, so that they had not much
chance of examining each other; but 1t is
wonderful how rumor runs in ship
especially if the purser be a cheerful and
communicative sort of person; and so 1t was
that when all were assembled in the long
and gorgeous saloon two things had already
become known; the first, that the tall and
handsome young Englishman who seemed
10 have no companion or acquaintance
on board was the newly-elected men,
Der for Mendover; and second, that
the extremely pretty woman who had
the seat of honor at the Captains table
was a Mrs. de Lara, South American,
as might have been guessed from her COM
plexion, her ewes and hair. 1t appeared to
be foregone conclusion that Mrs. de Lara
was to be the belle OF the ship on this voy-
l., Il, lal.
hans one or two of the commercial gentle
men may have crossed with her before, and
seen her exercise her SWAY. As for Vim Har-
. ris, his unopposed return for such an insig-
nifcant place as Mendoyer would not have
secured much notice throughout the coun-
try had it not been that Immediately after
the election, the great Grandson had been
kind enough to write to the new member
charming note oil congratulation, which, o.
course, had to be published. 1t was sig
nifcaut pat on the back, of which any
young man might very we'll have been
proud; and Mrs. Ellison bought innumer-
able copies OF tina: mornings newspapers,
and cut the letter out and sent it around
to her friends, lest they should not have
seen It, Mr.. Ogden was also so condescend-
Ing as to send similar message-but that
was not published.
Now during the first evening on board
ship, strangers mostly remain strangers to
each other; but next morning things become
peciallv il the weather be fine,
and everyone is on deck. Small courtesies
are rendered and accepted; people get intro
duced, or introduce each other, on the small
est pretense-exeept the old stagers, the
wary ones who hang aloof in order to pick
and choose. As tor Vincent he was well
content with his own society, varied by an
occasional chat with the purser, when that
ubiquitous official could spare few mo-
ments He was not anxious to make ac-
ouaintanceS. His thoughts were far ahead.
On this brisk and bracing morning he was
leaning idly with his elboays on the raj, and
looking toward the distant line of the Irish
coast that was slowly becoming more definite
in torn, when Mr.. Purser Collins came W
10 him.
There's a very charming lady would like
to make YOUR acquaintance, said the off
Ger. "Will you come with me, and will
introduce vou?''
''Oh, very WELL" Vincent said, but will
no great eagerness. "Tell ME her name
now that 1 may make sure of it"
You are favored-Mrs de Lara"
"Oh, really" he said, indifferently
'She seems to me to have had half the mer
OH the ship fetching and carrying for her all
the morning."
And indeed, when he followed the purser
in order to be introduced to this lady, h,
found her pretty well surrounded by assidu
Gus gentlemen; and if you please-if yoU
please, Mr.. Collins had to keep repeating
he ore he could bring the newcomer inuC
the august presence. Mrs. de Lara-who
on closer inspection, turned out to be quite
Young woman, with pale, clear, OLIVE
complexion, softly-lustrous black eyes tina
ror-Id say q deal a prefty smile and dimnle
and magnificent hair-received him very
graciously; and at once, and dcompletely, anC
without the slightest eompunction, pro
cscded to ignore the bvstanders who haC
been so oficiously kind to her. OF cours
their conversation was at first the usua
nothings Wonderful weather. Night b.
midsummer, but for the cold wind. Cap
tain been on the bridge ever since Liver
pool, poor man; get some rest after leavin.
Queenstown. Was she a good sailor
Some ladies remained in their berths all th
way over. Dry champagne, and plenty o
it, the only safeguard? Crossed man,
times? And so forth. But at length sh
said;
Couldn't you find chair, and bring
slong?"
Now the assiduous gentlemen had man
aged to fad very snug corner for Mrs. d
Lara, where there was just room Tor tw
deck chairs-her own and that of her CON
paniou and friend, Miss Martinez; and Vir
cent being rather shv, had no Intention {
iamming himself into this nook. He mad
some little excuse-and remained standin
with the others; whereupon Mrs. de Lar
said to her companion:
Isabel, will you 60 and see that the le'
tiers I lett in my cabin are all properl
stamped and put in the post bag for Queenl