Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1890-07-02

framed in the battered old doorway
He forgot all about Bessie Eckel and
her blue eyes but he thought in q
halfearnest and halfdreamy fashion
ofthe future--of his part in the worlds
work, Of the wrongs he should right
and the good causes he should uphold
For had he not just graduated from
Columbia College, and became a part
of the great legal-power of the land !
Unconsciously, he was lingering over
and over a scrap Of ribbon that pro-
truded from the trunk. Gradually
he pulled it out further and further
wrapping yard after yard over his
strong fingers, till with start of dis
may, he realized that he held in his
hand a roll of ribbon drawn from
Bessie Eckels box. He glanced
hastily about, to see if anyone had
witnessed the act and would be ready
to proclaim him a thief. But no one
had noticed the young man idly
swinging his heels against the canvass
covered trunk. He looked again at
the dainty ribbon.
"Must just suit her :" Fred Emory
thought. But what was he to do 7
How he wished the ribbon safely back
in its rightful place. But how to get
it thereY Just then, bright thought
came to him: he would mail it to her
when he reached Albany. So he
placed the package carefully in his
pocket-book, and copying the young
lady's address, went up to the deck
again.
Bessie Eckel had become 50 inter-
ested in her book that she had been
needless of the lapse of time. Glanc-
ing now at her watch, she found to
her annoyance that it had stopped
she had forgotten to wind il. Because
she had no means Of learning, it seem
ed important, nay, imperative, that
she should know the hour Every
moment, the desire grew on her she
looked hesitatingly around, and at
that instant man at her left took
out heavy gold watch, glanced at
the face, and closed the case with II
snap. The young lady's quick eyes
took in his appearance, and mentally
checked the items: Respectable
looking, we'll dressed and at least
forty.fve." So she leaned slightly
forward and said softly Il beg your
pardon, but will you give me the time ?
My watch has stopped.
Now what had gone wrong that
day, with the person, Bessie Eckel
never knew. Perhaps neuralgia was
sending little Geographic messages of
distress down those vibrating wires,
the nerve perhaps some sudden huc-
tuation in stocks had brought him
face-to-face with the spectre, ruin ; Or
it might be that his daughter had elop.
ed with the coachman, that morning,
and left his horses and household des-
olate or his wife had discovered a
letter from some old sweetheart, and
made unpleasant remarks. Bessie
often made like charitable conjectures.
He could not be brute at heart, but
certain it is that he put his watch back
in his pocket, replying rudely to the
modest request: "If you wish to know
the time, you'd better 90 to the Office.
Do you take me for a porter ?"
The amazed scorn which shot from
Bessie Eckers eyes fairly shamed the
man, and the indignant ring in her
voice completed his discontinue as she
answered clearly: "No I beg your
pardcn-I mistook you for a gentle.
man."
The rude speech and the young
lady's singing answer were heard by
twenty people near Half a dozen
watches flashed from as many pockets,
but Fred Emory was first to hold out
his and name the hour. Bessie thank
ed him quietly and set her own little
timepiece. But the young man MOTTO
ed the proud lips tremble and knew
the girls spirit was smarting under
the insult, the first she had eyer re-
ceived.
Never mind, Miss Eckel," he said,
bending over her; "he is brute, but
you gave him just the rebuke he de-
served. And see he is ashamed
enough to take himself off,
And 60 it was for, finding the
open indignation of his fellow passen-
gres too much for him, he had sought
refuge below.
Bessie Eckel gave Fred Emory a
startled glance. How came he to
know her name? But she could not
puzzle over it long, for here was New
burgh. and she had promised that
charming Mrs. Andrew, whom she had
met in Brooklyn that winter, a flying
visit on her way home. Fred watch
ed Bessie gather up her wraps and
books, preparatory to landing.