The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1891-02-13
"True,n said Russell, 81 scribbled it
of without thinking what was doing"
CHAPTER v.
ALICE RAY,

AAA1CE hAIs
"We were speaking of Miss Ray"
said Brown.
.'If remember rightly, we were," re-
piled Russell. 'sOur conversation this
morning has been wholly of her, and
when we weren't talking, you were
thinking of her. I'm afraid that your
heart is seriously affected"
"Seven hundred and thirty days, !"
said Brown, with groan, "what an
eternityl''
cts seven hundred days longer than
the usual sentence for first offenses, !"
said Russell; "but then it's serious
thing to steal maiden's heart"
ssIf were only sure had the plunder!
No, old man; it's the other way about.
She has stolen my heart and pay the
penalty"
Russell was bidding his friend good
bye. They stood on the quarter deck of
big ship moored to an East river pier.
Brown had decided to let the winds watt
him to Africa, as he had plenty of time.
A long sailing voyage in these days is
an ulusual experience, and worth talk
ing for that reason.
Two little tugs had already seized the
vessel, and were ready to take her out
into the stream as soon as the hausers
should be cast off from the wharf. There
was time for only few words.
SIT is difficult to say goodbye" said
Brown, especially when one wishes to
say any thing else. l forgot every thing
last evening. wanted to leave some
words behind for her to remember. But
II she remembers any thing I said, she
has the advantage of me. was too
much disturbed in mind to know what
was saying"
''If there is any message ! could de-
liver"
Nothing of me; but here are some
memoranda in case which interests
Miss Rays charity, forgot them last
night, but she will want them as soon
possible. Take them to her this even
ing"
s'My dear boy" said Russell, 'sthere is
one difficulty in the way; I haven't a
dress suit
"You dom t need one for this call.
assure you that you will be received as
simply as if it were the home of we'll
to-do man in New England village"
"But should much prefer to go in
evening dress. Perhaps ] would better
wait few days, and"
Nonsense, old man. What ridiculous
notion is this? However, the difficulty
is easily overcome. Take mine 1t is
packed away with some other traps l
leave behind. did not think it would
be essential to my social standing in Zu-
luland. You're welcome to it,"
"But, great heavens, man, she'll rec
ognize it,"
"Not at all. One dress suit looks just
like another, and we are as nearly alike
in figure as two men ever were. But we
are off. Goodbye. II I can send you
any address, write to me. will ride
hundred miles through the desert to get
a word from you."
Standing on the pier Russell be-
thought him of the old superstition that
it is unlucky to watch a person out o.
sight" He reflected that the saying is
especially true when the watcher has
great deal of business on hand and very
little time for it. That was his own case
exactly, SO he waved an adieu to his
friend and FASTENED up the pier.
1t will be useless to defend Russell
from the readers suspicion that he had
not dealt frankly with his friend. If
he had said: Eyes; shall be pleased to
make Miss Rays acquaintance, but /
shall be forty times more delighted to
make her fathers acquaintance" he
would have given a much more correct
impression of his thoughts. He had
confused idea that money AUST sur
round millionaire, even as the vapor
of matter surrounds the nucleus of
nebula. 1t was possible that the outer
most edges of this golden mist would be
somewhat attenuated, but he believed
that it would harden into dollars eventu-
ally.
To do him justice, it must be said that
Miss Ray, personally. did not figure in
his vague plans, He would have jumped
off the pier sooner than have enter
tanned the thought of winning her af-
fections, or even her good will, for such
a purpose. He did notexpect to see her
often, nor did he think that their ac-
quaintance, in itself, would be source
VI p1cdSur0 w O1tuSE. uo AuScGlIlB VI
two people who have heard each others
praises from mutual friend is usually
enough to estrange the whole three.
But the affair interested him and
raised his spirits. Monotony is the
father of ''blue DEVILS" but novelty be-
gets hope. Russell was in cheerful
and smiling humor, and he wore the
mask of prosperity. Perhaps thiswas
the reason why ne had no difficulty in
obtaining a loan of five dollars from an
acquaintance; for the right hand of
assistance is always outstretched to
those who are not in need. He reserved
a portion of this sum for the payment of
the small debts contracted on the pre-
vious day; and expended little in the
purchased of some visiting cards, which he
was fortunate enough to get engraved
that same afternoon.
Then he exhumed Browns dress suit.
The idea of wearing another mans
clothes was not pleasant, especially when
it was complicated with the fear that
they might be recognized; but the
thought of their usefulness triumphed
and he took them home. The suit fitted
him like his epidermis. He thought
with pride that it could not possibly
have looked so well on Brown. There
is somebody in the world whom every
coat fits better than the man for whom
it was made; in fact all earthly things
but our temptations are misfits.
II u,ae a ooxs .nf Er;v, x,,ho Gotta that a