Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1892-05-06

There always seems to me to be a
&c rtain very satisfactory feeling ir
being able to start off on q long
voyage quite alone. You get on
board and see your modest amount
Vt luggage slowed away. Then you
70 below and find your berth, make
friends with your steward, and choose
n seat at table. And afterward you
return o deck to watch your fellow.
passengers struggling, pushing, hur-
rying hither and thither, hampered
by luggage, wives, children, nurses
and all the multitu6inous accessories
OF q family exodus. On this occasion
I carried out my little programme
quite satisfactorily. ] found my
state.room excellently situated, my
berth In the most comfortable posi-.
ton. and my steward-well. Gustav
was q queer customer, certainly, as
you will later on! But he was
the very best steward l ever Travelled
with, and / have known many. With
his help / secured a capital place at
the long dinner table, and also q
promise that he would get the two
seats on either side ct mine kept
vacant as long 10 possible, SO that |
could give them to any friends that /
might pick up.
Having seen everything thus set
tied for a propitiouS voyage / went
on deck. We had dropped our moor
inys, and, were just moving ahead ;
SO that the ship had been cleared OF
all fha Shnyn- syninO nnnnvn Rnf fha.
saloon deck on which I found myself,
still crowded, especially about
line Of white handkerchiefs stretched
itself along the rail, waving good
by to the departing tender. I
crossed to the other side OF the deck,
and began to inspect the rather less
dense crowd Of passengers I found
there. They we're not an interesting
lot and I was almost In despair. OF
finding any one upon whom to be.
stow my two spare seats at table,
when my eye fell upon q young
couple-evidently husband and wife
u little apart from the rest.
The man was tall and broadly built
clean shaven, save for u little brown
mustache, and with that uniform
paleness Of complexion that tells Of q
life spent in Office work or some sed-
entary occupation. His wife was
/ should have saba good deal
younger than her husband; small,
delicate in appearance, and
distinctly pretty. There, / thought,
are my friends for the voyage.
Even ~ / watched them, the man
came across and asked me some trivi-
question az to the possibility Of
getting ut some Of their heavier bag
gage in the hold, and, In half an hour.
found ourselves on the best OF
terms, and my two seats were accept
ed with alacrity.
Mrs Charters and 7 we're wonder
ing-let me introduce my wife, Mr.
Mr.-Stone-were wondering what
sort OF neighbors we should have, but
we shall be delighted to give up our
old places and take the two you so
offer u.s."
You are q good sailor,I hope, Mrs.
I asked, a. the Circas-
just began to feel open water.
well, / hardly like to say yet"
she answered. Its my first trip.
In fact'-with the least little blush
1--WE have only been married a few
weeks. and are going to settle in Lon
don, where Herbert was working as q
before he came out here"
Your husband is evidently ambi-
I said, land wants to COM
pete with the very highest in his
"No: curiously enough. it's just
the other way with him. He has no
ambition at all. He wants to get back
to London and to lose himself among
the crowd of other small men. You
needn't frown, Herbert; you are a
small man as yet, whereas in Austria
La, where the competition is not so
keen, he might have made a name for
himself in no time"
"You don't quite understand my
or my intentions Yet, child"
said Charters. He always called her
'schild !" you will some day."
At dinner that first evening, and in
the saloon afterward, / found the
most delightful company.
TO the smoking-room, and had an
chat.
Next day ] did not see them. There
was a fresh breeze, with a bit OF q sea,
and beside, it Is not etiquette to
'.show" on board ship or the first day
out.
The day following, however, was
just perfect; calm as q mill pond, and
lust enough wind right in u teeth
to keep as cool under the awning.
I bethought me OF my scarf-pir
while dressing, and / put it on, with
a plain black scarf, which, / thought,
showed up the dian onds well.
Taking u stroll on deck before
breakfast l came upon Charters
He stood with his back to me, looking
out over the water, and / tapped hin
on the shoulder, as / said good
morning" He turned and faced M.
for a moment, then gave a sudden
siart,and grew deadly pale. / though
he was going to faint.
Good God! man." he gasped
!" that cross! Where, how, did you sc
that cross? You're not, no you can
be one of-of those'--He stopped
checking himself as though he had sal,
too much, and stood, his eyes fixe'
on mine, his face full OF terrified en-
treaty.
my dear Oh arteris," I replied
II haven't the least idea what you ar
abiding to. I bought that pin il
Adelaide two days ago, OF a second
hand ieweler;" then as o suddel
thought struck me, 'it isn't yours, |
it?"
"N-no. not mine. II never 81