St. Landry democrat. (Opelousas, La.) 1878-1894, 1892-05-21

you will see later on! But he was
the very best steward [ ever Travelled
with, and I have known many. With
his help [ secured capital place at
the long dinner table, and also a
promise that he would get the two
seats on either side Of mine kept
vacant as long as possible, so that |
could give them to any friends that 1
might pick up.
Having seen everything thus set
tied for a propitiou5 voyage l went
on deck. We had dropped our moor
ings, and were just moving ahead !;
so that the ship had been cleared OF
all the shore going people. BUT the
saloon deck oil which found myself,
was still crowded, especially about
the port gangway, where the usual
line Of white handi,crchiefs stretched
itself along the rail, waving good
| by to the departing tender. L
crossed to the other side of the deck,
and began to inspect the rather less
dense crowd Of passengers L found
there. They were 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,
" l1Cu lily ttC ltll ol'oA ~ y .
couple-evidently husband and wife
standing little apart from the rest
The man was tall and broadly built !;
| clean shaven, save for Il little brown
mustache, and with that uniform
| paleness of complexion that tells OF a
life spent in office work or some sed-
| entary occupation. His wife was
I should have saba good deal
younger than her husband; small,
rather delicate in appearance, and
distinctly pretty. There, [ thought,
are my friends for the voyage.
Even as I watched them, the man
came across and asked me some trlVl-
al question as to the possibility OF
getting at some Of their heavier bag
gage in the hold, and, in half an hour.
we found ourselves on the best OF
terms, and my two seats were accept
ed with alacrity.
"Mrs. Charters and I we're wonder
ing-let me introduce my wife, MI
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
kindly offer u.s.
you are a good sailor,I hope, Mrs.
Charteris?" / asked, as the Circas-
sienne just began to feel open water.
"Well, I hardly like to say yet,
she answered. "It's my first trip.
III 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 a
| Journalist before he came out here"
-" Your husband is evidently ambi-
tious," I said, land wants to com
pete with the very highest in his
profession"
Ono; 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
liza, where the competition is not SO
keen, he might have made name FOL
himself in no time
"You don't quite understand my
hopes or my intentions yet, child. .
said Charters. He always called he1
"child )" you will some day"
At dinner that first evening, and in
the saloon afterward, I found the
Charterises most delightful company.
And later on, we two men adjourned
to the smoking-room, and had an
hours chat
Next day ! did not see them. There
was fresh breeze, with bit OF a sea
and beside, it is not etiquette tt
show" on board ship on the first day
out.
The day following, however, was
| Just perfect; calm as a mill pond, and
Just enough wind right in our teetL
| to keep us cool under the awning.
I bethought me Of my scarf-pir
while dressing, and [ put it on, witt
a plain black scarf, which, l thought
showed up the diamonds we'll.
Taking stroll on deck before
breakfast I came upon Charters
He stood with his back to me, looking
out over the water, and | tapped hin
on the shoulder, Us l said good
morning." He turned and faced ne
for moment, then gave a suddeI
start, and grew deadly pale. [ though
he was going to faint.
GOOD God! man." he gasped
&" that cross! Where, how, did you &c
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 tixe(
on mine, his face full of terrified en-
treaty.
MY dear Oh arteris,'' replied
II haven't the least idea what you art
abiding to. I bought that pin il
Adelaide two days ago, of a second
hand ieweler;" then as sudden
thought struck me, lit isn't yours, i:
it?'
"N-no, not mine. II never Sc
eyes on it before; but don't you
know it's-it S separately unlucky t.
wear coral and diamonds together
Don't-for Gods sake, don't wear it
Stone. Take it off-noW-now-
instant, before it brings you any
harm"
" Really, Charters, if you are su
perstitious, I'm not. I despise al
those old fancies; and, after all, it's
who am wearing the pin, not you"
A look of hopeless disappointment
came over his face as he replied
"Well, please yourself, Of course
Only, if evil comes Of this-and mark
me, it will, it must-you il remember
what [ said, and be sorry"
I couldn't help watching Charters
that day at breakfast. And he, no
ticed, kept glancing round at me
every now and then, with a queer
furtive expression that puzzled anC
annoyed me. And, throughout the
whole of the voyage, it was just the
same with him. All his spirit seemed
to have gone. He had become nerv
Gus and dispirited quite silent, un
less one spoke to him, and even theI
his answers were rambling and dis
iointed. In a word, he was never
the same man after that morning
when he first saw the scarf-pin. Anc
/ could see that the poor little wife
! .,lo,.stcl,.l * II liftla DC II did