Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-11-10

other fingered restlessly the arm of the
chair on which she sat. Mr.. Fletcher
looked annoyed; he moved his chair a
little closer to hers and glanced rather
nervously at the small, well. gloved hand
as ii rested for moment on the chair
arm nearest to him. He had never been
at a loss for words before In her society;
he must have been conscious that he
had done most of the talking during
their acquaintance; that on trivial topics
he had found flow Of conversation
which had amused her, and that when
he had touched more serious subjects
he had secured her interest, or even
drawn her into argument, and yet he
sat silent for ten whole minutes looking
at her. Miss Lorania Luck grew impa-
tient; she could see them from where
she sat, and she let her book drop on
her knees to watch.
II believe they have quarreled," she
said to herself, and then more loudly,
"Mr. Smith"
The fat little man who was pounding
the deck for the good Of his health
paused and bowed.
II shall be much Obliged if you will
allow me to join you in your constltu-
tional," said Miss Luck and as she took
his arm and paced the deck with him
she conilded to him with characteristic
candor that she suffered from dyspepsia.
"Too much iced water" said MIR.
smith, sympathetically And having
found a topic interesting to both of
them they fell to discussing the COM
paratiye merits Of u British and an
American dietary.
Keep this side of the Deck said
Miss Luck; there's a perfect blizzard
the other side of the smoke-stack."
In the warm shelter to be found in
the neighborhood cf the funnel Miss
Luck fingered; IN the more exposed por.
tons of the deck she raced Mr.. Smith
along till he was almost out Of breath.
Nice comfortable place your friend
'Steely Eyes, has chosen" she said to
the companion who was trotting to keep
up with one of her fastest spurts.
But Mr.. smith did not know whom
she meant.
"Mr. Fletcher" she explained: "he
has been sitting there all the afternoon
with Miss Hamilton"
But MIR. Smith denied all acquaintance
with Mr.. Fletcher.
But I've seen You speaking to him
twice" said Miss Luck; "twice since we
came on beard; once when you spoke TO
him on deck and held out your hand
and he turned his back on you, and once
after that, late one night when YOU were
talking together like old friends in the
smoke-room-l looked in as | walked
by the door"
Your bright eyes see everything, Miss
Luck" protested Mr.. Smith.
There are no flies on Lolie," said
Miss Luck, gracefully acknowledging
the compliments but refusing to be put
on by i, she added, impatiently, "Who
Is Mr.. Fletcher, anyway 7"
II don't KNOW" said Mr.. Smith, and
added, 81 am afraid you are catching
But it was incredulity, not catarrh,
which caused Miss Luck to sniff, and
she made no further reionder.
The fog. had thickened, the steam fog.
horn was beginning to boom over their
heads with the groan of distracted
mammoth, but Miss Luck, holding Mr..
Smiths arm, continued to tramp the
deck. She was rewarded in time for her
patience, il Mr.. Smith had the right to
Judge from the tightening grip Of her
fingers and the thrill of excitement in
her tone as she whispered "Look as
we go. by this time; he is holding her
hand"
MIR. Smith was bashful man and a
discreet one. To his honor be it said, he
did not look. lie tried, on tho contrary,
to restrain his companion from going
near them where they sat.
"They will not mind u.s." said Miss
Luck in u tone of conviction. And she
was right to the extent that it was not
her presence which caused Mr.. Fletcher
to straighten himself in his chair, while
Q slight cloud OF impotence crossed his
face, A tall, elderly man, wrapped in
q thick ulster with the collar turned up
round his throat, had come and stood
behind them and said in tentative
voice, as If not quite sure of her identity,
Edith" and then in an imperious, i'm.
patient tone as she turned her head,
Edith, | have been looking for you
everywhere"
Eyes, father" said Miss Hamilton,
quietly. She had naturally a quiet,
low-pitched voice; when she spoke TO
her father it seemed almost suppressed.
She said a few words to him as Mr..
Fletcher rose and stood by with his self
possessed angular air and slight look
of expectancy.
"My goodness y said Miss Luck to
her friend, Miss Van Hooten as they
settled into their places at dinner half
an hour later. 81 saw something this
afternoon. The Solitary Girl has intro
duced 'Steely Eyes to her papa. Look,
he's coming in to be her chaperon at
dinner. Time he did"
And they both stared eagerly at the
tall, gray-headed man who was taking
his seat between Mr.. Fletcher and Miss
Hamilton.
"Family freezes to Fletcher" said
Miss van IIooten laconically, as the two
men lit cigars together and paced the
deck side by side.
1t was raw and wet outside that even
ing, and Miss Hamilton remained below.
Next morning the acquaintance between
her father and Mr.. Fletcher seemed
almost friendship, they talked together
so long in the smoking saloon; at least
Mr., Fletcher talked and the elder man
listened, and all day no one saw Miss
Hamilton appear except at meals; no
one, that is, but Mr.. Smith, who, being,
as has been said a discreet young man,
did not mention it. As matter Of fact
he recognized her on deck late in the
evening, and would not have noticed
her at all had not his attention been So
forcibly drawn to her the evening before
by Miss Luck. When he saw her ard
saw that she was talking earnestly to
Mr.. Fletcher in the shelter of the boat
behind which he had himself purposcd
to take refuge from the driving mist and
smoke his pipe, he retreated, feeling half
inclined to apologize for his Interrupt