The morning call., 1893-10-08
AN ADEQUATE REASON.
A Romantic Episode on an Atlantic Steamer.

cordlality. But as the days went On he,
too, became less kind. especially after one
forenoon when be opened TO Carew the
matter in hand. The young man cut MIN
short at once
II don't care to discuss the thing. ou
can believe what yonr passengers seem 70
believe, or you can let 1t alone. Ii Is
nothing to me-"
Captain North shrugged his shoulders
and walked off. Carew laughed; his laugh
was short, though and bitter.
If this suspected young man had been
anybody in particular 1t is possible they
might not have been so hard upon MN.
Butas he was simply George Carew, with
nothing beyond an average good-looklng
face and well set-up figure to recommend
MIN, and as. moreover, his clothes had
look of having seen better days and were
by no means of the latest cut, he was
clearly not an acquaintance to be regretted.
At dinner that night a slight surprise
awaited him. Hitherto his left-hand
neighbor at table had been an elderly
maiden of many summers, to whose old
world brdlings and coquetries the silent
young man beside her had responded but
faintIy OF late, however. she had ignored
him completely, which, to be sure, affected
him but little.
Tonight he found that she had changed
her seat for one at the extreme end OF the
table-poSsibly fearing contamination IN
the moral atm osphere of the socially
banned. This change required that every
one on that side should move up one
place. and Carew then found himself next
a small, gray-clad young woman with a
pale, serious face and a smooth, bird
like head of dark-brOwn hair. She had
also, as he absently noted. exqulsltely
shaped hands. He had never entered mo
conversation with the little woman. ln-
deed, he had hardly been aware of her
existence beyond hearing the captain ad-
dress her once or twice as Miss Neville.
As he took his seat beside her to-nlgnt,
however, she said in a low, clear voice.
Good evening, Mr.. Carew."
1t was so many days since any OF the
lady passengers had addressed him al all
that he actually started.
Il beg your pardon!' he said.
Il only said good evening" the elri 10
gray made answer, looking up to him with
a little smile.
Then he noticed that her teeth were
very pretty, and her eyes were satisfactory
indeed. Before he had time to speak, sne
went on: The captain says that before
MANY days we shall be in the Bay OF Bis
little child. | suppose 1t Will De trlght-
fully rough ?"
Il think it is more than likely" he an
swered, gazing speedily at his plate.
WheIeupon they drifted into suodued,
friendly conversation which lasted until
the end IF the meal. Carew was not a
narticular,y s0ft-hearted fellow. but it
touched him Strangely-this unlooked-for
partisanship. 1t gave him queer, un-
wonted lump in his throat, and made
him feel womanish-whieh annoyed him.
Next morning saw the girl in gray on
deck. Sne was standing quite still watch
ing the screaming seabrdS that flew and
dipped astern. Her pale, serious little
face ALREADY seemed 10 him like the face
of a friend. As he passed her with a
slight bow she turned, held out her hand.
and bade him CHEEKY good morning, sup
plementing it by some tritiiHg remark re-
garding the weather. He stopped, an
swered her, ana stood beside her for a
minute or two. Then he flung away his
cigar aud leaned his arm on the railing.
His companion scanned his face swiftly
and covertly. She thong he looked dis
pirited and she felt for him, for she was
a tender-hearted little wnman.
They talked on different subjects until
luncheon, and repeated the process be-
tween that meal and dinner, and also in
the evening. And so II came to pass that
Carew began to look upon this small, gray
clad creature as his ons friend IN all his
present Morld. He learned a great deal
about her from her half-unconscious conf
d-nees-among other things that her
Christian name was Joyce, and that she
was an orphan, and that she had known
trouble. But she learned little or moth
ing about him.
The Cobra touched at COrunna, where
ono or two Englisbmen came on board.
Then came the redou bta bic Bay of Biscay.
On the night they left Corunna there w as
a glorious moon, under the rays OF which
Miss Neville and Carew were walking up
and down on deck.
The steamer was rolling great deal.
and he had offered her his arm, which she
had accepted. She treated him in a frank.
unembarrassed fashion, almost as sister
might have done. and he? Well, men are
suscepti BILE, you know, aud l am bound to
say bis feelings to her were not altogether
those of brother.
When they had taken a few turns in
silence she said suddenly: "Mr. Carew,
we seem 10 have become such good friends
by this time that l should like to say some
thing to you which otherwise l should not
presume TO say.
She looked up at him as she spoke and
he looked down at her.
You know you may say anything you
please to me" he said, with curious lin
gering tenderness in his voice.
"Y ou won't think il liberty. will you?"
she went on.
II shall assuredly not think it liberty"
was the brief answer. Certainly her eyes
were very lovely. They thrilled him
through and through.
II want TO ask you, then." she said,
somewhat nervously, why you allow
those people to believe what they believe
about youY
She felt him vince slightly.
There was a silence. The monotnnous
throbbing of the engines ami0ships
mingled with floating scraps Of half-neard
talk and laughter.
Then Carew said in a hard, bitter voice !:
Unfortunately am not responsible for
their beliefs, Miss Neville. Besides. what
they believe of me may be-true. l am
pardon mean utter stranger to you; yon
have no reason to beieve in my innocence. !"
Il do believe in your Innocence. though"
she murmured, an excited thrill running
through her voice.
MAY l ask why?" He spoke clearly,
but she felt his arm tremDle under her
hand.
For one swift moment she looked up at
him, and her eyes were full OF tears. But
be did not see them, for he was gazing
straight before him.
"Why?" she repeated, with curious
sobbing little laugh. because know J"
A minute later she was gone and he was
watching the last fiutter of her gown dis
appearing in the direction of the stairway.
Late that night Carew sat in his cabin,
leaning his elbows on his knees and star
ing earnestly at something he held be-