Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-12-23
AN ADEQUATE REASON

steamer Cobra on her homeward voyage from Buenos Ayres to Southampton. It was late in the year, and the passengers were comparatively few. I cannot with truth say that Carew was gener- al favorite on board. Ho was taciturn as rule, and when he was not taci- turn he was apt to be dogmatic.
 Among the male passengers he was usually spoken of as "a decent fellow enough, but queer" The feminine DOT tion of the community thought-or said they thought = him uninteresting. Among their number was tall, pretty blond, who had gradually pierced the armor of his reserve, and in whose com pany he had even been seen to smile They became very good friends-so much so indeed as to draw down upon the young lady's head various maternal lectures on the folly of encouraging young men who were melodies. But as Carew, of course, did not hear these lectures, and as Miss Ida Lennox was a self willed young person, their friend ship suffered no interruption.
 There was a certain Mrs. Bouverie on board, an extremely handsome widow, in whom Carew, for some unknown reason, had aroused a violent dislike. She was clever as well as handsome, but was possessed of passionate and somewhat uncertain temper - which last, however, in virtue of her many counterbalancing good qualities, was universally condoned.
 One evening at dinner Mrs. Bouverie was expatiating to those nearest to her on the value and antiquity of very curious and beautiful ring which she wore, and which she had picked up in a tour through Italy. She affirmed it to be at least 800 years old It was broad gold band, chased richly and with mar velous delicacy and set all round at regular intervals with large diamonds of exquisite brilliancy. Inside were two capital letters, N. C., each letter formed of tiny seed pearls sunk into the gold. Mrs. Bouverie, who was of a romantic turn, was of opinion that it had been an ancient betrothal ring. There was a half effaced date inside, which tho widows right hand neigh Dor, a pale, consumptive looking clergy man, was in vain trying to decipher through a small magnifying glass. Presently lady opposite begged to be allowed to examine the ring, and from her it was passed from hand to hand pretty well up and down the length of the table,
 But, strange to say. it did not come back to it's owner. It had apparently disappeared. Every one declared it had passed safely out of his or her hands. Where was 1t then: There was great commotion, of course; ev- erybody rose, and a thorough search was made, on and under the table and from one end to tho other of the long saloon.
 The ring, however, was not forth coming. Its owner had by this time become somewhat excited, and rather disagreeable scene ensued. In point of fact, Mrs. Bouverie insinuated that some one had appropriated her ring. Upon this, some of the male passengers angrily suggested that, if Mrs. Bouverie entertained suspicious of that nature, all present had better turn out their pockets. To this proposition there was general assent.
 All resumed their seats, and there was hurried disentombing of keys, letters, pocket handkerchiefs, etc, but no ring.
 Carew, to the surprise of all, quietly refused to exhibit tho contents of his pockets.
 But merely as q matter of form, MT. Carew." expostulated the captain.
 The young man, however, repeated his refusal Courteously, but mole in flexibly, if anything, than before.
 There was an awkward silence.
 Then Mrs. Bouverio forgot herself.
 May I ask, sir, = she said, address ing Carew in an excited tone, why you refuse to do as all your fellow pas sengers have done?"
 You may, madam. was the brief and naughty answer.
 Well, sir, and why not:"
 Because l have very special reason for not doing so, hc answered in a carefully repressed voice.
 And that reason:'
 II fear l must decline to give it, " he answered quietly, hut with an om- inous fash in his gray eyes.
 Then you arc aware of the imputa- ion your refusal casts upon your char acter?" inquired the lady scornfully.
 That is matter of tho utmost in- difference to me. was tho icy answer.
 But the speaker hand. us it lay upon the table, opened and shut in 0 quick, nervous fashion which showed that he was less unmoyed than he looked.
 Whereupon Mrs. Eouvcrie waxed moro and moro indiscrcct, and all but accused Carew of having tho ring in his possession.
 Mrs. Bouveric, Mrs. Bouverie, "rc- not quite fair. "
 Here Carew, who had been growing winter every moment, rose from his seat.
 II regret that you should have such an opinion of mo as your words imply, Mrs. Bouveric, he said in n queer, un- certain voice. May l suggest that you drop tho subject for the present My temper i3 not all that it might be, and l should be sorry to be guilty of discourtesy to q lady
 Then he left the saloon and went on deck.
 After this day, however, Carew ob- served a gradual but marked difference in his fellow passengers demeanor to- ward him. His greetings were received coldly, though with scrupulous polite ness. Groups began to melt insensibly away at his approach, or his advent was a signal for dead silence.
 If this general boycotting affected the object of it, he did not show it, but simply withdrew into himself and avoided other people as deliberately as they avoided him. To only one person did he make an advances, and he only made them once. It was in this way:
 Early one morning he was standing looking moodily to leeward, when he suddenly became aware that Miss Len