Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1894-08-02
IN QUARANTINE.

They We're to be held in quarantine, and
had had case of cholera in the steerage.
This was surprising to the first cabin peo-
pie. They had always known in a vague
way that there were such things as steer
age people. And of course you could
never tell just what such low common
folks would do next. Now it appeared
that one of them had had the very bad
form to die--of cholera.
1T is dreadful" said Mrs Clavering
Boutor; 81 never knew we had any of those
terrible persons on board. They had no
business to carry them! I'll tell my hus-
band, and he'll sue 'em! l will! And
cholera! Of all things! One grows quite
yellow, they sayr'
IT'S excessively disagreeable," ;" and Miss
Olive Haversey shivered.
As she shivered she noticed particularly
man who stood near them eating pears.
She had seen him before during the trip
across, but had only noticed that the
shoulder seams of his coat were correct.
Now as he held pear delicately be-
tween thumb and forefinger, she saw that
he possessed fine hands.
For several days she eyed him musingly,
as she and her chaperon talked about the
plague and watched through glasses the
other ships held as theirs was in the lower
bay by quarantine law. One day he offered
his glasses to Mrs. Clavering Boutor. And
while she used them he looked at Miss
Haversey and she was astonished to find
herself not displeased.
After that they INDUCED in a little
steamer small talk, chiefly dealing with
the inconsiderateness of the man who
died and the difficulty of procuring fine
fruit. 1t was their greatest hardship, and
they felt themselves much abused, know
ing nothing of the actual suffering upon
their other plague infected neighbors.
st really is very unpleasant" asserted
the gentleman of correct shoulder seams
and irreproachable hands.
And then the three grew pensively 81
lent, each, however, making mental notes.
The man stood by the rail, looking at /.
tug; Mrs. Clavering Boutor toyed with a
glass, while Miss Haversey leaned non
chalantly at ease in her steamer chair.
"He isn't at all bad," she thought, land
who knows how long this will last? On
the whole, he will help us pass the time"
"She's not so bad" concluded Mr.. Col
lingson Locke, "and, by Jove! it may be
the deuce of a time before we are out OF
this!"
"He seems endurable-and may be use
full" Such was the mental terminus OF
the chaperon's thoughts. YES" she added
aloud, II shall tell Mr.. Clavering Boutoi
as soon as l reach New York. And he will
sue the company"
This remark was favorite one with Mrs
Clavering Boutor, and probably for that
reason she repeated it at intervals.
And such is the effect OF propinquity
among young people that one day, wher
she delivered herself of the assertion, Mr.
Collingsoh Locke and Miss Olive naversey
looked deep into each others eyes ant
laughed.
Now it is a singular fact that this is
pastime which may not be indulged IL
with impunity.
And upon this occasion it got Mr.. Col
lingson Locke into dire distress. Tha
glance and DR.. jenkins have much to an
swer for.
Immediately after it Miss Haversey add
ed these thoughts upon the Collingsol
Locke subject to those already in her pos
session:
"He has weary mouth and shrewt
eyes. His coat dare not laugh at hi
trousers. They are both evolved by
good tailor. His voice is neither too louC
nor too low. He speaks too rapidly to sug
gest vulgar affectation, yet slowly enough
to imply breeding. He is attentive enough
to flatter, yet Indifferent enough to inter
est me. / like him, and / have nothing
else to do"
Among his thoughts were these:
"She is a nice little thing. Evidently
society girl who is as yet unspoiled. Sh
is also prettier than Josephine. Well
, things are as they are-and we are il
quarantine"
L. Aloud:
SIS your home in New York;" For n
yet they have not indulged in PERSONAL
, ties.
Eyes. You guessed it?"
AT once. One can always tell Ne,
, York girl"
"And your"
"Oh, Pm from Philadelphia"
Both ladies exclaim, after a moment:
, II know some nice folks in Philade
: phia." This is the statement of Mis-
Haversey.
"With the accent upon the 'someY" b
asks.
"No-er-on the NICE"
And as they watch the doctors boat az
proach with its yellow flag both smile.
| is clear that their minds are not who'll
a occupied with cholera.
"That horrid doctorl' exclaimed Mr.
= Clavering Boutor, developing three chin
: "Fancyl If that man can come and z,
| why not allow us the rightf And he got
e among the horrid people who have it an
: then comes here-and goes home. If thei
e is danger of infection, why does he M
S carry itP Somebody ought to do som
r thingl Somebody ought to be suedW
q But Mr.. Collingson Locke and Mi
e Olive Haversey were utterly placid. Or
d would say they enjoyed being quarantine
q One day, when alone in his stateroon
+ Mr. Locke exclaimed in tragic tones:
"If it were not for Josephiner
: And deep gloom settled upon the fac
t belonging to Mr.. Locke as he added
II must tell Olive"
v And he did-that night.
$50 you are engaged to be marriedw 81
said composedly. The voice seems to pr
ceed from the depths Of dark red co;
q collar. He cannot see her face, as the colli
e is high and turned up about her delica
ears.
"The-the day waA set" he faltered.
"And not now"
q at is past--and | am herein quara
/. ine-with you"
o "Are you sorryi" The red coat COLI
= gives forth faint voice, which possibly
l. longs to Miss Haversey.
Good heavensl Sorryl hardly kno,
II It were not for this accursed quarantil
/. | should never have met you. I-I-shou
at this moment have been married man
Mr.. Collngson Locke Is distinctly ner
II o,J ,..a4aIau f,raaI iiv rho mini Tin