The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1894-06-13

board with fixed intention not to speak
TO anybody. noticed her while we were
yet IN the dock at Tilbury. You don't
notice individuals as a rule, for every
body looks SO like everybody else on first
meeting. especially when il is almost
dark, and a crowd Of passengers hang
about the ships side taking their last
look at things ashore. But noticed this
lady at the very first. was on deck,
prepared to go with the steamship At
lanta to New York City, and I saw her
alight from the train some hundred yards
distant. I lost her until she stepped upon
the gangway, and then 1 was confirmed
in my impression that she was a re-
'Inarkably handsome girl.
She came on board like a princess. and
for some minutes disappeared. Presently
i felt strange sensation. She was pos
itively standing beside me. There was
no reason why she should have preferred
any other locality. but the fact that she
came and stood by the side of me Ger
tafnly oeepened the extraordinary i'm
preston she had made. Without presum-
ing TO stare at her. got a glimpse Of her
fine profile and dark, naughty eyes.
The usual scenes were going on about
us. I ventured a remark-foolish and
uitiing. no doubt. but hardly deserving
was received.
The last bell sounded; the gangway
was withdrawn, and we began to haul
out of dock; but still she stood there
and made no sign. / plucked up spirit,
and asked her if she was going TO Amer
ica-an absurd question, seeing that
America was the sole destination Of the
ship. She turned and looked at me, said
nothing, and walked away.
1t was lovely night, and we
n
stood about in groups and enjoyed 1t.
Several spoke TO me. and became quite
SOciable. She was on deck also until IL
O'Clock, but sitting alone, and. so far as
] could tell. making no comment upon
the mystery Of shadows sparkling with
lights afoat and ashore which the vessel
glided past.
1 kept at respectable distance; but I
saw the captain speak TO her, and I'm
sure he got snubbed for his audacity
SO 1 put it down to pride. 1 think she
made an exception of the stewardess; in
fact, Pm sure she did-later on. There
is a winning charm about the stewardess
TO which most ladies yield when a ship
gets out TO sea
The next morning Miss Bradley (for
that, as discovered, afterward was her
nance and I met at breakfast. l think
all the passengers met at breakfast. She
was there, anyway. and fortune seated
her at my elbow. 1 made some progress
Oh. she was all right at that first break
fast. The sea was like glass, and the
sweet morning air in the channel was very
appetiZing.
But the neighborly chat with which I
tried to garnish the eggs and bacon met
with little encouragement, and she COM
mitted herself no further than to the
Endorsement Of my hope that we should
have this sort Of thing all the way. BY
this sort of thing / meant the glorious
her al C4d
but l don't think she took the trouble
10 analyze my conceptions.
All that day she wandered about the
deck, with her dark eyes-they were
dark gray in the misunderstanding
the panorama of the cliff-belted southern
coast, or sat upon bench by the saloon
dome, reading a book under the shadow
OF the awning which had been rugged up
on the promenade" The splendid lines
of her figure showed to advantage in a
neat gown of homespun No one spoke
TO her. and she spoke TO nobody. At din
ner / got a trifie forward by the aid of
baked potatoes, but nothing to boast
about
There We're several jolly women among
the passengers; and particularly jolly
they were on the score of the calm sea-
Our time in the channel was as good as
picnic. and it seemed as if the prevail
ing merriment must tantalize Miss Brad
ley out Of her proud reserve. But it
dind't.
The next morning. when the steward
called me at half-past six for my BATH
breeze had sprung up. and the ship was
lifting and rolling in it considerably The
breakfast table was but thinly attended
Miss Bradley. however, came in and took
her place beside me. Come, I thought
she's a good sailor. I'll amuse her with
some anecdotes about those who are sick
at sea-
I supplied her plate. and launched into
funny story. To my disnay she sud-
denly arose and left the table-likewise
the saloon. ramming the handkerchief
into her mouth, as 1 assumed, to prevent
the laughter which must unbend her
dignity and break down the icy barrier
between us.
For five days her pride-or some in
dispOsitton-buried her in the sacred Sc
clusion of her state-room. It was too
bad. During those FIVE days we stag
gered through a lively cross-sea, which
made walking on deck a very awkward
business; and 1 spent most of my time
reclining in my comfortable deck-chair
1t now occurred TO a number of pas
sengers that a deck-chair was the thing
Of all others which they ought to have
brought on board. The scanty accom-
mediation of benches was Inadequate for
those who wanted to lie down at full
length and sleep it off, and the deck
was not only non-sybaritic, but offered
indifferent anchorage; those who made
slant tendency to slip and slide and roll
as the Atalanta wrestled with the waves.
1t would not do.
EnviOus glances were cast at my snug
chair. which l had moOred in a sheltered
corner. Piratical attacks were made
upon that chair whenever ventured to
quit il for a moment. If I took a turn
70 stretch my limbs or went below for
a book or an extra rug. I never failed
TO find on my return some interIopine
lOafer enscOnsced in my nest and pre-
tending TO be fast asleep. ] stood a good
deal of this, and i'm a noble transport of
self-sacrifiCe wandered about like a lost
dog. But / wouldn't stand it any long
err And I didn't
] began TO evict the intruders: at first
with great delicacy: Pray, excuse me!
] fancy you have mistaken your chair"
Then with less conjunction: Il regret
that I must disturb you; I'm not feeling
very we'll" And later, without ceremony
or remorse: Now, sir; my chair, if you
please
1t came to this. that I got quite
rusty" and acquired the habit Of fold
ing Up my chair whenever / left it. affix-
ing thereon notice: This Chair was
brought on board for the Owners Use.
All others keep away" This manifesto
brought upon me great deal of chaff.
A petition was got up, requesting me to
take the chair at a meeting TO be held
for the purpose of denouncing monopo-
lies. 4 band of young fools serenaded