Bellows Falls times. [volume] (Bellows Falls, Vt.) 1856-1965, 1894-08-30

1t now occurred to a number OF pas
sengers that 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 of, +" and the
deck was not only non-sybaratic,. but
offered Indifferent anchorage those
who made their bed on the floor expert
enced constant tendency to slip and
slide and roll as the ATLANTA wrestled
with the waves. 1t would not do.
Envious glances were cast at my snug
tered corner. Piratical attacks were
made upon that chair whenever / VEN
tured to quit it for moment. If l
took turn to stretch my limbs, or
went below for book or an extra rug,
/ never failed to find on my return
some interloping loafer ensconced in my
nest and pretending to be fast asleep.
/ stood a good deal of this, and in a
noble transport of self sacrifice wan
dered about like lost dog. But /
wouldn't stand it any longer. And l
didn't.
l began to evict the intruders at
first with great delicacy: "Pray excuse
me. / fancy you have mistaken your
chair. Then with less conjunction :
II regret that l must disturb you /
am not feeling very we'll" And later
without ceremony or remorse: "Now,
sir, my chair, if you please J"
1t came to this, that L got quite
"rusty," and acquired the habit of fold
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 a 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 mo-
nopolies. A band of young fools sere-
naded me with chorus of "Chair,
boys Chair He'll sleep until to-mor-
rowW And there were other attempts
at fun almost as feeble They kept this
up SO persistently that, being out of
sorts through the rough weather, and
also on account of the prolonged alb
sence of the girl with the dark gray
eyes, | became as surly as bear.
On the sixth day the sea had gone
down a good deal and the saloon ban
quets were better patronized. l returned
to the deck after a capital luncheon,
with one of Clark Russell's stories I'M
der my arm; and l filled my big pipe
and meandered in the direction of my
chair, intending to enjoy myself thor
oughly. Imagine my rage when |
found the chair absolutely gone! /
rushed up and down the deck until /
observed that everybody was bursting
with laughter.
Suddenly, under the lee of the cap
tain's cabin | came upon Millicent
Bradley. Her proud gray eyes were
dim and lusterless, the full, firm con-
tour of the face was gone, and her rich
complexion had changed to putty color.
The self reliant mouth sank at the cor
ners, and was partly open, as if she
lacked the vital energy to press her
pallid lips together.
AS | stepped before her and stared
with establishment and distress, she
opened her eyelids just another six
tenth of an inch and murmured in
the most die away tone: ooh, Mr..
Franklin, I'm afraid I've got your
chair. Do take it! Please take it ~
OF course / was instantly at her side,
forever, to wear it for my sake-not
that she showed the slightest DISPOSE
ton to give it up.
For three days I waited upon her
hand and foot, helped her with delica-
cies, told her funny stories-not about
seasickness-recited poetry to her-my
own, unpublished !-and-yes, / fiirted
with her.
And she? Oh, it did her good
frightened her up amazingly. She
talked better than photograph and
we were all in all to each other. The
doctor was a bit of a nuisance, presum-
ing upon his medical privileges, you
understand, and the captain pestered
us but L got my grip, as we used to
say when l rowed in the college eight,
and 1 pulled right through, giving
them my "Washo all the time.
And so we drew nearer to Sandy
Hook, and although l had to sit upon
a camp-stool while [ watched over her
in my lawful capacity of landlord of
the deck chair, l never enjoyed crossing
SO much in my life, and I've been over
the Atlantic about 20 times on business.
But within days sail of New York
disaster fell upon the ship, SO terrify
ing, SO lurid, SO indescribably horrible,
that you will think me inconsistent in
declaring that it increased my happi-
ness a hundredfold and gave in one
hideous moment all the concentrated
joy Of lifetime.
1t had come on to blow again. "A
great bank of bubbling, purple clouds
had arisen in the northwest as the
night closed in, and while | was help
ing Miss Bradley down the companion
way, driven from the deck by the ugly,
threatening aspect of the sky, blast Of
wind struck the vessel, heeling her over
with suddenness that forced me to
cling with all my might to the banister,
and Miss Bradley, with all hers, to my
neck. For nearly a minute my chin
reposed against the top of her head,
but that ecstasy was vouchsafed to me
no longer. AS the ship righted Mill
cent parted from me, sprang down the
few remaining stairs, grabbed at the
hand rail and whisked away to her
cabin sans adieuX.
1 struggled back to the deck for the
rugs and cushions and found the vessel
enveloped in furious storm. Already
it was dark, and the ATLANTA was
plunging like FESTIVE horse, the sea
coming in floods over the bulwarks and
the wind tearing and shrieking among
the cordage and clustering against the
big roaring funnel. The rain came down
in slanting sheets of water and the sail
ors were shouting to each other and