Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1894-07-30

~ \zIHy her while We
~>S-Z were yet in the
dock at Tilbury
You don't notice individuals as a rule,
for everybody looks so like everybody
else on first meeting, especially when
1t is almost dnr', and crowd of pas
senSers hang a,out the ships side
taking their Last look at things
ashore. But L noticed this lady at
the very first. / was on deck, pre-.
pared to go with the steamship Atalan-
ia to New York City, and saw her
alight from the train some hundred
yards distant. I lost her until she
stepped upon the gangplank, and then
was confirmed in my impression that
she was remarkably handsome girl.
She came on board like n princess,
and for some minutes disappeared.
Presently felt strange sensation.
She was positively 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 certainly deepened the
extraordinary impression she had
made. Without presuming to stare
at her, / got glimpse of her fine pro.
file and dark, naughty eyes.
The usual scenes were going on
about lis. l ventured remark
foolish and trifing, no doubt--but
hardly deserving the contemptuous ST.
lence with which it 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was withdrawn, and We began to haul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. l plucked up
spirit, and asked her if she was going
to America-an absurd question, see
ing that America was the sole destina-
tion of the ship. Shs turned and
looked at me, said nothing, and
walked away
1t was a lovely night, and as we
dropped down the river the passen-
gers stood about in groups and en-
ioyed it. Several spoke to me and be-
came quite sociable. She was on deck,
also, until IL o'clock, but sitting
alone, and, SO far rs L could tell, max
ing no comment upon the mystery of
shadows sparkling with lights ahoat
and ashore which the vessel glided
past.
kept at respectable distance
but 1 saw the captain speak to her,
and I'm sure he got subdued for his au-
dacity. So put it down to pride. 1
think she made an exception of the
stewardess; in fact, I'm sure she did
later on. There is 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 1 discovered afterward, was
her name) and / met at breakfast. 1
think all the passengers met at break
fast-at that first breakfast. She was
there, anyway, and fortune seated her
at my elbow. 1 made some progress
with Miss Bradley in furnishing her
plate. Oh, she was all right at that
first breakfast. 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 committed herself no more than
to the endorsement of my hope that
we should have this sort of thing all
the way. By ''this sort of thing" 1
meant the glorious weather, not her
monumental frigidity; but I don't
think she took the trouble to analyze
my conceptions.
All that day she wandered about the
deck, with her dark eyes-they were
dark gray in the sunshine-surveying
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 "promen-
ade. " The splendid lines of her
figure showed to advantage in neat
gown of homespun. No one spoke to
her, and she spoke to nobody. At
dinner l got trihe forward by the
aid of baked potatoes, but nothing to
boast of.
There were several jolly women
among the passengers; and particu-
larly jolly they were on the score of
the calm sea. Our time in the chan
mel was good as a picnic, and it
seemed as if the prevailing merriment
must tantalize Miss Bradley out of
her proud reserve. But it didn't.
The next morning when the steward
called me at half-past o'clock 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, thought,
she is good sailor. I'll amuse her
with some anecdotes about those who
are sick at sea.
supplied her plate, and launched
into funny story. 70 my dismay,
she suddenly arose and left the table
likewise the saloon, ramming her
handkerchief into her mouth, as /
assumed, to prevent the laughter
which must unbend her dignity, and
break down the icy barrier between
US.