The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1894-10-20

mockingly.
How dreadful"
! However there would be an entire
ly new theme for tea-table gossip
That would be at least one advantag
of the new matrimonial method. MI
and Mrs. So-and-So's lease will shortl
expire. 1 wonder if they intend to re
new? Neither of them has said a wor,
yet How are they behaving?'"
Evidently there were elements o
strongmindedness in Miss Mulgrove'
character. But she possessed beaut,
and grace of behavior to neutraliz
these. She passed as an ''odd girl
among her female friends-none O
them ever said worse than this. Wit
men she was distinctly popular. He
personal charms nc doubt partly &C
counted for the fact; still it was,
think, chiefly due to her ready com
prehension of the masculine tempera
ment. AS her own brother said-h,
was a naval officer and Walton's in
innate friend-"Marina makes fun
enough of us poor wretches; but a
the same time we are not such a BLIND
puzzle to her as to most girls. She
seems to understand by instinct what
a mans notions are like, and to &C
commodate herself to them in wha,
she says"
1t must not be supposed, however
that Miss Mulgrove was in the habit
of conversing with all her male &C
quaintances with just as much free
dom as she did with Richard Walton.
Him she had known for many years
He and the brother referred to began
their naval caree together. When or
shore, they. as lads, were in the habit
of spending part Of their holidays to
gether. And although now both OF
them ~lieutenants, and serving on diff.
ferent ships, it was an understood
thing that friendship with their re
spective friends should be maintained.
On the present occasion Lieut.. Wal.
tons visit had been somewhat longer
than usual; for, unfortunately, he had
been invaded home from the Gold
coast.
But his months stay at the parson-
age-Marina's father was rector of a
small parish in a remote part of Essex,
near the Laidon hills-his months
holiday was just coming to an end.
In another three days he would have
to report himself to the admiralty.
And yet l am afraid he had only re-
covered from one malady to become
the victim of another. Gold coast
had been succeeded by the fever
of love. Readers who are skilled in
the diagnosis of the complaint will al
ready have discovered in his talk
about love and marriage indications
of his true state, a state of mild de-
when the tongue is charged
with bitterness for that and for those
held most dear.
Another confirmatory symptom, as
it seems to me, was that the young
still chung to the theme which his
companion had SO oddly started; for
after another interval of silence he re-
marked, rather soberly:
Il cannot help thinking after all the
lifelong arrangement is the best one.
The true difficulty lies in finding a
satisfactory method of courtship."
Can you suggest any rules and regu-
lations?" inquired Marina. still in
that calm and slightly sarcastic tone
gave no clew to her real senti-
No, sailors are provcrbially unslkill-
full in navigating the ocean of love"
Very prettily said, MI. Walton.
You certainly must be the ships poet
at sea-"
The young officer blushed. He had
occasionally ventured into verse, and
was wondering whether that wretched
brother of hers had ever played the
false friend by revealing the fact.
Possibly Miss Mulgrove observed his
and sought to make atone
ment for causing it by being merciful
to his ignorance about courtship, for
she said, with a gracious smile:
Il will tell you what seems to me
absolutely the best method of making
love. on one condition"
What is the condition?"
"Why that both of us-as soon as l
rave enlightened you-keep absolute
y silent until Tommy's boat is fin
shed. You promised to have it ready
him by eleven, and it is now a
quarter past ten"
Agreed. Your condition is harsh
but practical" said Walton, applying
himself with fresh energy to his task
If rigging a mainmast for the said yes
sci.
We'll, l got my ideal of love-making
Mrs Simpson"
"Who is Mrs"
Hush. you are not to speak, re-
member. Mrs. Simpson is the grocer's
wife down in the village; she used to
De our nurse years ago before dear
mamma died. and she and l have al
been great friends. One day in
frolicsome mood 1 inquired if Mr..
was very, very when
lie asked her to marry him-he is a
lreadfully timid man, 1 may say. She
aughed and said:
81 don't think he ever did ask me
marry him, Miss Marina. 1t isn't
'ur way. He used to tease me and 1
Used to tease him for a long time
when he came to the parsonage for
orders. Then one morning he said,
luite serious like: "Will you walk out
me, miss?"-it was Polly" at
,ther times. / said l didn't mind; SO
We walked out together for nearly a
welvemonth. and then began to talk
bout urrieh;p~