The Democratic advocate., 1894-06-30
Select gturp.
ROMANCE OF A DECK CHAIR.
From chambers's Journal.

She was very proud girl-quite a
standofish sort of girl-aud she came on
board with fixed intention not to speak
to anybody. 1 noticed her while We were
yet in the dock at Tilbury. You don't
notice individuals as rule, for everybody
looks so like everybody else on a first
meeting, especially when it is almost dark,
and crowd of passengers hang about the
ships side taking their last look at things
ashore. But l noticed this lady at the
very first was on deck, prepared to go
with the steamship Atalanta to New York
city, and | saw her alight from the train
some hundred yards distant. I lost her
until she stepped upon the gangway, and
then | was confirmed in my impression
that she was remarkably handsome girl.
She came on board like princess, and
for some minutes disappeared Presently
| felt a strange sensation. She was posi-
lively 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 deep
ened the extraordinary impression she had
made. Without presuming to stare at
her, got glimpse of her fine profile and
dark, naughty eyes.
The usual scenes were going on about
us. | ventured remark-foolish and
trihing, no doubt, but hardly deserving
the contemptuous silence 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Withdrawn, and we began to haul out Of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 Americs- absurd
question, seeing that America was the sole
destination of the ship. She turned and
looked at me, said nothing, and walked
away.
It was lovely night, and as we dropped
down the river the passengers stood about
in groups and enjoyed it. Several spoke
to me, and became quite sociable. She
was on deck also until eleven 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.
kept at respectable distance; but |
saw the captain speak to her, and I'm sure
he got suubbed for his audacity. So put
it down to pride. | 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 ship gets out to sea.
The next morning Miss Bradley (for
that, as | discovered, afterwards, was her
name) and / met at breakfast-at that
first breakfast. She was there, anyway,
and Fortune seated her at my elbow. /
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 |
tried to garnish the eggs and bacon met
with little encouragement, and she com
mitted herself no further than to the en-
dorsement of my hope that We should have
this sort of thing all the way. By "this
sort of thing" | meant the glorious weather,
not her monumental frigidity; but | don't
think she took the trouble TO analyze my
conceptions.
Ali that day she wandered about the
deck, with her dark eyes-they were dark
gray in the sunshine-surveying the pan
Drama of the cliff-belted southern coast, OF
sat upon. a bench by the saloon dome, read
ing book under the shadow of the awning
which had been rugged up on the ''prome
made" 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 | got a trihe
forward by the aid of baked potatoes, but
nothing to boast about.
/ There were 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 a pie
mic. and it seemed as if the prevailing mer-
riment must tantalize Miss Bradley out of
her proud reserve. But it didn'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, thought, she's
good sailor Ill amuse her with some
anecdotes about those who are sick at sea.
supplied her plate, and launched into
funny story To my dismay, she sud-
denly arose and left the table-likewise the
saloon, ramming her handkerchief into her
mouth, as | assumed, to prevent the laugh
ter which must unbend- her dignity, and
break down the icy barrier between us,
For FIVE days her pride-or some other
disposition-buried her in the sacred Sc
clusion of her state-room. 1t twas too bad!
During those five days we staggered through
lively cross-sea, which made walking on
deck very awkward business; and spent
most of my time reclining in my comfort
able deck-chair.
1t now occurred to a number of passen-
gers that deck chair was the the thing of
all others which they ought to have brought
on board. The scanty accommodation of
benches was inadequate for those who
wanted to lie down at full length and
''sleep it off," and the deck was only non
sybaritic, but offered Indifferent anchorage;
those who made their bed on the floor ex-
perienced a constant 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 sheltered