Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-05-19
REASON

-. r,,r, was George Carew. and ut
20 ,,,cc Of wt:ch 1 write no was
~ u .rr on lcard tho loyal Mail
tco,,ra on her homoward voyage
!, a. rs,ncs Ayrcs to Southampton. 1t
~, IN the year, ard the passengers
- comparatively few. l cannot
WI W, ,r,,,,, say that Carcw was n gener-
..'.,-i,r ON board. He was taciturn
q ia', ,,,l, and when he was not tact
$ " no ,.,s apt to he dogrnatic.
w. -, H., mails passengers he was
n, s,,Ern If 81 IA decent fellow
s.,,,b. hut queer" The feminine por.
r IT, m, community thought-or said
,b,reht - him uninteresting.
,n' r.. fbrir number was tall. pretty
. Jul who hail gradually pierced the
-, his reserve. and in whose COM
.rs ho had even been seen to smile.
t,rpmo very good fricnds--so
l| 81, ,,,'rnd ~ to draw down upon
1''' ,.,,,r, lady's head various maternal
49,. an the folly of encouraging
,,,,, mon who were notodics. But as
- ~ coarse. did not hear these
- anil rs Miss Ida Lennox was q
~ rillcd Young person, their friend
b;, suffrrcd M interruption.
rb,-p yas certain Mrs. Bouverie on
,,,rl m extremely handsome widow,
!, whom Carcw, for some unknown
IN had aroused violent dislike.
~. ,.as clover as we'll as handsome,
A.. v.as possessed of a passionate ard
.,,rawbat uncertain temper - which
h., however. in virtue of her many
',rntarlqlanciug good qualities, was
universally rondoncd.
I'm, evening ut dinner Mrs. Eouvcrie
r,s ryratiqting 70 those nearest to her
d, tbr valu' and antiquity of very
.r-iors AM beautiful ring which she
rorp. and Lich she had picked mp in a
un- through Italy. She affirmed it to
t.gt hat 500 years old. 1t was broad
aid hand. chased richly and with mar
,1nrs dalicaCy and set all round at
-.rlsr iutcrvala with large diamonds
ii Otr,sit, hrilliancy. Inside were
~, capital letters. n. c., each letter
famed of tiny seed pearls sunk into the
rM. Mrs Bouvcrie. who was OF a
-martic turn, was of opinion that it
hi been an ancient betrothal ring.
-aar1 was half effaced date inside,
witch the widows right hand neigh
hraralc. cunsumptive looking clergy
nan. was in vain trying to decipher
though a small magnifying glass.
Presently a lady opposite begged to I've
allowed 70 examine the ring. and from
sr !. was passed from hand to hand
rr;'y wall M and down the length Of
;h table.
Hat strange TO say, IL did not como
h.k % il owner. 1t had apparently
disappeared. Every one declared ii
BAL passed safely out of his or her
birds Where was II then? There
VISA great commotion. Of course; Cv-
r-b1dy rose, ard thorough search
VS. made. on and under tho table and
II m one cad e. tho other of the long
saloon.
Tho ring. however, was not forth
coming. Its owner had By this time
become somewhat excited, and a rather
disdgrp,able scene cnsucd. In point Of
tact Mrs. Bouvorie insinuated that
smo ono had appropriated her ring.
Upon this, some Of the male passengers
merily suggested that. if Mrs. Bouverie
entertained suspicious of that nature,
al present had better torn ont their
pockets. To this proposition there was
aroncral assent.
Al resumed their seats, and there
was hurried discntombing of keys.
htters, pocket handkerchiefs, ETC., but
% ring.
Caraw, to the surprise of all. quietly
riuscd 70 exhibit the contents of his
pockets.
But morcly as q matter of form,
Ar ,aTcw, y cxpostulated the captain.
The young man, however, repeated
hH refusal cudrteously, but moie in
lczi1iy, IT anything. than before.
There wa an awkward silence.
Then Nh. Bouvcric forgot herself.
May ask. sir." she said, address,
ms tarcw in an excited tone, why
you refuse to DO as all your fellow pas
"ncoTs have donc?"
lo1 may, madam" was the brief
and naughty answer.
Wen. sir. and why not?"
because have very special reason
"f not doing 50, he answered in a
'ar'lUlly depressed voice.
And that rcason:''
1 fear ] must decline to give it, !"
n' answered quietly, but with an ON
mon Hash in his gray eyes.
Then you are aware of the imputa-
non Your refusal casts upon your char
'',,rt inquired the lady scornfully.
.. That Is matter of the utmost in
nee to Inc, was the icy answer.
bGt The speakers hand, as it lay upon
lH' taLlc, opened and shut in n quick,
nervous fashion which showed that he
vas l'ss unmovcd than he looked.
Nhcroupon Mrs. Bouvcrio waxcd
more and more indiscreet, and all but
~ AROUSED Carcw Of having the ring in
M possession.
Mrs. Bouvcric, Mrs. Bouvcric, IRE
nons'rutod tho captain, this is really
hyt quite fair"
nero Carew, who had been growing
""''sr every moment, rose from his
seat.
1 rcgrCt TINT Won shnull haYo such