Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1895-12-26

painter, Without intimating his lnten-
ton to his passengers he steered for it.
"Bow, way enoughl'' he called out as
the boat glided under the yacht s coun-
ter, and, grasping the companion ladder
ropes, he leaped aboard. In few hur-
ried words he explained the situation to
Mr. Robert Grey, her owner, and sug-
gested that he should send the belated
passengers to 81. Kentigern by the
launch. Grey assented with the easy
good nature of youth, wealth and indo-
lence and lounged from his cabin to the
side The consul followed Looking
down upon the boat, he could not help
observing that his fair young passenger,
sitting in her demure stiffness at her
fathers side, made very pretty pic
ture. 1t was possible that Bob Grey
had made the same observation, for he
presently swung himself over the gang
way into the gig. hat in hand. The
launch could easily take them-in fact,
he added unblushingly, it was even then
getting up steam to go to st. Kentigern.
Would they kindly come on board until
it was ready? AT an added word or two
Of explanation from the consul the father
accepted, preserving the same formal
pride and stiffness, and the transfer
was made. The consul, looking back az
his gig swept round again toward Ban
mock pier, received their parting salu-
tations and the first smile he had seen
ON the face of his grave little passenger.
He thought it very sweet and sad.
He did not return to the consulate at
st. Kentigern until the next day But
he was somewhat surprised to find Mr..
Robert Grey awaiting him, and upon
some business which the young million
aire could have easily deputed to his
captain or steward. AS he still fingered
the consul pleasantly referred to his
generosity ON the previous day and
hoped the passengers had given him no
trouble.
"No, said Grey, with slight simu-
lation Of carelessness. In fact, came
up with them myself. l had nothing to
dot was Sunday. you know
The consul lifted his eyebrows slight
ly.
Eyes, saw them home" continued
Grey lightly. I'm one of those by
streets not far from here; neat looking
house outside inside, corkscrew stone
staircase, like lighthouse; fourth floor,
no lift, but she circled up like a swa1-
low. Flat-sitting room, two bedrooms
and kitchen-mighty snug and ship
shape, and pretty as a pink. They own
1t, too-fancy owning part of house
Seems to be way they have here in st.
Kentigern. He paused and then add
ed, "Staid there to d kind of high
tea.
''Indeedr' said the consul.
why not? The old man wanted to
return my hospitality and square the
account. He wasn't going to lie under
any obligation TO stranger, and, by
Jovel be made it special point of hon
or. A Spanish grandee couldn't have
been more punctilious. And with an
accent, Jerusaleml like a northeastern off
the Banks But the feed was in good
taste, and he only mathematical in
strument maker ON about 81 200
year. .
you seem to know all about him."
said the consul smilingly.
Not SO much as he does about me-"
returned Grey, with a half perplexed
face, for he saw enough to admonish
me about my extravaganza and even to
intimate that thai rascal Saunderson,
my steward, was imposing on me. She
took me to task, too, for not laying the
yacht up on Sunday, that the men could
go to kirk, and for swearing at
bargeman who ran across our bows. It's
their perfect simplicity and sincerity in
all this that gets me. You'd have
thought that the old man was my guard
ian and the daughter my aunt After
pause he uttered a reminiscent laugh
"She thought we ate and drank too
much ON the yacht and wondered what
we could find to do all day. All this,
you know, in the gentlest, caressing
sort of voice, rs if she was really CON
cerned, like ones own sister Well, not
exactly like mine, he interrupted him
self grimly but, hang it all, you know
what / mean. You know that our girls
over there haven't got that trick of
voice-too much self assertion, reck-
on; things made too easy for them by
us men. Habit of race, l dare say. . He
laughed a little. why, / mislaid my
glove when | was coming away, and it
was as good as play to hear her COM
miserating and sympathizing and hunt
ing for it as if were lost baby
But you've seen Scotch girls before
this, said the consul There were
Lady Glairn's daughters, whom you
took on cruise. y
Yes. but the swell Scotch all imi-
tate the English, as everybody else
does. for the matter of that. our girls
included. and they re all alike. Society
makes EN- fit in together like tongued
and grooved planks that viii take any
amount of holystoning and polish. It's
like dropping into a dead calm, with
every rope and spar that you know al
ready reflected back from the smooth
water upon You. It's mighty pretty, but
it isn't getting on, you know After "a
pause he added, i asked them to take