The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1895-08-27
A SERIOUS AFFAIR.


It Is always an inscrutable mystery to
everybody why other people quarrel. For
our own littlo arguments there Is always,
of course, good, sound and sufficient reason.
For the disputes of other folk the excuse
appears ever absurdly inadequate. Why,
for instance, young Greig and Miss Elsie
Norman, both returning from India on
tho Bengal, should break Off with amaz-
ing suddenness their engagement just as
tho Bengal was nearing the bay of Biscay
1t was not easy to SEQ.
But they did.
"And I suppose" said young Greig,
with face that looked less bronzed than
usual, "that nothing can say will alter
your decision. Your mind Is quite made
upf"
SIT always Is" declared Miss Norman.
She held tightly to the brass rail and
looked away ct the spot in the distance
which represented Spain. 1t Is best when
quarreling with any one you have cared
for not to look at their eyes.
81 particularly wish that for the time
that we shall have to travel together VIC
shall sec as little Of each other as possible.
We can easily say goodby ct Plymouth"
at will not BIO easy for me" said Henry
Greig. "I am not used to saying goodby
to any one that THAT have''-
"You should be glad of q new expert
enoe, Mr.. Greig. It's precious thing
nowadays"
you're not yourself this morning, FL.
sie."
1T wish were not, f" she exclaimed, with
q sudden change OF manner. "If were
some one else, shouldn't be so unhappy.
Here is Mrs. Renton. She mustn't see my
eyes. This is the last time we shall speak
to each other. Goodby.'
"But I say, isn't there some means'-
Elsie Norman held out her hand. Greig
pressed 1t, and she turned and went below.
Mrs. Renton sank into her deck chair
carefully, as stout ladies do, and seemed
gratifled when the deck chair only creab-
cd oomplainingly and did not give way.
"Mr. Greig pray come here ut once.
Miss Norman monopofizes your time TO
such an extent that we poor women see
nothing Of you. Sit here at once and tell
me all about yourself.
tits an embarrassing subject" said
Greig, pulling another deck chair to the
side of Mrs. Renton.
"Tell me q secret then. I'm exceeding
iy fond of secrets When are you going to
marry Miss Normanf''
Never"
"Neverf OF course you're both young,
but that seems long time to wait does
1t mott Mr.. Van Straaten said"-
ivan Straaten is an old fool of the kind
they make In Germany. 1 shall have to
ask Van Straaten not to interfere with my
affairs
"His servant Hans is queer youth. He
looks after the diamond samples, sup
pose"
~ haven't seen Hans. But Van Strait
en- is the sort Of old nuisance that ought
to be labeled, like some of the luggage.
Not wanted on voyage"
"He always speaks very highly of Miss
Norman" remarked Mrs. Renton.
"Why shouldn't her"
"Precisely. She's very charming, no
doubt. But you should remember that she
is only girl, after all.
"That fact has not escaped notice, Mrs.
Ronton."
Mrs. Renton looked complacently down
| the undulating scene that her plump fig
ure furnished and lifted first one small
foot and then the other from under the
| hem of her yellow skirt. The number ap-
| peared to be correct, for Mrs. Renton, hav-
ing mentally audited them, sighed with
satisfaction.
"There is such thing, said the widow
con1dentially, "as common sense"
IT know. Cheap eau de cologne and
| mo, no. Sense-s-e-n-S-e.
1T wonder where, Mrs. Rentonf"
| at Is not for mo to tell you where" an
swered Mrs. Renton modestly. "All. that
1 can say is that you don't find It with
young girls. At the age Of, say, 80 some
thing, now, you often find girl, or, per-
haps should say a woman, admirably 1T
ted to be a companion to sensible man"
1.-THE popular prejudice" remarked
Greig, us nevertheless, oddly enough, In
favor of girls go something" He looked
up. "What in the worlds tho matter with
Van Straatenf'
The old German, with his pince nez
awry, pinching the end of his nose was
coming excitedly up the gangway.
/ "Vere is the captainP' he screamed. "I
insist. Pring me all at once the captain Z"
The captain of the Bengal hurried up.
In few words of mangled English MI.
Van Straaten explained. A group of in
terested passengers stood around.
/ 81 talk to Miss Norman for lcedle time, -
cried Mr.. Van Straaten. 81 go then to my
CABIN. find there my precious diamonds
vanished. -
"They can't have gone far, sir. said the
captain.
"Thoy have no neodf to go at all. Eight
t'ousand bounds worth all gone. must
know now quickly who has stole them al.
retty"
ANY suspioions" asked the captain.
"Tam not SO sure. am not so sure
Anybody on board seen themf'
won person only. Mr.. GreiR IL you
please, come here. show you my precious
diamonds, ain't It, two days after We leave
Calcuttaf"
"That Is So" said Greig cheerfully.
"And very magnificent diamonds they
were. 1 remember telling you that wish
cd one or two were mine then, SO that /
might give them to-
He stopped.
1T suppose We shall have to search all
the cabins" said the captain of the Ben
gal tits a fearful nuisance, ladies and
gentlemen, but 1t can't be helped. May
we begin with yours, Mr.. Greigf'
~ really don't know" protested Greig,
"why should have my cabin UPSET and
turned ont just because
~ desire that Mr.. Greig's cabin should
BIO searched, " said Mr.. Van Straaten In
sistently.
"That settles IL, then," said Henry
Greig carelessiy. Fire away. IN come
down with you"
The crowd went below and stood In the
| -----s-- - ---.4-A- --s-- = 80
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