The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-09-06
A SERIOUS AFFAIR.

to everybody why otner people Qudl
rel. For our own little arguments
there is always, of course good, sound
and sufficient reason: for the disputes
other folk the excuse appears ever
absurdly inadequate. Why, for in
stance, young Greig and Miss Elsie
Norman, both returning from India on
the Bengal, should break with amaz-
ing suddenness their engagement Just
as the Bengal was nearing the Bay of
Biscay it was not easy to see.
But they did.
And 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 up?''
1t always is declared Miss Nor
man.
She held tightly to the brass rail and
looked away at the spot in the distance
which represented Spain. 1t is best
when quarrelling with any one you
have cared for not to look at their
! eyes.
II particularly wish that, for the
time that we shall have to travel to-
gether we shall see as little of each
other as possible. We can easily say
Goodby' at Plymouth. y
1T will not be easy for me- said
Henry Greig. Il am not used to say
ing goodby to any one that that |
| have
''You should be glad of a new ez-
perience, Mr.. Greig. It's precious
thing nowadays.
You re not yourself this morning,
Elsie.
Il wish | were not - she exclaimed,
with sudden change of manner. If
I 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.
Goodbye
But. say, isn't there some
means
Elsie Norman held out her hand.
Greie pressed it. and she turned and
went below Mrs. Renton sank into
her deck chair carefully, as stout
ladies do. and seemed gratitied when
the deck chair only cyeaked complain
! ingly and did not give way.
"Mr. Greig pray come here at once.
Miss Norman monopolizes your time to
such an extent that we poor women
/ see IOlnlHS VI ppli' 'oit iiNi
and tell me all about yourself
cts an uninteresting subject
said Greig. pulling another deck chair
to the side of Mrs Renton.
'Tell me a secret, then. I'm eX-
ceedngly fond of secrets, When are
you going to marry Miss Norman:
"Never.'
"Never: Of course, you're both
Young: but that seems a long, time tc
wait? Mr.. Van Straaten said
Ivan Straaten is an old fool OF tht
kind they make in Germany. | shal
have to ask Van Straaten not to inter
fere with my affairs >
His servant Hans is a queer youth.
He looks after the diamond samples
suppose. pn, v.n
Straaten is the sort of old nuisance
that ought to be labelled, like some o
his luggage; mot wanted on voyage.
ne always speaks very highly o
Miss Norman, remarked Mrs. Rentor
thoughtfully.
"Why shouldn't he?"
Precisely. She's very charming
no doubt. But you should remembel
that she is only girl after all.
THAT fact has not escaped notice
Mrs Renton.
Mrs. Renton looked complaeentl!
down the undulating scene that he
plump figure furnished, and lifted frs
one small foot and then the other iron
under the hem of her yellow skirt
The number appeared to be correct 10
Mrs, Renton having mentally audited
them. sighed with satisfaction.
There is such thing" said thu
widow confidentially, las common
sense" 81
and" :,
Il wonder where. Mrs. Renton:
at is not for me to tell you where,
answered Mrs. Renton modestly; al
that | can say is that you don't find
with young girls. At the age. OF, say
thirty something. now, you often hnt
a girl-or. perhaps. | should say
adimarbly fitted to be com
RAMON TO a sensible man.
1.-The popular prejudice, - remarked
Greio. lis nevertheless, oddly enough
in favor of girls twenty something.
" He Looked up. What in the work
is the matter with Van Straaten?
The old German, with his pincen-e
awry pinching the end of his nose, wa
coming excitedly up the gangway.
We're is the Captain he screamed
II insist. Pring me all at once tn