Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-06-17
SHIPS THAT MET.
TCopyright, 1895.

Jack Arthur had been absent from his native land for 15 years. He had fought duel in Europe and had a big scar on his cheek of the Heidelberg student sort. His hair was beginning to turn gray also, though it was not time for that, and alto gether his plain speaking cousin was not quite wrong when he cried out:
 "Hullo, Jack! We'll, you arc n sightr'
 Jack was not very vain, but he had winced at that, though hc pretendcd to laugh.
 After all, think I'll not go down to Cos Cob to s.e if any of the folks arc living there still, :" he said to himself as he walked back to his hotel in the moonlight. "Id rather the girls would remember the good looking boy they used to know"
 He said girls" " but he thought of only onc-Lucy Abbot, the girl he had been in love with from tho time he went to school. He was in love with her yet, for the mat ter of that, though they had quarrclcd be- fore he went away He had not heard of any marriage, and one day he had said to himself that if hc could know just when to como back and be forgiven he might Do much happier for it.
 A week later ho sailed for America, and but for Cousin Toms criticisms should have gone up to Cos Cob next day.
 Most of his old friends were dead. Once he asked about Lucy Abbott and was told that five years ago people said she was go- ing to hc married and probably was. Then ho decided to return to Europe, and was as angry at Lucy as though she had promised to 1.-Two single for his sake.
 Despite his having at first made up his mind not tn see Lucy, he had been slowly changing it-at least he had begun to think he would let her sec him, and if she rccognizcd him and was touched, why ss'mrthing might happcn-who could says Tat now it was all over, and tho best hing hr could do, he said to himself, was tn return to Europe. He did not call to s,ly i;n"dhr tn his friends but sent them all r. F. (. cards, and n few days later stood watching his native land fadc "o'cr the waters blue" with a most melancholy cOuntrnancr, as he mentally bade his lost love adiru forever.
 As he turned away a lurch of the vessel threw him against n woman who held Q | little child in her arms, and as, with an | apology, he saved her from a fall she look ed up into his face, and he saw the very | person he was thinking of It was Lucy Abbot whose arm he hcld-Lucy, older, but yet somehow almost unaltered. For moment he was on the point of uttcring her name but she made no sign of rccognition, and then that baby in her arms proved that she was married. | The thought madc him furious. Ho rushed away to his statcroom, pushed the l door open violently and found woman there. Shc was weeping bitterly. As Inc entered she started up. It was Lucy again. | Beg pardon" he said. Two made a mistake, suppose" Hc stepped back and looked at the number on the door No; | it's you who havc made ono, he said. This iS No. l3"
 "Oh, dear me, " Lucy cried, starting up, | "I-thr hall was so dark did not sro the number plainly" She hurried toward the door, leaving a shawl behind her. He caught il up and ran after her. "lIrr,' i' your shawl, Lucy" he said, the | namr popping out unawarrS. Sho gavo q | littlo srr"Im.
 l II thought you did not know me, .Jlck, '' sh" said, with little shake in her voice. | ''It k the lndy's place to speak first. " hg replied. Besides thought you did not r,e'oInilr me. live got to bo a sight, my cousin told me-" She laughed.
 "Wrll, l hrrw you, she answered. He leaned against the partition of tho passage and luuhrd ,!"Wn on her,
 "Why haven't you changed like other peoples he asked. "Happy married life I =.
 "Nin">" ,lld she. Why, Mir. Arthur that 'S M,~. Crnkrr's hoy. I'm not rich you lu",v, and did want 10 scr Europe Sn | came with Mrs. Cr,,krr aS companion for Iny rNINHsrS. lam an old maid my self"
 What fools the mon have been to allow | it, Lucy" said Jack.
 "Oh, I&r refused several offers, " she rc piled bridling,
 "Wrll, Two not sccn any ono I Cuult like abroad" said Jack. IIo shook out tn, shawl and wrapped it about her. I'm bachelor. Come, let Ills gu on deck" Hi. eyes were bright with happiness. and he chV'kS wcro pink, and her hands trrmblcC on his arm.
 He led her away to tho most quiet spot hr could flnd and first of all they talked over that old misunderstanding and dccid cd that it Was all tho fault of n spitcfu woman who wished to part them. ThcI they fnrgavc hcr-bCcauSc she was dead poor thing.
 Then Jack told Lucy about his travels and tEc fortune he was making. and I.uC, told Jack rather melancholy family his tnry-parntS dead and papa had failed he
 fore he left this world, sisters marie, and g"n" far away, brothers married, to' such unpleasant women, of course.
 'l'm quit" al,'uc in the world, ," sighe, poor Lucy, wii Ing away tear.
 Then Jack began to talk. Ilo had
 grca; deal to say, and it was nccrSSary t.
 whiSrrr. And for n long timC Lucy slit
 no word. At last, when he had said nor
 than once -Ah do-prav dO-you'll mak
 me Sn happy if you will, ." she said Yes. Tho du>ky strwar,icSs saw dat var gem
 plrman kiss dat var lady-Sartin Shnrc,
 but they wcr,' not aware Uf it.
 Later on, Mrs Crnkrr told her friend that Miss Ahhut disappointed her drrad fully. The very first day she began to fir with d gentleman wh", sh' said, Was a
 old arquaut3nCC, and neglected her dutiC
 drradlully. and aS S"un aS they arrived q
 their destination told her that she cuul , not go farther with her, for she was ahou
 to bc married.
 And she was," continued Mrs. Crukor
 tho unEratcful thing!"
 , MARY KYLE DALLAS. WAGONS WITH WIDE TIRES.