The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1895-08-21
A SERIOUS AFFAIR.

1t Is always IN inscrutable nystory 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 tho 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 nmaz-
Ing suddcnncss their engagement just as
the Bengal was nearing tho bay Of Biscny
it was not easy to SOC
But they did.
And suppose" said young Greig,
with face that looked less bronzcd than
usual, THAT nothing I can say will alter
your decision. Your mind is quite made
ups"
1T always is" declared Miss Norman.
She hold tightly to tho brass rail and
looked away ut tho spot in tho distance
which represented Spain. 1t is best when
quarrcling with any ono you have cared
for not to look ut their eyes.
Il particularly wish that for tho timo
that we shall have to travel together we
shall SEQ as little of each other ms possible.
Wo can easily say goodby Mt Plymouth"
1t will not DO easy for mo-, said Henry
Grcig. II am not used to saying goodby
to any ono that THAT havoc
You should DO glad of new expert
oncc, Mr.. Grcig. It's d precious thing
nowadays"
you're not yourself this morning, FL
sio"
"Iwish wcrc not, F." she exclaimed, with
sudden change Of manner "If 1 were
somo ono else, L shouldn't DO so unhappy.
Hero is Mrs. Rcnton. She mustn't see nv
eyes. This is the last timo We shall speak
to each othor Goodby"
But, say, isn't thcro some mcans"-
Elsie Norman held out her hand. Groig
pressed 1t, and sho turned and went below.
Mrs. Rcnton sank into her deck chair
carefully, rs stout Indies do, and seemed
gratificd when the deck chair only crcnk-
ed complainingly and did not give way.
Mr.. Greg, pray como here Mt once
Miss Norman monopolizcs your time to
such nm extent that wo poor women SEQ
nothing of you. Sit hero at onco and tell
me all about yourself"
Its IN embarrassing subject" said
Greig, pulling another deck chair to tho
side of Mrs. Rcnton.
TEL mo n secret then. I'm exceeding
ly fond of secrets. When arc you going to
marry Miss Norman?''
Never"
"Nover? OF course you're both young,
but that seems long time to whit, does
it not? Mr.. Van Strnnten said"-
Ivan Straaten is an old fool of the kind
they mako in Germany. 1 shall have to
ask Van Straaten not to Interfere with INV
affairs"
"His servant Hans is queer youth. He
looks after the diamond samples, sup
pose"
II haven't seen Hans. But Van STRAIT
en- is tho sort Of old nuisance that ought
to DO labeled, like some OF the luggage,
Not wanted on voyage b"
"Ho always speaks very highly of Miss
Norman, remarked Mrs. Ronton.
'Why shouldn't hop
Precisely. She's very charming, no
doubt But you should remember that sho
is only girl, after all"
That fact has not escaped notice, Mrs.
Renton."
Mrs. Rcnton looked complacently down
tho undulating scene that her plump fig
urc furnished and lifted first ono small
foot and then tho other from under tho
hem of hcr yellow skirt. Tho number ap-
pcared to DO correct, for Mrs. Ronton, hav-
ing mentally audited them, sighed with
satisfaction.
'Thcro is such n thing" said tho widow
sconfldentially, Gas common sense
II know. Cheap eau do cologne and"-
''No, no. Sense-s-o-n-s-e"
II wonder where, Mrs. Renton?"
1T is not for me to tell you whcrc,' an
swercd Mrs. Renton modcstly. "All that
/ can say Is that you don't find 1t with
young girls. At the ago OF, say, 30 some
thing, now, you often find girl, or, per-
haps should say woman, admirably fit
ted to bo companion to n sonsiblo man"
Tho popular prejudice" remarked
Hroig, is nevertheless. oddly enough, In
favor of girls go something" He looked
up. "What in tho worlds tho matter with
Van Straaten?'
The old German, with his pince nez
awry, pinching the ond Of his nose, was
coming oxcitodly up the gangway.
We're is tho captain?" ho screamed II
insist. Pring mo NIL Mt once the captain"
Tho captain of tho Bengal hurried up.
IN u few words OF mangled English Mr..
Van Straaten explained. A group of in
torcstcd passengers stood around
talk to Miss Norman for lccdle time"
cried Mr.. Van Straaten. II go then to my
CABIN. find there my precious diamonds
-vanished"
"Thcy can't have gone far, sir, " said tho
captain
"They have no need to go ut oil. Eight
t'ousand bounds worth all gone. 1 must
Know now quickly who has stole them al
rctty.'
" Any suspicion?" asked the captain.
am not so sure am not so sure"
Anybody on board seen thcm?"
won person only. Mr.. Groig, If you
please, como here. show you my precious
diamonds, amt it, two days after we leave
Calcutta:"
THAT is So" said Greig chcorfully.
And very magnificent diamonds they
were. remember telling you that wish
cd ono or two were mine thon, 90 that
might give them to-
Hc stopped.
II suppose wo shall have to search MI
the cabins" said the captain of tho Ben