The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1895-12-22
JUST A CASE OF TRILBY.
The MiddIe-Aged Passenger who
Dotted on Bohemia.
From the New York Sun.

AS the boat left New York late in the
afternoon she stood leaning over the rail,
a woman of middle age with fresh COM
plcxion and a skittish little bonnet. Every
one on the deck noticed her. She sat at
the Captains table. and before ner soup
was served she assailed solemn-l looking
man who was seated opposite her with the
question:
Are you seasick?'
mo madam" he replied.
Il thought you looked pale"
Just normal. madam" he replied.
sert was served she had introduced her
self as Mrs. Blank of Blankville, an
n0unced her age as 80, with a little pause
locking man didn't take advantage of;
stated that she was travelling because
of her nerves; stated that seasic1nvss
never troubled her. and wound up with
the news that she dearly loved Bohemian
Paris.
Mrs Blank waited for him to give his
history, and, as he remained silent, She
said:
Nova we are going to be fellow ras-
sengers on this delightful trip to the
halmy south, and won't you tell me your
name?"
Barnes. madam. John Barnes of New
York Age &c. and no nerves.
Some one titterted up at the other end
of the table, but Mrs. Blank didn't notice
II, and the Solemn Mans attention was
all on his coffee.
Travelling for pleasure, Mr.. Barncs?"
Il can't tell until later" said the Solemn
Man.
garment that the captain vaguely de-
scribed as a raglan, and she began her
assault on the Solemn Man with:
Good morning Mr.. Barnes. BY the
way, have you ever been in dear old
Never. madam"
oh, dear, I'm so sorry. I felt, just sure
that you had been. You remind me of a
Russian count, an artist that / met there
do so love the studio life in Paris''
For the first time Mr.. Barnes showed
a little interest in his persistent question:
err He looked at her closely, as though
making a diagnosis, and then his express
sion indicated that he had formed a con-
clusion. He kept ii to himself. Mrs
Blank looked disappointed when he said
nothing.
,''I hope that I do not annoy you with
my chatter, Mr.. Barnes she said, but
you must remember that I am much older
than you. quite so, in fact'-a pause-"and
you suggest this. Russian artist friend of
mine in dear old gay Bohemian Paris
Don't you like Bohemian
mo, 1 despise tables d'hote"
Mrs. Blank looked puzzled, and then
she laughed gleefully.
why. Mr.. Barnes, how cynicali I don't
believe l have gagged your depth yet
You suggest my brother. He was cynical
and witty"
WAS he a Russian, too?" asked Mr.
Barnes. and Mrs. Blank again told him
that he mustn't mind her chatter, because
she was quite 50 years old, though perhaps
he might doubt that Mr.. Barnes kept
his doubts to himself. if he had any.
Mrs. Blank was so persistent and Mr.
Barnes so reticent that they became star
attractions at the captains table. and
there was some pecuniary speculation as
to whether or not Mrs Blank would sue
coed in finding out anything about her
vis-a-vis. She tried him on cotton, and
his replies led her to guess that he was
a planter. A direct question settled this
point Then just as she had guessed that
he was an orange grower, bound for
Florida, he remarked that he had never
been in that state in his life. Mr. Barnes
talked with the man beside MIN about
realty and chattels. and when Mrs. Blank
again appeared at the table she said. az
she had made a discovery.
You lawyers. Mr.. Barnes, can't help
talking shop"
But I'm not a lawyer, madam" was
his reply and Mrs. Blank looked disap-
pointed.
sistent, changed tactics, and for the next
day he led Mrs, Blanks ina gtnation "a
wild chase. There was sonnet hing "a bo,.r