Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1895-09-12
A SERIOUS AFFAIR.

to everybody why other people quar-,
rel. For our own little argument:
there is always, of course, good, sound
and sufficient reasons; for the disputes
of other folks the excuse appears ever
absurdly inadequate. Why, for In
stance, young Greig ard Miss Elsie
Norman, both returning from India
on the Bengal, should break off with
amazing suddenness their engagement
just as the Bengal was nearing the Bay
of Biscay it was not easy to see.
But they did.
"And I suppose, " said young Greig
with a face that looked less brOnzed
than usual, "that nothing I 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 raj
and looked away at the spot in the
distance which represented Spain. II
is best when quarreling with anyone
YOU have cared for not to look at theiI
eyes.
q 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. "
at will not be easy for me, - said
Henry Greig. a ain not used to say
ing goodby to anyone that that
have"
"You should be glad of new ex.
perience, Mr.. Greig. It's precious
thing nowadays.
you're not yourself this morning
Elsie"
81 wish l were not r. she exclaimed
with sudden change Of manner. "Ii
I were some one else | shouldn't be SC
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 it, and she turned and
went below. Mrs. Renton sank into
her deck chair carefully, as stout
ladies do, and seemed gratifed wher
the deck chair only creaked complain
ingly and did not give away.
"Mr. Greig, pray come here at once.
Miss Norman monopollzes your time
to such an extent that we poor women
see nothing of you. Sit here at once
and tell me all about yourself. "
Its an interesting subject, " said
Greig, pulling another deck chair tc
the side of Mrs. Renton.
Tell me a secret, then. I'm ex,
ceedingly fond of secrets. When are
you going to marry Miss Norman
Never
Never? OF course, you're botl
young; but that seems long time tc
wait, doesn't it? Mr.. Van Straater
said"
"Van Straaten is an old fool of the
kind they make in Germany. l shal
have to ask Van Straaten not to inter
fere with my affairs. "
His servant Hans Is queer youth
He looks after the diamond samples,
suppose"
II haven't seen Hans. But Var
Straaten is the sort of old nuisance
that ought to be labelled, like some o
the luggage Not wanted on voyage.
He always speaks very highly o
Miss Norman, remarked Mrs. RentOI
thoughtfully.
"Why shouldn't he?"
Precisely. She's very charming
no doubt. But you should remembe
that she is only girl, after all. "
THAT fact has not escaped notice
Mrs. Renton.
Mrs. Renton looked complacentl!
down the unduIatlng scene that ne
plump figure furnished, and lifted
first one small foot and the Othel
from under the hem of her yellow
skirt. The number appeared to b
correct, for Mrs RentOn, having men
tally audited them, sighed with salts
faction.
There is such thing" said tn
widow confdentially, "as common
sense.
81 know. Cheap eau-de-COlogn
and"
mo, no. Sense. S-e-n-s-e.
al wonder where, Mrs. Renton?
at is not for me to tell you where,
,,,.o,oJ Nfre Papton mOdestly "a