Omaha daily bee., 1895-11-10

Copyrighted, 1895, by Robert BdrrD
CHAPTER XI.
After all, II must be admitted that George
Wentworth was a man Of somewhat change
able character. For the last two or three
days he had been moplng around like one who
meditated suicide; now he suddenly became
the brightest individual on board, when every
one else was wondering what was going to
happen to the ship. For a man to be moody
and distraught while danger was impending
was not at all surprising; but that a man,
right in the midst of gloom, should suddenly
blossom out into a smiling countenance and a
general hilarity of manner, was something
extraordinary. People thought it must be a
case Of brain trouble. They watched the
young man with interest as he walked with a
springy step up and down deck. Every
now and then a bright smile Illuminated his
face, and then he seemed to be ashamed that
people should notice he was feeling hilarious.
When he was alone with himself he had a
habit Of shifting his thigh and bursting out
into a laugh that was long and low rather
than loud and boisterous. No one was more
as,onished at this change than Fleming, the
politician, George met him on deck, and to
the great surprise of that worthy gentleman,
smote him on the back and said:
My dear sir, | I'm afraid the other day,
when you spoke to me-, | answered a little
grufly. | beg to apologize. Come and have
a drink with me-"
"Oh. don't mention IT," said Fleming, joy
ouyly; 1--WE all of us have our little down
turns now and then. Why, l have myself,
when liquor is bad or scarce. You mightnt
believe IL, but some days | feel away down In
the mouth. It is true, l have a recipe for
getting up again, which | always use-aud
4l.4 y.,,fHl, mn no yfpI rnDnru4hnr what |
the governor Of North Carolina said to the
governor Of South Carolina?'
"I'm sure | DON'T said Wentworth; you
see I'm not very well yerscd in United States
politics"
"Wer. there wasn't much politics about his
remark. He merely said, It's a long time be
tween drinks; come in and have something
with me- 1t seems to me you haven't tasted
anything in my company since the voyage be-
gan
true statement. Let us amend it as soon as
possible. only in this case let me pay for the
drinks. invited you to drink with me-
"NoJ at all, not at all" cried Fleming; mot
while I'm here. This Is my treat, and ii IS
funny to think that a man should sp-nd a
week with another man without knowing him.
Really, you sec, | haven't known you till
now
And so the two worthy gentlemen disap-
pcared into the smoking room and rang the
electric bell.
But it was in his own stateroom that
Ge0rga Wentworth's POPULARITY came out at
ito best. lie would grasp John Kenyon by
the shoulder and shake that solemn man, over
whose face a grim smile would appear when
he noticed the eXubarant jollity Of hia COM
rade.
john Wentworth cried, "why don't
you laugh?'
well, it seems to me-" replied his com
rade, that your are doing laughing enough
for nc hDfh II Is naEnGEary IN lnVp n
member Of the firm solid and substantial.
I'm trying to keep the average about right.
When you were. in the dumps | had to be
cheerful for two. Now that you feel so
funny, l take a kind of melancholy vaca-
ton, to rest me after my hard efforts at
Cheerfulness."
"Well, John, it seems to me too good to be
ne. What a plucky girl she was to do
'sN,h a thiigi How did she know but that
thu little vixen had a revolver with her, and
might have shot herr"
Il suppose she didn't think about the mat
ter at ALE"
Have you seen her since the dramatic in
cident?'
seen whom?" Miss Brewster?"
"No, no; | mean Miss Longworth?"
"No; she hasn't appeared yet. | suppose
she fears there will be a scene, and she is
anxious to avoid it
VERY likely that Is the case" said Went
worth. well. If you get tc see her, you
can tell her thare is no danger. Our genial
friend Fleming has had a talk with the
newspaper woman, so he tells me, and the
way he describes it is exceedingly p!ctur-
esque. He has threatened her with giving
away the Snap as he calls It, to the other
New York papers, and it seemo that the only
thing on earth Miss Brewster is afraid of is
the opposition press. So she has promised
to say nothing more whatever about the
incident"
Then you have been talking with Elem
ing?"
certainly / have; a joyial good fellow he
IS, too. | have been doing something more
than talking with him; | have been drinking
with him."
And yet a day or two ago l understand
you threatened to strike him"
"A day or two ago, John! 1t was ages and
ages ago. a day or two isn't in it. That
was years and centuries since, but not by
time. l was an old man then; now l have
become young again, AMI all on account or