The Portland daily press., 1895-10-29
A SERIOUS AFFAIR.


of course good, sound and sufficient reason
For the disputes OF other tolk the excuse
appears ever absurdly inadequate. Why,
for instance, young Grelg and Miss Elsie
Norman both returning from India Oh
the Bengal, should break off with amaz
ing suddenness their engagement just as
the Bengal was nearing the bay of Biscay
it was not easy to see.
But they did.
aAnd I suppose" said young Greig,
with face that looked less bronzed than
usual, "that nothing can say will alter
your decision. Your mind is quite made
up?'
at always is" declared Miss Norman.
She held tightly to the brass rail and
looked away ct tho spot in the distance
which represented Spain. 1t is best when
quarreling with any one you have cared
for not to look at their eyes.
"I particularly wish that for the time
that we shall have to travel together we
shall see as little of each other as possible.
We can easily say goodby at Plymouth
sit will rot be easy for me-" said Henry
Greig. ala not used ia saying goodby
to any one that THAT I have"-
stYou should be glad of a new expert
ence, Mr. Greig. It's a precious thing
nowadays"
YOU'RE not yourself this morning, Ell
sie."
"sIwish Iwere not, she exclaimed, with
a sudden change of manner. eff 1 were
some one else, shouldn't be so unhappy
Here is Mrs. Renton. She muslin t see my
eyes This is the last time we shall speak
to each other Goodhy."
"But, say, ism t there some 1neans'-
Elsie Norman held out her hand. Greig
pressed it, and she turned and went below
Mrs. Renton sank into her deck chat,
carefully, as stout ladies do, and seemed
gratified when the deck chair only oreak
ed complainingly and did not give way.
"Mr. Groig, pray come here at once
Miss Norman monopolizes your time tt
such an extent that we poor women sec
nothing Of you. Sit here at once and tell
me all about yourself"
"It's an uninteresting subject" said
Greig, pulling another deck chair to the
side of Mrs Renton.
"Tell me a secret then. I'm exceeding
ly fond of secrets. When are you going to
marry Miss Norman?''
"Never."
"Never9 Of course you're both young,
but that seems a long time to wait, does
it not? Mr.. Van Straaten said''-
evan Straaten is an old fool of the kind
they make in Germany. shall have to
ask Van Straaten not to interfere with my Y
affairs. ''s It
ellis servant Hans is queer youth. He
looks after the diamond samples, sur
pose"
at haven't seen Hans. But Van STRAIT
en- is the sort Of old nuisance that ought
to be labeled, like some of the luggage,
Not wanted on voyage.
"He always speaks very highly of Miss
Norman remarked Mrs. Renton.
"Why shouldn't he?"
Precisely. She's very charming, no
doubt But you should remember that she
is only girl, after all. %
"That fact has not escaped notice, Mrs.
Renton.'
Mrs. Renton looked complacently down
the undulating scene that her plump fig
ure furnished and lifted first one small
foot and then the other from under the
hem of her yellow skirt The number ap-
peared to be correct, for Mrs. Renton, hay
ing mentally audited them, sighed with
satisfaction.
"There is such thing" said the widow
confdentially, las common sense. -
''I know. Cheap eau de cologne and"--
tNo, no. Sense-s-e-n-s-e.
81 wonder where, Mrs. Renton?"
"It is not for me to tell you where" an
swered Mrs. BENTON modestly. "All that
I can say is that you don't find it with
young girls. AT the age of, say, 80 some
thing, now, you often find girl, or, per
haps I should say woman, admirably fit
ted to be companion to a sensible man."
''The popular prejudice" remarked
Greig, sis nevertheless. oddly enough, in
favor Of girls 90 something" He looked
up "What in the worlds the matter with
Van Straaten?"
The old German, with his pince nez
awry, pinching the end of his nose, was
coming excitedly up the gangway.
"Vere is the captain?" he screamed. 81
insist Pring me all at once the captain. I"
The captain of the Bengal hurried up.
In a few words of mahgled English Mr..
Van Straaten explained. A group of in
terested passengers stood around.
81 talk to Miss Norman for leedle time, 4"
cried Mr.. Van Straaten. II go then to nay
CABIN. find there my precious diamonds
-Fanlsneu
"They can't have gone far, sir, said tile
captain.
"They have no need to go at all. Eight
t'ousand bounds worth all. gone. I must
know now queekly who has stole them al
retty." sssN- ~ -
"Any suspfcisnan., asked the captain.
81 am not SO s1re.a T am not SO sure"
Anybody onISoaFd seen themr'
"von perspnsonly. Il Mr.. Greig, if you
please, come t8fe. show yen my precious
diamonds, amt it, two days after we Leave
CaIcutta?'' ~. f.YEsaa
"That is so,i'''. said Greig oheerfully.
"And very magnificent diamonds they
were. 1 remember telling you that I wish
ed one or two were mine then, SO that l
might give them to''-
He stopped.
81 suppose we shall have to search all
the cabins" said the captain of the Ben
gal. tits fearful nuisance, ladies and
gentlemen, but it can't be helped. May
we begin with yours, Mr.. GreigP'
81 really don't know" protested Greig
"why should have my cabin upset aud
turned ous just beosuse''-
II desire that Mr.. Greigs cabin should
be searched said Mr.. Van Straaten in-
siStently