The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1896-06-03


Guy Chalmers, was lost to her.
Two years before she had engaged
herself to the young artist, but they
had quarreled, aud separated in anger,
as lovers will.
She was too proud to ask his for
giveness, and he was too stubborn to
ask hers.
Gradually they had drifted apart,
and finally they lost oil sight of each
other.
Elsie sighed as these thoughts of
the past surged through her mind,
and she sighed-a bitter, quivering
sigh.
Papa Gale was rich pork mer-
chant, and, in his rough way, was kind
to her
He paid her literally for the service
she rendered in polishing up the some-
what neglected educations of his two
daughters, but they we're selfish and
capricious, and her lot was not, by any
means, a happy one.
The steamships deck now rang with
joyous laughter and merry jest, as the
passengers prepared the messages that
they confidently hoped would be waited
shoreward.
All sorts of letters were written,
read over laughingly, placed in their
frail receptacles, and cast into the sea.
Even the sailors became interested
in the experiment, and sent out mes
sages to waiting friends, or anxious
sweethearts in dear America.
"Have you written your message
yet, Miss Annabel?" asked Agnes
Gale, halting for a moment beside her
maid. as she leaned over the rail and
watched the tightly-corked bottles. as
they bobbed up and down.
"My messenger" cried Elsie, with
guilty start, for she had just been
thinking of Guy Chalmers "Ah-eh
really have no one to write tol"
'No one?" persisted Agnes.
"Nol" was the low answer, and FL
sizes eyes dropped.
"That's too bad |" said Agnes, COM
miseratingly. Everybody is send
ing out a message. If were you I'd
just write something and send it off at
random. You could sign your name
and address, and perhaps some one
would find it who'd be anxious to
know who you arc and would write.
That would be romantic!"
"Pve no taste for romance!" an
swered Elsie, but she nevertheless pro-
cured bottle, and after moments
thought, wrote on piece of paper.
"IN MID OCEAN ON STEAMER NANTIc,
August 12-An accident which hap
pened to our propeller has delayed
our voyage, and we are nine days out
from Liverpool. The captain says
we are just half way between that port
and New York. Everybody is well.
"ELsIE ANNABEL,
Scare of John Gale, Esq,
"Walnut Hills, Cincinnati, Ohio"
She placed this simple message in
bottle, corked and sealed it. and tossed
it overheard.
The bottle was particularly long
necked, bright green in color, and her
inexperienced hand had smeared the
whole top with red ink.
She stood watching it long time,
but finally it disappeared, and, with
weary sigh, she turned and went
below.
The Mantle ultimately reached New
York. and Mr.. John Gale hurried
back to Cincinnati. to attend to his
pork.
Rob Darlington and his cousin, Ar
thur Stevens, bade the Misses Gale fare.
we'll, and secretly promised to corre-
spond with them.
The Gales had been home nearly
month, when one morning hired
hack came slowly up the long carriage
road, which wound through the rich
pork-packer's extensive grounds, and,
when it finally reached the house, the
door opened and a young man leaped
lightly to the ground.
He inquired of the servant who an
swered his ring for Miss Elsie Anna
bel, and the man showed him into the
back parlor.
Elsie was considerably surprised
when told that a gentleman wished to
see her below. but she went down, and
timidly approached the back parlor.
She stopped for a moment on the
threshold, aud the gentleman, who
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