New-York tribune., 1896-11-15
II

Cecil Hartley and Grace Thornton had known
each other for one week only. Yet it was AL
ready difficult for Cecil to recall to memory the
world as it had appeared to MN pelore tne n,o iloua
when his eyes first encountered the face which
more than realized his every ideal OF womahy
beauty. r
Grace Thornton was not what Is usually
termed striking" girl. You might easily see
her a dozen times before you realized the charm
Of the broad low brow from which the ripping
chestnut hair was drawn lightly back without
euspicion of curl or fringe; the thoughtful
eyes so full Of expression that you scarceiy
noticed their color; the finely moulded cneek
and chin and the sensitive. delicate mouth me s
whole face was pure and true as the llght OF
day. yet reposeful as the shades OF evening a
certain maideny dignity characterized all her
actions and lent grace to all her movements nus
OF course, to lose ones heart at sight Is un-
wise; to lose it to stranger OF whose antece-
dents you know nothing is the height OF folly.
But Cecil Hartley. "level-headed young Eng H:
had a Celtic strain in his blood which sometimes
PLAYED him strange tricks. BY the third DAY
out from Southampton ne had settieo IL nn MrnlIy
An his own mind that he would win Grace Thorn
ron for his wife or he would die bachelor.
And when Cecil Hartley set out to do a thing he
usually accomplished II.
Genoa, But in eight days courage and perse-
yerance may accomplish much. and Cecils
'luck' notorious. ,
steward now made him Miss Thorntons next
neighbor at table. On her other hand sat re-
fined, ntelligent-looking lady Of fifty whom : she
addressed as Aunt Anne"-entered on the snip
list of passengers Mrs Armytage.
On the strength OF this table ACQUAINTANCE
Cecil gradually and cautiously assumed the rlght
10 minister in various little ways to the comfort
OF the two ladies. who had no attendant with
them He carried their chairs assiduously from
side to side Of the deck as exigencies OF sun ana
wind demanded; he annexed BOOKS ana re- re-
Views and illustrated papers In all directions Tor
their benefit he bribed the deck-steward into
serving stray cups Of excellent tea. made from
his own private supply, at all sorts or unhal-
lowed hours-and when 1t grew hotter he even
succeeded none knew how, In getting the Ice
room unlocked between meals-that last tri-
umph over the conscience OF good chief stew
ard
Yet tonight. as he stood In the moonlight
beside the lady Of his dreams. he asked him
self despondingly what after ALL he had ac-
complished? True. all his cvities had been ac-
cepted with an easy and graceful courtesy
which left him room for complaint. In
rough weather he had even been permitted
sometimes to give the support OF his arm dur.
ing a perilous transit But this was the extreme
limit reached.
10th ladies were perfectly friendly and pleas.
nnt In their bearing to all around them; but by
a amount Of self-deception could he hattei
& f1nself that he had made the least approach
~ real and lasting intimacy quiet front OF
otoady. silent reserve resisted his most patient
The line of demarcation was a simple one
q all topics Of general interest-art, literature
frnyel. even politics and reigion-both ladies
srnnl6 converse freely. The most distant ap
Srcach to personal matters sealed their lips In
xontly, Where they resided. whittier they were
Ind, what brought them to Italy at season
when the English In body had deserted 1t
we're subjects which no craftily calculated com
municativeness on the part Of their felow-pas
oenger ever tempted them for moment to ap
proach.
l6oa e. 70 their social position. Apparently the,
Vero not wealthy. No maid accompanied them
S Zbeiy drass. even 70 an unsophiseaeneed male