Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1896-04-30
A SERIOUS r1ATTER.

lueTe Is always, OIL course, SOOQ, SOunQ
and sufficient reason; for the disputes
Of other folk, the excuse appears ever
absurdly inadequate. Why, for in
stance, young Greig and 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 l 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 rail
and looked away at the spot in the
distance which represented Spain. 1t
is best when quarreling with anyone
you have cared for not to look at their
eyes.
Il 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
'good-by' at Plymouth
at will not be easy for me-" said
Henry Greig. II am not used to say
ing good-by to anyone that THAT |
have"
you should be glad of a new ex-
perience, Mr.. Greig. It's a precious
thing nowadays"
You're not yourself this morning,
Elsie"
Il wish I were noty' she exclaimed
with a sudden change of manner eff
l were someone else l shouldn't be so
unhappy. Here is Mrs. Renton She
mustn't see my eyes. This is the last
time we shall speak to each other.
Good-by"
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 gratified when the
deck chair only creaked complainingly
and did not give way.
''Mr. Greig, pray come here at once.
Miss Norman monopolizes 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 uninteresting subject" said
Greig, pulling another deck chair to
the side of Mrs Renton.
Tell me a secret, then. I'm exceed
ingly fond of secrets. When are you
going to marry Miss Norman"
Never"
Never? OF course, you're both
young; but that seems a long time to
wait, doesn't it? Mr.. Van Straaten
said"
Van Straaten is an old fool of the
kind they make in Germany. [ shall
have to ask Van Straaten not to inter
fere with my affairs"
His servant Hans is a queer youth
He looks after the diamond samples,
suppose"
81 haven't seen Hans, but Van Straa-
ten 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
thoughtfully.
why shouldn't he?"
"Precisely. She's very charming, &c
doubt But you should remember that
she is only a girl after all"
THAT fact has not escaped notice
Mrs. Renton."
Mrs. Renton looked complacently
down the undulating scene that her
plump figure furnished and lifted first
! one small foot and then the other from
/ under the hem of her skirt. The num-
i Der appeared to be correct, for Mrs
+ Renton, having mentally audited them
+ sighed with satisfaction.
! There is such a thing" said the
! widow, confidentally, "as common
! sense"
81 know. Cheap eau-de-Colognt
/ and"
mo, no. Sense, S-e-n-s-e."
81 wonder where, Mrs. Renton?'
ct is not for me to tell you where,
. dllSW Cl GU WI 1eCllIOhs I1OuOoIlJs S"A
that I can say is that you don't find i
with young girls. At the age of, sa!
go something, now, you often find
girl-or, perhaps, 1 should say
woman-ad admirably fitted to be com
panion to a sensible man"
"The popular prejudice" remarked
Greig, lis, nevertheless, oddly enough
in favor of girls 20 something" H
looked up. What in the worlds tn
matter with Van Straaten?"
The old German, with his pince-ne
awry pinching the end of his nose, wa
coming excitedly up the gangway.
''Vere is the captain?" he screamed
81 insist Pring me all at once tn
captain
The captain of the Bengal hurrie
up. In a few words Of mangled Eng
lish Mr.. Van Straaten explained. /
group of interested passengers stoo
around.
81 talk to Miss Norman for leddl
time" cried Mr.. Van Straaten. 81 g
then in my CABIN, find there N
l precious diamonds-vanished."
'They can't have gone far, sir" sal
= the captain.
: They have no need to go at al
Eight tousand bounds worth all gon
t I must know now quickly who ha
I stolen them alretty."
Amy suspicion?" asked the captain
81 am lot so sure. l am not :
sure"