Semi-weekly independent. (Plymouth, Marshall County, Ind.) 1895-1897, 1896-02-15
SERIOUS AFFAIR.

to everybody why other people quar-
rel. For our own little argument there
is always, of course. good. sound and
sufficient reason: for the disputes of
other folk. the excuse appears ever all
surdly inadequate. Why. for instance,
young Greig and Miss Elsie Norman,
both returning from India on the l;"n-
gal. should break off with amazing
suddenness their engagement just rs
the Bengal was nearing the Bay OF
Biscay it was not easy to see.
But they did.
And | suppose" said young Greig,
with Il face that looked less bronHad
than usual, that nothing l can say
will alter your decision! Your iElnd
is quite made up"
1T always is" declared Miss Nor
man.
She held tightly to the brass rail and
looked away ut 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
thatwe shall have to travel together,
we shall see as little of each other as
possible. We can easily say 'good-by'
ut Plymouth"
1T will not be cas- for me- said
Henry Greig. Il an not used To saying
good-by to anyone that THAT L
have"
You should De glad of n new expert
ence, Mr.. Greig. Its Il precious thing
nowadays"
You're not yourself this morning,
Elsie"
Il wish | were not.." she exclaimed
with Il sudden change of manner IF
i were some one else | 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, l say, isn't there some
means
Elsie Norman held ont her hand.
Greig pressed it and she turned and
went below. Mrs. RentOn sank into
her deck chair carefully. as stout Ia
dies do, and seemed gratified when the
utth 'udll Ohi! Ni'th'u NOhili"ihihois
and did not give way.
Mr.. Grcig, pray come here at once.
: Miss Norman mOnopOliZes your time to
such an extent that we o women see
nothing of you. Sit here ut once and
, tell me all about Yourself"
Its an embarrassing 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 Il 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"
Ills servant Hans is Il queer youth.
He looks after the diamond samples,
1 suppose"
Il haven't seen Hans, but Van Straa-
ten is the sort of old nuisance that
ought 10 DC liDcltu. like SOME OIL tic
luggage, Not wanted on voyage"
lie always speaks very highly of
Miss Norman remarked Mrs. Rem
ton. thoughtfully.
"Why shouldn't he?"
"Precisely. She's very charming. no
doubt. But you should remember that
she is only Il girl after ALL"
~ g--x -. II
Mrs. RentOn."
Mrs. RentOn looked cOmplacently
down the undulating scene In her
plump figure furnished and lifted first
one small foot and then the other from
under the hem of her skirt. The num-
Der appeared to be correct, for Mrs.
Renton. having mentally audited them,
sighed with satisfaction.
There is such n thing" said the
widow, confidentially, las common
sense"
Il know. Cheap eau-de-C Cologne
and"
mo. no.. Sense, Sense"
81 wonder where, Mrs. RentOn?"
ut is not for me to tell you where"
laHSWcIeu lis INcutoH HlOteStlN, iii
that | can say is that you don't find
1t with young girls. At the age of.
say, 80 something. now, you often find
a girl-Or. perhaps, | should say a
wOman-admirably fitted to be n com
paniOn to n sensible man."
"The popular prejudice remarked
Greig. lis. nevertheless, oddly enough,
IN favor of girls 20 something" He
looked up. What i'm the worlds the
matter with Van S%traaten?"
The old German, with his pince-nez
awry p%inching the end of his nose. was
coming eXcitedly up the gangway.
"Vere is the captainY" he screamed.
81 insist. FIRING me all ut once the
captain"
The captain of the Bengal hurried
up In Il few words of mangled En-
glish Mr.. Van Straaten explained. A
group of interested passengers stood
around.
81 talk to Miss Norman for leddle
time." cried Mr.. Van Straaten. IL sc