The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1896-11-05

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It is always an inscrutable mystery to
everybo why other people quarrel. For
our own little arguments there is always, of
course, good, sound, and sufficient reason !;
for the disputes of other folk the excuse ap-
pears ever absurdly inadequate. Why, for
instance young Greig and Miss Elsie Nor
man, both returning from India on the Ben
gal, should break off with amazing sudden
ness their engagement just as the Bengal
was nearing the Bay of Biscay it was not
easy to see.
But they did.
"And suppose" said young Greig, with
face that looked less bronzed than usual,
"that nothing can say will alter your de-
cision? Your mind is quite made up?"
ut always is," declared Miss Norman.
She held tightly to the brass rail aud
looked away at the spot in the distance
which represented Spain. It is best when
quarrelng with anyone you have cared for
! not to look at their eyes.
81 particularly wish that, for the time
that we shall have to travel together, we
shall see as little of each other as pos
sible We can easily say 'Good-by at
Plymouth"
at will not be easy for me-" said Henry
Greig. 81 am not used to saying good-by
to anyone that-that have -
"You should be glad of a new experience,
| Mr.. Greig. It's precious thing nowadays
You're not yourself this morning, Elsie .
81 wish l were not I" she exclaimed, with
sudden change of manner. If 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, say, isn't there some means y
Elsie Norman held out her hand. Greig
pressed it and she turned and went below.
| Mrs. Rent0n sank into her deck-chair care
| fully, as stout ladies do, and seemed graft
fed when the deck-chair only creaked COM
plainingly 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"
"It's an uninteresting subject" said Greig
pulling another deck-chair 10 the side o.
Mrs. Renton.
Tell me secret, then. Pm exceedingly
fond of secrets. When are you going tt
marry Miss Norman?"
"Never."
| Never? OF course, you're both young
but that seems a long time to wait, doesn'
it? Mr.. Van Straaten said .
"Van Straaten is an old fool of the kind
they make in Germany. / shall have to ask
Van S,raaten not to interfere with my
affairs"
"His servant Hans is a queer youth
He looks after the diamond samples, sup
pose?"
Il haven't seen Hans. But Van Straater
is the sort of old nuisance that ought to bt
labeled, like some of the luggage, No
wanted on voyage"
He always speaks very highly of Mis-
Norman" remarked Mrs. Renton thought
fully.
why shouldn't hep"
Precisely. She's very charming, NJ
doubt. But you should remember that sh'
is only girl, after ALL"
"That fact has not escaped notice, Mrs
Renton."
Mrs. Renton looked complacently dowl
the undnlating scene that her plump fgur
furnished, and lifted first one small foot ant
then the other from under the hem of he
yellow skirt. The number appeared to b.
correct, for Mrs. RentOn, having mentally
audited them, sighed with satisfaction.
"There is such thing" said the widow
confidentially, as common sense"
II know. Cheap eau-de-C Cologne, and
"NO, no. Sense-s-e-n-s-e."
81 wonder where. Mrs. Renton?S
1t is not for me to tell you where" an
swered Mrs. Renton, modestly "all that
can say is that you don't find it with youni
girls. At the age of, say, 3O-somethinp
now, you often find girl-or, perhaps,
should say woman-admirably fitted to b
q companion 10 sensible man."
1.-The popular prejudice" remarked Greie
els, nevertheless, oddly enough, in favor Q
girls of 20-something" He looked up
"What in the worlds the matter with Va
Straaten?"
The old German, with his pince nez awry
pinching the end of his nose, was COMM
excitedly up the gangway.
"Vere is the Captain :? he screamed.
insist. Pring me all at once the Captain.
The Captain Of the Bengal hurried VI
In few words Of mangled English Mr.. Va
Straaten explained. A group of intereste
passengers stood around.
u talk to Miss Norman for leedle time,
cried Mr.. Van Straaten. " ! 60 then to II.
CABIN; find there my precious diamonds
vanished"
They can't have gone far, sir" said th
Captain.
They have no need to 60 at all. Eigf
thousand bounds; worth all gone. l mu.
know now queekly who has stolen theI
alretty."
"Any suspicion?" asked the Captain.
O & am not SO sure; / am not so sure"
"Anybody on board seen them?"
), "Von person only. Mr.. Greig, If yo
s please, come here. l show you my precio,
q diamonds, amt it, two days after we lea,
Calcutta?"
That is so," said Greig, cheerfully. "Ar
very magnificent diamonds they were.
e remember telling you that wished one
two were mine then, SO that l might gi'
n them to"-
e He stopped.
= Il suppose we shall have to search Il
u cabins" said the Captain of the Benga
n Its fearful nuisance, ladies and gentl
D, men but it can't be helped. May we beg
;s with yours, Mr.. Greig?"
II really don't know" protested Grei
"why should have my cabin upset al
turned out just because o.
Il desire that Mr.. Greigs cabin should