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

II was beautiful day in midsum-
her, aud the half.a-hundred.o odd cabin
passengers on the good steamship
Mantle we're listlessly lounging about
he deck.
4 They we're already nine days out
rom Liverpool, and owing to an un-
ortunate accident, which had occurred
arly on the voyage, only half the
distance to their port of destination
ad been accomplished.
The accident had bean attended with
10 danger to the precious human
freight, but the monotony OF the voy-
Ige was becoming unbearable, and the
passengers were beginning to grum-
Ele.
Every artifice had been resorted to
o relieve the tedium of the slowly
hoving days, and now they were liter
klly at their Wits end.
Charades, mock trials, skettles and
mateur theatricals, had in turn been
Escorted to, but now, with their faces
urned longingly toward home, they
ounged about the deck, and bemoaned
Aheir sad fate.
A particularly discontented group
eaned against the port-rail, amid
Bhip, composed of two young ladies,
howily dressed, two young men who
ooked rather jaunty in their semi
bailor dress, a stout, red-faced, coarse
boxing man, and an equally stout,
led faced and coarse-looking woman.
The two latter we're called "papa"
Ind "mamma"by the simpering young
aides, and deferentially addr essed as
Mr.. and Mrs. Gale by the young men
n semi-sailor dress.
They we're venting their indignation
gainst the steamship, and the COM
bination of untoward circumstances
hat had delayed their voyage.
Standing little apart from the
group was slim, pale faced girl, in a
iress of quiet gray. unreieved save
BIT the throat, where a bit of cherry
eoloreA ribbon was gathered into a
brim bow.
This was Elsie Annabel, and she
Vas maid aud companion to the
Kisses Gale, who we're named re-
|pectively Agnes and Eunice.
She took no part in the conversa-
lion, but there was q sad and wistful
look in the gray eyes, as she turned
her face toward the western horizon.
"It's outrageous cried Papa
Gale.
Shameful |" echoed his wife.
''Its killing mel" sighed Miss
Eunice.
s'I am really faint with ennui! !"
Bhirruped Miss Agnes.
'It's deucedly unfortunate!" cho-
FUSED the young men.
"If something would only happen !"
continued Agnes.
81 tell you what" cried the elder
bf the young men. addressing Miss
Eunice. in particular.
"well?" interrogated that young
lady, with listless attempt at inter-
pst
''Let's write letters to our friends,
bnclose them in bottles, and throw
Shem overheard. They're no doubt
considerably worried over our long
absence, and as it's impossible to tap
Ehe cable and telegraph them q mes
Iage, we'll make old oceans waves our
letter carrier"
"Pshaw, Rob !" retorted Miss Eu-
nice, struggling her Shoulders. "How
you arel As though a
letter put into a bottle and thrown
into the sea would ever reach any
where!"
'1've read somewhere" said Rob
Darlington. "that shipwrecked sail
prs often send messages to their
riends that way. We're about as bad
ls shipwreckcd, why can't we?"
'Let's ask the captain !'said Eunice /;
Ind she walked toward that officer,
Who was moodily pacing up aud down
khe bridge.
The others followed.
Yves. Miss" answered the captain,
~ bn Eunice had asked him about the
N }sibility of the bottles being washed
lkors. 'I've no doubt they'll each
Z nd somewhere. The steward will
rnish you with bottles il you desire
q make the experiment.
There was something novel in the
idea, and every empty bottle on ship
- l. \ \