The Penn's Grove record., 1897-08-06
HELEN'S ORDERS.


vvH~VVHv~~vv
The day Jack Hartford sailed for
Europe he was too much excited over
the pleasant anticipation of his first
ocean voyage to remember very dis
tinctly the numerous parting words
showered on him by the members of
the assembly" to which he belonged,
and who waved the club colors until
the great ship had swung far out into
the stream.
From the midst of 'Bring me back
q bit of the Blarney stone" aud
"Don't forget to chip a piece of wood
from Yale's training quarters" and
sundry other reminders of what he
was to do for his friends, the soft
voice of Helen jackson still murmured
in his ear: 81 will be so disappointed
if you don't see the Prince of Wales.
1t would hardly seem right for the
sembly' to go abroad and not see the
royal good fellow for whom the club
was named"
set is all very well to tell n fellow
to see the Prince of Wales, but as l do
not expect to be presented at court,
and may find my short visit even more
expensive than l have planned, 1
can't exactly see how am l going to
hobnob with royalty even to please
Helen" thought Jack as he went to
the hold to see if his bicycle was all
right.
Jack Hartford had been left an or
phan at -, with the prospect of a fair
inheritance when he came Of age.
His little patrimony had but the week
before been handed over TO his keep
ing, and the first use tt which he had
put the surplus interest was to pur-
chase a steamship ticket, the dream of
his life having always been to see the
countries of the old world.
OF business in a practical sense
Jack knew nothing; he had had the
regulation school and college training;
he was popular in society, which fact
was attested by his continued presi-
deney of the prince of Wales As
sembly," a village organization de-
vised solely for amusement, and to
which all the young people OF New
burg belonged
When the gong for luncheon sound
ed Jack discovered that even the
novelty Of a first voyage had not the
power to destroy a very vigorous APP
petite.
Seated next to him was a bluff, but
good natured Englishman, who or
dered the most surprising dishes of
fowl and cabbage, much to the secret
amusement of Jack aud the evident
disgust OF a lady opposite, whose pale
face warned her companions that her
place would be vacant much OF the
voyage.
By night the ship was pitching and
tossing like a nutshell in a millrace.
A cyclone that had been threatening
to strike the coast had fulfilled the
promise of the weather bureau, and
dining saloon, music room and deck
were deserted.
Jack enjoyed the excitement, and
though plying the sufferings of those
less fortunate in the matter of health,
could not elp being amused. Steady
ing himself as best he could. he made
his why about 8 O'Clock to the smok-
ing room, trusting and hoping that his
cabbage" friend was as good q sailor
as he looked to be.
True to his own estimate of himself,
the Englishman was comfortably en-.
sconced in one of the great leather
chairs, placidly enjoying a pipe.
"How now, my young friend?' he
exclaimed, in what Jack inwardly
dubbed "his fat voice" Don't be.
gin to feel a little squify, eh?"
81 feel like a top. and scarcely need
TO remark that you, too, are undis.
turbed by the storm. 1t makes me
think of a football game" gasped
Jack.
'Better sit down before You get 3
broken arm" came the bluff invita-.
ton.
"You spoke of football. That's nc
kind of a game" was the abrupt in.
PRODUCTION to the conversation begun
as oon as Jack was seated and the
steward had done his duty in the
matter of another bottle. "Cricket is
the only game for men TO play"
Now, this was too much for Jack,
with his American love for all things
American, and the discussion on col
lege sports and athletics waxed hot
and furious until the dinner gone
brought it to a close.
But the Englishman, much to Jack.
surprise, instead Of resenting til,
emphatic method of speech employed
by tho young ~collegian, was apparent
ly drawn more closely to him, for i
there is n thing dear to a Briton'.
heart it is sport, aud Jacks all-round
and thorough knowledge had don,
more to win for him a place in the
good graces of his fellow-traveler than
all the letters of Introduction that he
could have carried in his grip.
That night the machinery broke
down aud for twelve days they tossed
in the trough Of the sea, uncertain as
to the outcome.
Twelve days at sea under such cir.
cumstances brings two people into
closer relations than twelve years or
land. Therefore it was but natural
that by the time tho battered grey.
hound was finally locked and hen
cargo of pale, but thankful, humanity
discharged. Jack aud the Englishman
had become great friends, the latter
insisting on showing him about Lon
don and determined npen sharing his
chambers in a quaint little street run
ming off Piecadilly.a
During those long days Jack had
told of his desire to see the prince.
and had also revealed TO his bluff but
keen-witted companion why be was 50