The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-03-20


name was Fanny 0rtlep. She was alone in
the world, Ike himself, but she had no house
of her own to live in, only an honest name
and deft little fingers that could earn al
she needed. She was the very pink Of O
| fineneedlewornan, and dainty and charming
besides Bornhold was amazed at her
beauty. She wore "a simple gown, but il
was stylish and becoming, and her little
workroom was a DO wer of plantsand bloom
ing shrubs.
Fanny 0rtiep. 1t was a well-sounding
name. The big, gruff seaman lowered his
voice to tender treble when he told her
| what he wanted her to do with his fine ndia
silk handkerchiefs.
1 ''I'll come for them day after tomorrow.
| Can you i.aye them done in that time? In
| the evening ID ust set out to sea again.
| She shrugged her little round shoulders.
| ''It's trifling work-hc might have them
| that very night at 7 if he cared to come
back for them so sooni Such beautiful sikh
| 1t must be a lovely countryl What had he
been doing there!''
She prattled on and On, and when she dis
missed him the quiet seaman was hopeless
| ly in love. Like an impatient schOolboy he
hurried back to his ship and thence TO his
house. What he could find OF ost rich pIUmes
and carved ivory fans, of silk kerchiefs, red
as the pl,lmage OF the lanlingO, with rich
heavy fringe. deiiaately painted cups and
plates, uchly col0red sewing silk-all these
he packed into a dainty rattan basket. at
Z O'Clock he stood at the door OF his charm
er. He was aware that his heart knocked
louder almost against his ribs than his
tiinid finger.
What peariy teeth she had, he thought as
ne watched her bending with pleased smiles
over his rare and costly gifts. She was so
fresh and young and whOlesomel A little
too brusque and forward, perhaps, for a
young girl, but that was virtue he rather
liked in her, for he was quiet and undemon-
strative.
When he left her that evening at she
was his affianced wife. Four weeks later.
when he returned from trip to Scotland,
the wedding was celebrated on board the
brig. All the ships N the harbor haisted
their flags, and even the houses along
the wharf were merrily decked in bunting
and banners
For two years after he had seen his lit
tie wife only al short intervals. His heart
beat like sledgehammer when he saw
her standing on the wharf awaiting the
landing, and he blushed and was as timid
as of yore when he took her into his
brawny arms for greeting.
On this particular day OF his return, she
had not come down TO the wharf. He
fastened home, and in the hall was re
ceived by the servant maid, pretty
Hamburg Iassie, in white cap and apron
In the door stood Fanny. He lifted
her from the floor like a child and almost
smOthered her in his embrace. By the
wiudow-but this he saw long afteT-stOOd
Arthur Gastein, his face turned toward the
street
In his joy BOrnbold threw bis arms
around him and greeted him heartily.
Not even the presence of a king could
have stopped him from kissing and EN-
bracing again and again the little wife,
who was his very existence
81 am bound for Lcith, in Scotland, with
IN few days, ind this time am going 70
take my pretty wife with me. And you,
Arthur. you can come too, il you like.
Well make a real summer trip Of it.
While the boat unIoads wen go Up in the
highlands for few daysi"
Fanny was delighted with the PROPOSE
ton; young Gastein murmuTed lame
excuse But Bornbold was in earnest, and
nothing could have made him change his
mind. Sc Gastein agreed, and left the two
alone.
When the young man was gone Born
holds rest raint vanished completely. Again
be snatched the woman he loved SO pas
sionately to his breast, and as she nestled
in his arms, her lips apart, her blue eyes
fr,d e wit, 81 rrir
expression, he thought himself the hap
piest man in the world.
He knew that look so well At times it
startled him, for it was accompanied by
listIessness and distraction that was for
eign to her vivacious nature Der heart
seemed unconscious Of the yearning her
eyes betrayed.
Next day he started for the office of his
shipper. on the wayhe thought of his treas
ure at home, and laughed aloud with over
flowing happiness.
How jolly we are,'' said a man behind
him.
BornhoId turned and recognized the har-
borInaster. The latter had been his guard
ian before he came of age, and was called
uncle by the Bornh0lds, mother and SON
why shouldn't / be?H cried Bornhold
You don't know how happy 1 am. This
time 1 am not going to the Indies, but to
Scotland, instead. with my little wife,
Thank Godr' The old man had bIurted
out the words before he knew. Then he
tried to explain away the meaning by say
ing that he was glad that the young couple
were going to belong to each other alone
for while.
mot quite, alone" said Bornhold. II
have asked Gastein to come with US"
''But he refused?''
mo, he accepted. Why should he re-
fuse?''
Then throw him overheard, il you can. |
Leave him at home; go alone with your
wife,
Bornhold was silent. Hebowed and went |
about his business
His old uncle had evidently said more |
than he intended. PornhOld's heart stood |
still. The big, strong fellow trembled |
and was forced to clutch the door post |
for support. He recovered himself after |
awhile and entered the shippers office.
The latter, lifelong friend, looked at /
him, fixedly.
''BornhoId, old fellow, what's wrong?"
A terrible suspicion came into his heart.
What meant that tone OF compassion in his
old friends voice? Had the people begun
TO talk? OF what?
He forced himself to smile. "Just a