The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1897-03-18
~ re hfiSSION or
RAND. HGNHLLy & CO..
CHAPTER Iv.-CoNrrNuEp).

. ioNS hCNCh SohSo w
for I am in habit and feeling a French
woman; but there were many Of my
countrymen in Paris, and I picked up
from them the trick OF the tongue
which astonished o so much yester-
day"
mo. no." said Dick. that's not at all
what 1t was: it was your wit and pres
ence of mind
"That took you by surprise. you
mean?" she said. quickly. And then.
after laughing at his confusion, But
now it's your turn to give me some
thing to wonder at"
"Oh!" he said, there's nothing in my
life to make a story Of. Why, 1 went TO
sea when 1 was r."
But that's a romance in ITSELF" she
said.
Dick blushed, perhaps from embar-
rassment, perhaps also from pleasure,
for he was anxious to be less of a
stranger to her, and was flattered at
her appearance of interest. So, of
course, he became foolish n procras-
tinated.
I'm sure there's nothing you'd care
TO hear" he said, hoping for the en-
couragement of a contradiction.
Why. that's how l began" she re-
piled. IF you steal my forms of speech
j shall take yours and answer, as you
did just now, that 1t is not a matter of
personal interest at all, but a mere story
of adventure, that's in question"
I'm certain I did not say that" he
answered. II mean, l beg your pardon,
but / couldn't ave said anything so
rude"
$50 rude as what I have just said to
your" she asked, with a mischevious
pretense Of innocence.
oh" he groaned. I'm no good with
words. / can't handle them!" And he
made a sudden gesture as if to grasp a
more downright kind of weapon.
The action n the flush which ac-
companied 1t became him quite well,
and she glanced up at him with secret
approval. He had, in fact, gained, not
lost, ground: but in his confusion he
did not suspect the fact, and was more
troubled h ever when the door
opened at this moment and the colonel
came in.
II hope" he said. bowling, that did
not interrupt"
Camilla was grave again in an in
slant; and Dick saw, with quick graft
tude, that however much she might
ave been playing with him before, she
had no intention of putting him to
shame before a third person.
capt. Estcourt has been telling me
something Of his life at sea-" she re-
pied to her brother-in-law's inquiry:
and was about to give me his opinion
Of the relative merits of the English,
French and Spanish sailors. You see
there Is nothing that you may not
hear
I'm that case" answered the colonel,
"I shall have the pleasure of joining in
the conversation. Dinner is ready, and
we will, If you please, Capt. Estcourt,
hear your observations at the table"
Madame de Montaut took Dicks arm
and they passed into the dining-room.
"Tha was kindly done" he murmured
as they went.
Follow it up. them she answered.
And they o their seats.
And what, in effect. is your opinion
asked the colonel, upon this question:"
He had seen, but not heard, their bit
Of byplay, and was in hopes of catching
his guest tripping.
But Dick was now inspired to do his
best. n showed presence of mind
against a merely male antagonist.
Well. to tell the truth" he replied.
coolly. "on second thoughts I'm not en-
titled to c~riticise the French or Span
iards, for l IA never met either of
them in a general engagement
You have had the misfortune, then,
to miss the greater number Of such
events?" said the colonel
II was at Copenhagen and AIgiers,"
said Dick; but that's ALL"
OH" exclaimed Camilla, anxious to
defeat her brother-in-law's inquisitive-
ness. tell us about Copenhagen: that
Is much better than hearing of our
own miefortunes."
And II really is rather interesting in
itself. lie replied. AT any rate that
day produced upon me a more vivid i'm
sea-" he added, rather ~disjointedly.
Camilla enjoyed an inward smile.
please go on" she begged.
II was a boy Of Is then" he said; "a
MILDLY on the H-gun ship Edgar. / lay
awake a good time the night before,
thinking about home and that kind OF
thing. When we turned out at day
break | fell to shivering, though it was
not particularly cold. We all laughed
and joked more than usual, we middies.
but l remember that our teeth were
chattering most of the time. Some Of
the men seemed to take 1t all quite ma
turally, but some were a bit solemn,
and some rather excited, like us. The
sonior officeiC were very cool, and