The River Falls times. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1894-1933, 1897-03-09
CHAPTER IV.-CoNT1NUED).

woman: but there were many of my
countrymen in Paris, and l picked up
from them the trick of the tongue
which astonished you SO much yester-
day."
mo, no." said Dick, that's not at all
what it 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 att
"Ohr' he said, there's nothing in my
life to make story of. Why, | went 10
sea when l was 12"
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 f1attered at
her appearance of interest. So, OF
course, he became foolish and 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 I began" she re-
piled. eff you steal my forms of speech
shall take yours and answer, as you
did just now, that it is not a matter ot
personal interest at all, but mere stony
of adventure, that's in question"
I'm certain I did not say that" he
answered. 81 mean, beg your pardon,
but | couldn't have said anything so
rude"
80 rude as what have just said to
you?" she asked, with a mischevious
pTetense of innocence.
Ohr' he groaned, I'm no good with
words L can't handle them!' And he
made a sudden gesture as if to grasp a
more downright kind of weapon.
The action and the flush which &C
companied it 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 than ever when the door
opened at this moment and the colonel
came IN.
81 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
have 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-
piled to her brother-in-law's inquiry:
land 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,
Il 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.
THAT was kindly done,' he murmured
as they went.
Follow it up, them she answered.
And they took 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, and showed presence of mind
against merely male antagonist.
WELL to tell the TRUTH he replied,
coolly, ION second thoughts I'm not en-
titled to criticise the French or Span
iards, for I have 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
Il was a Copenhagen and Algiers, >"
said Dick; but that's ALL
ovo1oipoo6 10 ,,oiIIa anvio11c fo
defeat her brother-in-laws inquisitive-
ness, tell us about Copenhagen; that
is much better than hearing of our
own misfortunes."
And it really is rather interesting in
ITSELF he replied. "At any rate that
day produced upon me a more vivid i'm
preston than any that I ever spent-at
sea- he added, rather disjointedly.
Camilla enjoyed an inward smile
please go on" she begged.
Il was boy of Is then" he said; "a
MILDLY on the 74-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 I fell to shivering, though it was
not particularly cold. We all laughed
and joked more than usual, we middies
but 1 remember that our teeth were
chattering most of the time. Some of
the men seemed to take it all quite ma
turally, but some were a bit solemn,
and some rather excited, like US The
senior officers were very cool md