The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-09-06
..uh ana now am nappy. SAID MRS.

"Uh. ana now am happy! sald Mrs.
White
He kissed her a great many times-she
,.1 an excellent method of kissing-and
~, arranged to get married in three
.,,.-1ths' time in London and spend the
toneyn.oon a6 his shooting place in Scot
land.
But we won't let the cat out of the bag
vet, DEAR" said Gilchrist, land then we
can have our fun in Las Palmas without
being pointed out and giving free comic
entertainment to all the other people"
mo, darling" said Mrs. White; "we'n
keep the engagement as our own dear,
sweet secret till we get back to England"
But-froIn what source no one seemed
exactly to know-the little episode was
being passed about the ship in strictly con-
ldential whispers during the very next
morning, and by midday everybody was
chuckling over it and ostentatiously avoid
ing stares, and at dinner Captain Image
stood champagne all down the tables, and
the health OF the pair Of them was drunk
with enthusiasm and music. Gilchrist
smiled as he returned thanks and tried not
to feel savage, and the hard up men who
were going down to serve on the west
coast of Africa got drunk that night or
mournfully sentimental, according to their
natures. But they, one and all, during
tho course of the evening came and hit
GilchPist on the back several times and
told him what lucky chap he was.
The steamship M 'poso was coming into
Las Palmas harbor, and Mrs. White was
examining with a glass the semidetached
island which carries the lighthouse
They've taken it down." said she.
Gilchrist asked, "What?''
THAT staring white notice on the hill
side there-'G Grand Canary Engineering
Company it used to be-"
"Oh, you've been here before? I didn't
know. You never told me-"
"Ye-es at the Metropole. shall stay
at the Hotel Catalina now"
"That was before you were left wild
owp"
"Oh, Of course my husband was there
Do run down, there's dear boy, and
make them bring up my boxes. tipped
that wretched' steward, and he hasn't done
it yet"
Gilchrist went away below, and as he
had his own packing to finish he did not
see an English gentleman come off in the
doctors boat, greet Mrs. White very warm
ly, exchange q few words with her and
then return hurriedly to shore consumed
with abundar% laughter. But he was up
in time to see the letters brought into the
saloon by the saore agent and to watch
Mrs White take up telegram most legi-
bly, addressed to Whitehead"
"Ah," said Mrs. White, with sigh Of
relief, 'then it is all right.
Gjlchrist experienced peculiar little
thrill. The name of Whitehead carried re-
cent memories for him. 1t would have
done the same for every one who had been
lately in England. So he inquired,
whats all right"
-"My news" said Mrs. White cheerfully.
"Mayn't share itP"
"Sure you want to, dear?"
"Of course said Gilchrist, and hoped
that he was speaking in his natural voice.
cts all right DEAR" said his fancee.
''I can marry you. I wasn't quite sure
before, because law is SO risky, although
this was nearly a certain thing. But
they've wired me to say that we We got the
decree nisi. So as soon as the times run
OUT
"Whatp' cried Gilchrist. you're the
| Mrs. Whitehead the papers have been
crammed withp o Lordr' And his mind
galloped through a ream of undressing
details.
"Im the lady," said she.
"But knew nothing Of this"
"You never asked me-"
"Well, our little farce can't go on"
(Which, prayf"
"Well, if you want it in palmer words
my engagement to you"
ttOh, that's your small game, is it?"
said she, smiling sweetly. ''Then I had
better sec Captain Image and two or three
of the other gentlemen here at once and
get their evidence put down in writing"
Gilchrist whistled.
You'll look after my things, won't
| you, till come backP There's the purser.
| I'll 20 and catch him before he's off
ashore"
"Wait minute, said Gilchrist. "What
are you after'"
"Isn't 1t obviousp Am going to have
my feelings tossed about in this way?"
| "That means breach Of promise But
you won't get 1t, you know"
~ shall have very good try, +" said
madam dryly. 'You will look after those
things, won't you, till go and see the
purser9"
mo; wait another minute, please
Laws expensive, and should think you
have had enough airing in the papers late
| ly."
ION the contrary, SO much that little
| more will make no difference In fact, it
| will turn the laugh my side But as for
you, my dear boy, your different 1t will
come as refreshing novelty"
GAS I say, laws uncertain, and it's ten
to one you'd lose your case. But, look
here, I've got a couple of hundred pounds
in notes. Will you take that and call it
quits?'
my excellent sir, the feelings are 60
ing to cost you a cool thousand if you pay
for them now"
"Don't you wish you may get it2"
81 don't very much mind, because
shall ask for ten thousand if we fight, and
I should very much prefer to finger ten. Z
Gilchrist didn't swear, first, because it
Is rude to Swear before a lady, and, sec
ondly. because he didn't know words
enough to do justice to the occasion. In
stead he went into the saloon and wrote
out check, for which he received very
satisfactory document in return. After
how