The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-07-01

their worst.
1t was II o'clock. Long ago the fat
barber and the head waiter had taken
their guitars and cracked voices into
the texas.
The Louisiana planter gave several
vigorous and audible yawns: then he,
too went below to his torture.
Tho Martha b. Adams slowly and per-
sistenuy pulled along upstream with
her cargo OF sugar and molasses and
swelterlns humanity.
The hot day had reluctantly surren-
dercd to the night, and now the scorch-
ed banks OF the Ohio looked cool and sill
very in the moonlight.
'Its too hot to try to sleep" said the
Girl in the White Pique.
"Don't apologize for staying. It isn't
necessary. Forget your conscience for
an hour. This is the last night, you
know"
eyes. 1 know" said the girl. thought
fully.
The Man put his chair with Its back
against the guard rail. He could see
her better now.
The moon shown full in her face.
Nov and then her white face flashed
in the moonlight as she brushed back
a wlnd-blown curl
She laughed uneuslly. ut Isn't a trng-
edy. is III"
aH,ease don't OF course It isn't to
you. It's only an incident. Tomorrow
hight youli be telling your friends what
an uncomfortable trip you had. The
people on the boat were so uninterest-
ing. But there was one very nice little
man who brought you newspapers and
fruit and magazines at the landings"
you fatter yourself, I'm afraid"
laughed the Girl.
Eyes. 1 suppose I'm an idiot to even
suppose that you would remember me
the distance to the stageplank. But
you needn't laugh"
Away from somewhere in the, depths
Of the boat came the voices Of rousta-
bouts singing q wierd negro melody.
The pilot house with its lonely occupant
The great smokestacks showing dark
against the summer sky; the regular
chug-chug of the big wheels-all the ia
milIar things that had been so great
a part Il their lives for the past ten
days NON only reminded him again OF
the parting of their ways. He told him
self that he had known just how 1t
would be from the first.
Confound 1t all! Why didn't he bolt
and go by rail instead of staying to have
his feelings trampled upon by heartless
girls? He would have been far safer
in the smoking room of the limited.
DO you lsnow"-the low, musical
voice OF the Girl had reused him from
his reverie-"I think It is almost better
rot to make new friends II one has to
give them up at the very start"
The Mans heart began to thump, and
something seemed to be the matter with
his head.
Now. there is Mrs. Templeton'-the
Man ground histeeth-"she has been
lovely to me, and I'm sure we could al
ways be the best OF friends. She has
told me all about her mother and her
brother in the navy. Her mother must
be charming"
ITO say nothing Of the brother" the
Man mentally added.
And now she-I mean her husband
has been ordered to Venezuela. She got
the telegram to-day. and know I'll
never see her again"
Poor little girl. You have your
troubles, too, don't your
"Too?"
Yes-too. You know I'm so sorry to
part from that gentle barber. and the
engineer. and the pilot"
you needn't make fun Of me. am
fond of Mrs. Templeton."
'Pompadour. complexion and all.
suppose"
"But she doesn't paint"
paint? Who said she palnted?"
"If you're going to be horrld again to.
night I'm going. Last night you pre-
tendedsto think that 1 hlrted with the
boy who came on at Cairo. Just he
cause wasn't rude enough not to read
that crazy book he lent me-"
"Please-please don't CO." The Man
put his hand on the arm Of the chair
as II to detain her. "If you'll stay III
try to stifie my grief about the barber
Won't you let me tell you about-about
my brother. for instance?"
The Girl looked AWAY toward the
Kentucky hills. After n while she lean
ed over and clasped her hands on the
guard-rai. Then she looked UP into
his face and her voice was almost n
whisper. ''If you don't cnre-I'd rather
you would tell me about yourself"
''Temptress! IS that the way you tor
ture your victims?" he laughed rs
that what you said 70 the little boy
from Cairo" Then his voice was lower
''rvc been trying for q week not 10 tell
you about myself. I've tried to make
myself think that didn't carc-slncc
YOU didn't. That | could talk with
you day after day. and sit here Mt
night under the stars and hear your
voice: that would be able to smile
and say sood-by' when the time came.
and that the parting would be only the
shadow Of an hour, But can't forget
Can't you sec-can't you feel now i'm
possible II is?"
Tho Girl was not laughing now
"But-but-why must you forRct?"
She had risen. and the blue eyes were
looking down into his earnest troubled
face
"wnl you let mo remember And 10.
morrow VIII be-oaiy the bcEinning?'
He waa standing very close TO her
now. but the blue eyes had dropped
their cuZe Ife tOog h1ft hcr h1pdg in