The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-09-24
A PRISMATIC COURTSHIP.

Woman's Home Companion.
The Fuerst Bismarck was just leaving
the dock at Hoboken. Up and down the
gansplank surged a moving throng-
stewards laden with hand baggage,
trucks, piled with steamer trunks girls
in sea-going costume with their arms fill
ed with roses and faces bright with antic-
ipation, older women with sober counten-
ances speaking seriously to grown sons
and daughters who were to be left be-
hind, business men looking important,
and college graduates still care-free and
Intoxicated with their newly found lib
erty 1t was a motley crowd, pushing,
chatting, laughing in the bright June
sunshine.
The gong sounded for the last time, the
stewards rushed about shouting, 'Au
eshore! and the final messages arose in
chorus. Slowly the great ship swung
around and the cable loosened The faces
on the dock We're gradually lost In
confused sense of color.
I'VE are really off, auntie," said girls
voice, gayly. Now, don't cry, for you
know you are delighted to go. Uncle Tom
will be all right without you. Indeed, I've
no doubt he will enjoy himself hugely"
She laughed mischievously, and put her
arm around her portly companion, who
shifted audibly behind her handkerchief.
John Towneri who was standing by,
glanced at the pair as they disappeared
in the cabin.
pretty GIRL" he murmured, as he chose
cigarette. IF she were only Priscilla,
now, what a heavenly time we would
have - He sighed pensively. However,
there's no use wasting wishes over that
AMI 1 suppose I'd better be getting my
seat at the table,
AS he took his place in line in the
dining saloon the same pretty girl stood
near him. She stood so near In fact
that as he gave the steward his card her
eye fell upon 1t as 1t lay on the table.
Alook Of bewilderment and intense en-
barn assment crossed her face; she flushed
painfully and glanced involuntarily at
him In evident distress. Towner stared
back at her in astonishment In an in
slant she recovered her composure, drew
herself up haughtlly and turned away
What in the name of common sense
was the matter with her? he muttered
as he sought his stateroom. st never
laid eyes on her before, and why should
she be. so aWfully upset on seeing me, or
rather, on seeing my name, passes me-
lie sat down on the edge of his berth to
think 1t over. He was, prehaps, unused
to the ways of the world; still, he had
had four years at college, and fattered
himself that he knew something of So
c1ety. But this experience was a new one
to him. He felt strangely fattered by the
unknown's mysterious knowledge of his
name.
"She will probably sit near me-" he
thought, land I will find out what the
I trouble Is"
1t was with undue haste that he sought
the table at the first sound of the gong,
but his eye searched in vain the faces of
those near him. Evidently she had given
the steward particular instruction to put
her seat as. far as possible from the one
labeled mfr. John Towrer, Biloxi Missis=
sippi,'' for he finally discovered her at the
extreme limit of the room He watched
her as well as he could, but he caught
only one furtive glance and then her eyes
remained glued to the table during the
meal.
The next day the ship rolled badly, and
neither the unknown fair" nor her aunt
appeared. Towner wrote letters and
smoked, but the day seemed interminable.
The third morning was bright and
sunny, and the decks were crowded.
Where shall put your chair?" said
despairing voice at Towner's elbow
''The steward has disappeared, and there
isn't an empty inch of room"
ALLOW mel" he exclaimed, inwardly re-
joicing, as he seized the steamer chair,
There's nice shclt red place just around
the corner" and he led the way.
"Thank you so much,' said the aunt,
signing, as she dropped heavily into the
comfortable seat as he settled it. 81 still
feel the effects Of yesterdays illness.
Priscilla, dear, can't you find a place,
too?"
The girl flushed again and turned alb
| ruptly away.
Thank you, auntie, but I am going for
| book" she called back over her Shout
| der.
Towner tucked the rug snugly around