The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-09-21
Cruise of the SandmIIe Belle,

ing heart down into his boots.
"DianaP' he protested, after pause.
''Well?" replied the beauty, impa-
tiently
'Tp sorry for what I said last night
corZrning your friend" stammered
Billy.
81 am pleased TO hear you say So"
replied Diana. Il consider your attack
upon Signor Chigi most insulting TO him
and cruel TO myself"
Let me inform you" continued Diana,
that Signor Chigi is an italian noble
man Of very old and distinguished fam
lily, who has been obliged by misfort-
une 10 take the place of conductor to
the Red Pomeranian Band. So I will
not hear him slandered in my presence"
Diana" he said slowly, do you me an
to say that you care for that fellow?"
How dare you ask such a question:"
returned Miss Strangeways, her cheek
blazing 10 poppy hue by what
right
only this" said Billy, replying to her
sudden fash of anger by turning white
about the mouth-"only this-I have been
going to tell you for a long time-I love
you"
The book that Miss Diana Strangeways
was clasping in her small, white-gloved
hand fell with a crash to the ground
The fats in the fire now" he muir
INJURED, under his breath. Now you I'M
derstand.'' he added aloud, why said
what I did last night. I hate you sit
ting down on the pier there. in a row
with those old maids, who make such a
fuss over that blessed fiddler! I hate TO
see him rolling his eyes at you all the
time"
Diana was gazing steadily out at the
blue horizon.
at rron7isaS RI
the pier at o'clock she said, calmly
Good afternoon
Billy recovered his speech.
DIANA" said he. appealingly, won't
you come for a walk with me tonight?"
81 can't" she replied
"Why not?'
II have promised to accompany Mrs.
Jones and her friends for a moonlight
sail in the Sandville Belle tonight"
Billy turned away without a word. That
very morning Mrs. Jones herself had In
vited him to the moonlight excursion,
holding out as an inducement that Sg-
nor Bernafetto Chigi was going to bring
his violin and had promised to sing them
a selection Of his Italian serenades and
love SONGS
My dear Mr. Martini SO charmed
that you have changed your mind and
have decided to accompany u.s." gurgled
Mrs. Jones, as Billy climbed from the
shore boat over the gunwale of that IA
nous sailing yacht, the Sandville Belle
I'VE are expecting Signor Chigi every
moment We shall sail for three hours
1t is half-past now, and we expect to
be back by half-past u. Quite romantic
is it not?' gushed Mrs. Jones in his ear
Nice evenin', Mister Martini remark
ed Tom Masterman, after a while; "a
very nice evenin for a SAIL
Where are you going to take US,
Tom?' queried Billy, lazily.
Don't think we shall get far, sir,
replied the old boatnan, with a weather
wise glance at the sky. There don't
fare to be a catspaw of wind ali night
I'll just drift her down to the tail O.
the Gunspit Sand on the flood tide an
drift back on the ebb. You'll get no
sailin' tonight, sir but, as far as l can
see, there'H be a nice slant O. wind from
the eastward tomorrow, if maybe you'd
like a sail in the afternoon
I'm afraid I shan't be here then.
am thinking of going up to London by
the $40 train tomorrow morning" replied
Billy rather sadly, as he eyed the dark
figure in the bow of the boat.
Sorry to ear that, sir" replied the
boatman. But ere comes the musical
gent, and e makes up the party. Now
we can make SAIL
BE veree careful wiz my violin,'' said
a voice from the side of the boat ut
was given me by ze Queen of Italee wiz
'er own fair hands, and is worth so
guinea, Hold re boat tight. or I tumble
in re water, an drown myself dead"
Tom Masterman gave few short or
ders to the hand who embodied in him
self the mate and crew of the Sandville
Belle. Sail was made and the yacht slip
ped FROM her fnoorings to drift slowly
on the moonlit tide.
Soon Billy had no heart to throw the
obnoxious musician overheard. He sat
silent and glum. thinking how in the
course of a couple of hours he would
have parted from Diana forever.
Presently he began to count the min
utes because Diana herself had come
to his side, and had begun to chat quite
kindly.
Presently she moved away again. Half
the trip was accomplished. for the yacht
had dr1fted to the tail Of the Gunspit
Sand.
It's slack water now, and the ebbll
be startin' IN q. few minutes" remarked
Tom Masterman. casually.
Then brillian idea came to Billy. He
considered how, in a short hour and a
half the yacht would have drifted back
to her moorings. and he would never see
his Diana again.
He leaned over to the boatman
What are you getting for this trip7'
he whispered.
'Three pound and a quart OF beer"
replied Tom Masterman.
Look here Tom: you're an old friend
OF mine. aren't you?" whispered Billy.
Few gents like better" replied Tom.
readily.
Look here, Tom. want to have a
talk with one of the young ladies'
aboard here" said Billy unblushingly.
IF it's TO be done, we mustn't get back
to our mornings this tide. It's dad
calm and slack water. and nobody can
see They're all singing choruses, and
won't notice II You lay her VI on he
soft end Of tbs Gunspit an let the tide
leave US there. She'll float again in six
: hours. The night is warm. an the la
dies have plenty OF wraps"
There was q soft rustic Of paper
crisp rustic, such a. might be made BY
the transferring ot a banknote from one
palm 70 another.
VERY sorry. ladies' and gents" said
taken US ashore on the tail o the Guns
pit so you'll ave 20 make yourselves
& comfortable as We can till she floats
Of on the next hood. about S o'clock to-
morrow rnornin'."
The long hours had worn away % dawn
vet the SandviIle Belle stu lay fixed
where she had stranded. Every member
Of the party SAT or lay sleeping uneasily
IN her o7en well with che exception %
( Diana. Billy and Tom Mastsrmzn. who
had bNguiIeG a:s watch by smoking the
strongest a tobacco IN n. blsckeSt u
pipes With an sr5our which had gained
Billy's entire admiration.
+ The signo-. after loud complaining *
and many expressions q fear concern
Ing his personal safetT, ard the harm
that raiFh- result 70 his tenor voice from