Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1900-08-03

You have not told me how you came 10 leave
there"
changed during the day TO an abrupt
and tumultuous upheayal that tossed
the Doric like cork and made locomo-
tion a problem. The rising wind and
sea sent the spray whirling from her
bows, and Mildred's young man, cast
ing about for dry corner, had depos-
tied his fair charge on bench along
the forward deck house and was scout
ing up and down for steamer chairs.
Armstrong had drawn his close TO that
in which Miss Lawrence rcclined, her
knitted steamer cap pulled well for
ward over her brow. His feet were
braced against a stanchion. His eyes
were intent upon her sweet face. lie
had no thought for other men, even
those in similar plight. His gaze,
though unhampered by the high peak
of his forage cap, comprehended moth
ing beyond the rounded outline of that
soft cheek. Her eyes, well-nigh hidden
by her shrouding Tam" saw the
searching son of Albion and told her
his need. The best of women viii find
excuse for interruption at such mo-
ments when sure Of the devotion of the
man who sits with a fateful question
quivering on his lips; and, even when
she longs 10 hear those very words, will
find means TO defer them as a kitten
dallies with a captured mouse or a child
saves TO the very last the sweetest NOR
sci of her birthday cake. Not ten min
utes before, when Hon. BERTHE Shafto
had started impulsively toward the va
cant chair by Armstrong; side, firm
hand detained him, and Miss Prime had
hastily interposed. Not on any ac-
count" said she, imperiously. Cant
you seq" And Mr.. Shafto, adjusting
his monocle, had gazed long and fiXedly
and then, transferring his gaze to her,
had said
"Eh-eh-yes. It's not ours, l sup
pose you mean"
But now Amy Lawrence was beckon-
ing, and he made rush for the rail,
then worked his way aft, hand over
hand. Every movable on deck was TAX
ing sudden slant TO starboard, and the
sea went kissing by almost on level
with the deck as next she spoke.
Surely soldier needs both arms in
battle, and you Oh, certainly, Mr..
Shafto, take that chair" she added.
Armstrong glanced up suddenly.
"Oh! that you, Shafto? Yes; take it
by all means
Anything, thought he, rather than
that they should come here. The young
Briton stepped easily past between
them and the rail-behind there was no
room-and, swinging the long, awk-
wardly modelled fabric TO his broad
shoulder, started back just as a huge
wave heaved suddenly under the coun-
ter, heeled the steamer far over TO port,
threw him off his balance, and, his foot
catching at the bottom Of her chair.
hurled him, load and all, straight at
Amy's reclining form. One instant,
and even her uplifted hands could not
have saved her face; but in that instant
Armstrong had darted in. caught the
stumbling BTiton on one arm. and the
full force of the shooting chair crash
ing upon the other, already pierced by
Filipino lead.
When. a moment later, she emerged
safe and unscratched, from the con.
fused heap of men and furniture, il va.
TO cut off instantly the stutter and
stammer Of poor Shafto's apologies, to
bid him go instantly for the ships doc
tor, and, with face the color of death, |
to turn quickly to Armstrong. The |
blow had burst open the half-healed
wound, and the blood was streaming TO
the deck.