Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1900-05-03

1t was manifest to Brooke almost
from the very first that the gods had
intended her for him. If he had told
any one of his conviction he would
have said that the gods had intended
them for each other. but when he
thought about in in his inmost soul, he
put 1t the first way. And he thought
about ii good deal. You have to
think altogether more than is good for
you when you are three weeks ut sea,
and the passengers are very largely I'M
possible and Improbable, and Il Is too
dot to move, much less to play bean
ball. That is why men who are ordi-
narily active and sane do such idiotic
things on ship-board, If they are given
half a chance. Not that Brooke did
anything foolish. though; he always
congratulated himself on that. But he
had his chance. and few men could
have asked a better one. She was
pretty, and agreeable, and well-bred,
and all the rest of it: satisfactory in
every way They had not yet gotten
off San Jose when he had decided that
she would suit. But he did not tell her
so then. 1t does not do to spoil wo-
man. If there was any objection to
her at all it was that she was tritie,
just mere trifie spoiled already.
But she was very much interested in
him. She made him talk about him
self. Yes, plainly the gods had plan
nod thn xyhnIn thinO N fntatinnn =
sufficiently romantic, too. He had seen
her first in the steamship office ut Pan
anna. She had observed him with a
side-long glance and had commented TO
the elderly gentleman who was with
her. The elderly gentleman had turn
ed and looked, and she had bent over
the deck-plan of the steamer and had
said she wanted her state room on the
shore side, and on deck. SO Brooke,
having inquired as to what hour the
tender would go over to the steamer
went out into the hot morning and took
a cab to Ia Boca, just to see if it were
still there
She and the elderly gentleman were
already on the tender when he stepped
aboard that afternoon. She saw him
coming down the wharf He knew that
she did, and furthermore he believed
that she had been watching for him:
which she had. but young men ought
not TO understand those things. How
ever. she did not look at him again I'M
til they went aboard the steamer. Then
she had to, because they both had let
tiers 10 the captain, and the captain
introduced them. Her name was Far
rar, and the elderly gentleman, who
was her father. called her Winifred
Brooke liked the elderly gentleman
as an accessory. The fathers of
charming girls are not always orna-
mental. even in the middle distance.
but Mr.. Farrar was creditable. No
fellow need be ashamed of him at the
trying moment of who giveth this
woman" nor thereafter. Then they all
went in search of their respective
state-rooms and did not meet again
until dinner.
1T was only the first dinner. The
purser. who Is undoubtedly heavens
vicar upon earth in the match making
business, had not had time to observe
ana distribute tittingly. so they sat
wherever they listed, or wherever they
had to, which for Brooke was across
the table. and not even opposite to her.
lie bowed as he took his seat. and he
bowed when he whirled around and got
up, and for the rest they both con-
versed with each other, via the cap
tain. The captain had seen that same
thing before. He consented sweetly
To be talked at, but he was not fooled.
His eyes twinkled. He observed how
Brooke ate enough nuts to make him
very sick and how he looked unamia-
bic when, even with that, Mr.. Farrar
outsat him.
That evening Brooke went into the
purser's cabin to look at some pearls
tied up in the corner of grimy hand
kerchef. He did not understand that
pursers see everything, and do not
need to be taught their business.
Brooke was one Of those pleasant peo-
pie TO have about who go on the sup
position that you are n fool until you
prove yourself otherwise, which Is n
rule OF conduct having the properties
Of a boomerang. So he brought the
conversation round In this wise He
asked IL they were likely to have a
pleasant trip. The purser said that
they usually did, at that time OF year.
Brooke hoped the passengers would be
agreeable. too. The purser thought the
Farrars looked promising. Brooke
thought so, too, and added: II say!
You're going to put me beside Miss
Farrar, aren't your He said that he
was. and Brooke Immediately lost all
interest In the little nicked nubbins of
pearls. and went back on deck, where
It was cool; and the purser smiled ms
he locked his treasures In the safe
again.
Brooke came in to breakfast n little
late the next mornivng. Miss Farrar
was already seated. looking particular.
~ nice. too, In what Is known to men
as ''some soft. white material" with a
gaudy silk Panama shawl around her
shoulders. The intelligent waiter
showed Brooke to the next chair. Miss