Middletown transcript., 1901-05-25


care for her. looked all this; I am sur,
did. But there were too many people
about for me to speak. She sat will
her hands folded in her lap and looked
divinely unconscious.
''The third day out the weather became
bitterly cold.
+" i am almost frazen, said Mrs. -
What shall l do? l have nothing tc
wrap round me, and shall have to stay
below; and, oh, dear! 1t is SO uncomfort
able there The face turned up to me
was that of a spoiled child.
''Now I had fine rug. which I had
used at night, for you know that every,
thing at sea is SO horribly damp. It had
been a great comfort to me, and l knew
that I should miss it. But what of that
I couldn't see the woman loved suffer.
So I tucked her up with it. Her deli
cious smile repaid me for the sacrifice.
"'Oh, how nicep she said, as she put
her hands under the warm rug. 1T
seems to me, Mr.. Remington, that you
have everything t, make one comfortable.
I never heard of such a man. / am so
glad that came under your carep
every day 1 had it upon my lips to
tell her Of my love. Each day courage
forsook me. We walked the deck day
by day. She would put her little soft
hand on my arm in the most confding
way, look up from uuder her curls, laugh
her low, sweet laugh, and fsl the most
childish, innocent questions.
Isn't it delightful, she said one day,
to think that We shall soon arrive? 1
can hardly wait for the time to come;
and yet,'-here her voice dropped into
that dearly-loved soft tone-'the voyage
has been most charming one, owing to
your kindness, she added brightly brightly.
81 longed to launch forth my tale of
love, but thinking it more prudent to
wait until l had secured her wholly to
myself, asked her in the most ordinary
manner if she wouldn't enjoy looking at
some little trinkets that had picked up
in Paris. Her eyes sparkled.
I" Yes, indeed, she said. Nothing
could be more delightful than to get a
glimpse of Paris while at sea-
81 went below and got all my pretty
novelties and brought them up to her.
Placing chair in quiet corner, and
well hid from the other people, then
drawing up mine beside her, began
showing, one by one, my collection of
odd things.
"'Where did you get them Mr.. Rem
ington? hunted all over Paris and found
nothing half SO pretty. What exquisite
port-bonheursp and she slipped one after
another of my carefully chosen bracelets
on her plump wrist, and turned them
first on one side and then on the other.
II knew NelPs taste, and had searched
for something uncommon, and was well
pleased with what I had bought. But
Nell and everything were forgotten with
this bewitching creature by my side, and
when she made move to take them off,
l said, laughing, of course:
%, don't disturb them; they look so
well where they are, and it is so pleasant,
you know, to get glimpse of Paris while
at sea-
''She kept them on, and I opened the
other boxes. There were rings, crosses,
of curious designs. The widow
was in high glee. A child could not
have enjoyed it more. I watched her
with loving eyes, told her where each
one came from, and helped fasten them
on.
" 4 feel like an Indian princess she
said, 'and ought to have a crown and
crowd of kneeling courtiers, and then
the picture would be complete
Can you imagine throne?' 1 said,
and take me for kneeling courtiers
Wouldn't my love compensate for the
crowdP
''She looked up quickly, and was
about to answer, when one of those eter-
nal old bores that, no matter where you
cross, are always to be found on ship
board, came up and began telling his
early "reminiscences; what the sea was
twenty years ago-as though the sea has
ever changed-and how, when he had
first crossed, his friends never expected
to see him again. He had made hisWill, |
and they parted as though he were to be
Tor ever lost to them. assure you that |
silently wished in my heart that he had |
never turned up again. Without saying
word, got up, took my boxes, and |
eft my Indian princess. l was thor |
oughly angry with the old fellow for hav-
ng interrupted our tete -a-tete, and seri-
ously annoyed with Mrs.-for listening
% an answering him. I made up my
mind that the game had been played !
ong enough. I would ask her the simple
question the first chance l got, and know
ny fate at once. But the chance did
1ot come as soon as expected it would.
"She went to her room with a sick
headache, so she said. and 1 paced the
ieck alone. We were long way up the
larbor when she made her appearance
he following day. She said that she had
hurried with her packing, thinking that
ne were nearer than we really were to
he journeys end.
oh, Mr.. Remington, had no oppor
unity of returning your jewels, and so 1
packed them with my things. But YOU
IRE coming, you know, to dine with me
IN Saturday, and I will then give them
o you
II had fully made up my mind that
IS l had been baffled so often 1 would
low wait until had seen her in her
'wn home before 1 asked her nv fate
'he already knew my heart There was
10 time to talk; all was excitement: we
we're rapidly approaching; handkerchiefs
we're waving from the docks. The yy;dor