The St. Mary banner. (Franklin, Parish of St. Mary, La.) 1889-1931, 1901-05-25
THE TWICE,LIYED DAY,
BY HOWARD C. WARREN.

| 4 BY HOWARD C. WARREN
|
"Apropos of this repeating a day,
Mr.. Prescott, where does the extra day
come from. anyhow"
Laura Marcy and a vast array of
rugs and wraps were joint occupants
of steamer chair in q secluded cor
ner of the deck Of tho Pacific liner
City Of Pekin: her voice came from
the interstices between several pill
lows. veil and q hood. Perry pres
colts chair stretched over a consider
able portion Of the deck in her neigh
borhood. They were gazing out at the
sea and talking htfully.
why. we pick it up out here in mid
ocean," answered Perry: I'VE carry
it along way, and drop it where the
steamer going the other way can't fnd
it,"
"Oh. yes, Of course; but where does
the extra time come from? l really
don't understand it at all"
''It's simply taken from the boats
that we pass going westward. Some
time tonight. you know" said Perry,
gravely, I'VE meet freight steamer.
They have plenty of time to spare on
board. We heave to. send out boat,
ask for an extra day. pay well for it,
and ship it aboard. In the morning
you and wake up, and it is today
again. That's the way they manage
it. Miss Marcy" ...
"Mr. Prescott, l think you are very
rude. l really wanted to find out
about 1t. II you don't know yourself,
don't be ashamed to confess your ig
norance"
Pardon me. Miss Marcy" said Per-
ry; II was speaking in parables, Of
course: but there is an element Of
westward lose a day. and we gain one;
that's tho truth. was just putting
the transaction on a commercial ba-
sis. that's ALL"
"But how can 1t be so?"
Easily enough. We drop an hour
here and there, when we don't espe-
cially need 1t; and today, when the
voyage beings to grow tedious, we call
them all in and paste them on today.
50 we can get In a day earlier"
Thank you for alluding to the te-
dunn Of the voyage. For my part, l
think 1t rather pleasant, except that
cannot always enjoy my meditations
without interruption"
III that Is all, will see the voyage
is one grand round Of pleasure for you
In the future
There was q long pause. Prescott
moved about uneasily in his chair; he
started to rise once or twice, thought
better Of 1t each time, and finally set
tied down to a silent contemplation OF
the ocean and the extension end Of his
companions chair. A little tan shoe
swung nervously to and fro in the
line Of his gaze.
"of course, can take my chair to
the other end of the deck, if you wish,'
he said softly, at length. "But as your
pillows and wraps constitute all your
landscape in this direction, possibly
my mere presence here will not inter-
fore with your enjoyment"
1T is quite immaterial to me what
you do," was the naughty reply.
Another long pause. The little tan
shoe had worked itself clear Of the
wrap. a bit of black stocking and blue
skirt appeared.
LET me obscure your view for an
instant" said Prescott, as he stopped
ever to tuck in the wrap.
What time is IT." was the evasive
reply.
Halt past four; no, half past five.
I forgot to omit tho last hour We
dropped overheard"
why don't you drop overheard at
ter It, and secure 1t for your own pri-
vate use? You would spend it in very
amiable company"
The shoe had struggled loose from
its moorings again.
"You are very gracious today" said
Prescott, meekly.
"You are very gallant, sir, I'm sure.
MOI" she burst out. as he stopped
over again: don't touch that shoe!
I want it just so."
The silence was awful. The little
shoe waved furiousiy. At length Ian
ra rose.
II am going down to mother" she
said abruptly. mo, thank you, those
wraps will be all right there. Good
BY" .-
She steadied herself by the rail, and
passed quickly along to the compan-
way. Prescott was left standing be-
side her chair.
The evening passed away without !
his seeing here. The next morning
was stormy, and she stayed below with !
her mother. Then It cleared and in the |
afternoon she appeared on deck again.