The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-08-08

OodA IL
Capt. Ebers is a tactful man. He was
quick to see the constraint between
my fellow veteran" and myself, and
he laughingly said:
Two such hardy travellers should
have a formal Introduction, though
it is usually superfiuous formality on
shipboard. Miss Gray, permit me, Mr..
James Fisher, our most steady patron;
we are thinking of giving him a pen
sion when he gets too old to travel any
more. Curious that you never met,
for you have both crossed with me
many times" The captain ratified on
determined to put US at our ease once
and for all.
Shipboard friendships, especially be-
tween hardened travellers, progress
rapidly, and once forgiven for the as
sault the Gladstone made on the Sara
toga, Miss Gray and myself became
friendly, even to the extent of chum-
miness. That is her word. disclaim
responsibility.
In six days at sea two people will
have exhausted all ordinary topics of
conversation. Then they begin on af
fairs that on land would be sacred aft
er decades acquaintance.
We had the deck to ourselves, and
were sitting behind the protection of
a deck cabin. l had been, as if l were
still boy, retailing much matter con-
corning myself and my doings.
And now" said, as 1 came to the
end of the chapter, Il am actually
running away back to America for
fear of marriage happening to me-"
You are becoming interesting.
Please go on"
L ignored the badinage, which, in
deed, was unworthy of her. Eyes, it
is fact. My dear Aunt Eliza was
planning descent upon my bachelor
hood, with a dear girl in her train;
and, knowing auntie's propensities,
just skipped. l shall probably go to
the Philippines via San Francisco"
"How funny. Just my case, too.
Not about going to the Philippines;
but I am also running away from
prospective matrimonial alliance.
Such things have happened, but
wouldn't it be curious if it were we
who were running away from one
another?'
THAT would be curious" 1 as
scented.
Speak for yourself, please. But,
seriously, we must investigate and
settle the matter"
THAT is easily DONE" I replied.
DO you know my Aunt Lizzie?"
81 haven't the pleasure"
"Then you don't know my Aunt Liz
zie, for if you did you would not
think of knowing her was a pleasure.
That sounds very like a bull, but I
think it will stand the test However,
if you do not know my Aunt Lizzie,
you certainly can't be the dear girl
she was bringing to bear upon me,
and, therefore, it is evident that l am
not running away from you. Q. E D.,
as they say in Euclid
well, l suppose it is equally sure
that you were not the particular
man L was running away from"
1t was Sunday morning when we
sailed up the grand old Delaware
Miss Gray and 1 were leaning over
the rail watching the green and gold
of the shore as it slowly unfolded be-
fore us.
A putting little tug was coming to
meet us, and we knew that it con-
tanned the health officer and the ad-
vance guard of customs men.
My companion was unusually silent,
and indeed | was in no mood for light
conversation. Two people thrown
closely together for II days find
much in common, and then to wrench
off that friendship suddenly on enter
ing port when they each go their sep
arate ways, gives pause to the most
careless heart. There is something
in the companionship formed on the
ocean that binds closely. l felt the
coming separation, and vaguely, but
none the less bitterly, resented it.
Does the sight of home again
make you sad? l thought you were a
much travelled young lady?"
I had no warning of the words that
were to come.
Il deceived you in a trifiing matter,
and though the thing is of no conse-
quence, 1 felt like telling you the
truth. l told you in jest that l was
in the same boat as yourself, that l,
too, was running away from mate.
On the contrary, 1 am running to
meet one. No, not one of my choos-
ing, but one ready found for me. /
know you will think it strange that l
should speak of this at all to you,
but | felt that l must tell someone.
And then we did discuss one anoth-
er's affairs so freely that it isn't as
if I were telling it to a stranger"
The snorting little tug was lying at
our feet. We were both watching the
white-duck sailors making fast.
Her hand was in mine.
"Soon neither of us will have to run
away" l whispered.
Teaching the Mosquito.
1t is possible to accomplish not only