The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1901-10-31

Hes made this trip with me six
times now. and I've watched him close.
He don't go IN for the things that most
of his breed do-cards and women and
Wine" Miss StrathmOre thought of her
quotation. We've got the chance to
see things on these ships, you bet, but
I've never seen Merida do a foolish
thing yet. 1t may be because he's been
to school in England and runs the New
York end of affairs for their fincas, but
why ever it is it's so. And edicatedr'
he added awe inspiredly. why, that
fellow speaks four languages as well as
he does his own and has got something
to say in all of them. You mind whatI
say, Miss Elizabeth. | knew your
father when l was boy, and the best
could wish for his daughter would be
to marry young Merida" He stood up
and started off. Get Rim to tell you
how he and the other young bloods held
the governors palacio against a revo-
lutionist mob for a day and a night
Make up to him.
Which-the advice and the strategy
had the natural effect of rendering
Miss Strathmore more than barely civil
to Merida when he stopped to speak to
her. He had changed the suit in which
he had come on board and was in white
tiannels now.
He's not handsome" she decided,
remembering the regular features of
other Spanish blooded males she had
known, but he's quite the most swag-
ger individual l ever saw"
He pulled up wicker chair beside
her, and they began to talk 1t was 10
o'clock then. They were still talking
when the luncheon gong sounded at
one. They went down together and
talked through the meal.
If Miss Strathmore had been stupid,
she would have stayed on deck the rest
of the afternoon. As it was, she went
TO the cabin for a nap and then devot-
ed herself-the least in the world OBJ
viouSly-to her mother until dinner
time. But there was the evening after
that. They spent it together in the
bow and talked-of the phosphorus and
things.
1t was not until after a good many
nights that they got TO anything much
more personal. Then it came all at
once. Merida stood wedged into the
extreme point of the bow and Miss
Strathmore sat half Overhanging the
black ocean when the PROV cut into
gold light. She was holding fast to
stay. She could just see Merida's face
in the starlight, and his eyes were on
her steadily. There had been a stop in
speech.
Was | uncivil when you finished my
line for me that night?' he asked.
Rather" Miss Strathmore answered
him
And you didn't know why, l sup
pose?'
She admitted that she did not
We'll, he explained, Its Just this:
l get so sick of having people go on the
basis that all men down here are
devils of fellows, Don Juans and all
that. We get so deucedly much of it."
She reminded him that he had laid
himself open to it,
Il know | did, but one doesn't expect
an American or an Englishman to
know his poets, if you don't mind my
saying so. l never thought about you
going on There was a pause. And
l don't go in for women and flirta-
TONS Merida said. Il have never
cared for any girl except you"
1t was sudden certainly, so sudden
that she let go her hold on the stay.
His hand went out TO steady her in
stantly. Then he took it away.
Il suppose you are surprised" he
said. Il am myself But it's true"
Miss Strathmore's self possession had
weathered many experiences, but it
foundered at this. She did not think
of anything to say.
Il don't want to bother" he told her.
land l don't expect you to like me vet,
but l hope you will before long" Then
he went off to other things, but CONVEX
sation was not a success.
They were at anchor off MaZatlan the
next day, some two miles beyond the
bar. Merida put in his appearance at
breakfast in shore clothes.
III SolHS u ldnu, ne t0lQ MISS
Strathmore, If the captain will have
boat whistled for me-"
It's rough she tried to suggest.
Il know it is" he answered, leveling
his eyes straight on her for the benefit
of all who might choose to see, so that
she flushed very pink. IF it were not,
l should ask you and your mother to
go too" They had done it at Acapulco
and ManZanillo before.
Il will not 60" observed the Chilean.
1T is too dangerous"
Merida caught Miss Strathmore's
glance of contempt and nearly smiled.
Toward the middle of the morning a
rowboat whose owners were coura-
geous responded to the signals and ven
tured out to the ship. Merida went
down the Jacobs ladder. The captain
watched him.
You'll come to grief, Matcho, if you
don't watch out. See that your men
aren't tequila drunk when you start
back. It's pretty bad now, but it'll be
rolling like fun then. We hist anchor
at g. he added warningly.
Merida watched his chance to Jump.
He caught it expertly, and the boat
pulled away.
1t was , o'clock when it reappeared,