Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1901-02-20

never looked up, which was exceeding
~ unkind. The raising of her thickly
fringed lids would have revealed be-
wildering world Of loneliness to her
admirer. 1t would have made him
protest until there was no more
breath in his body. Besides, it is so
easy for a woman to look up from n
piano, flash a dazzling glance at be-
wildered man and then leave him In
the outer gloom of darkness and doubt.
And don't the dear creatures know
how to do it to perfection?
Being stranger on board and re-
garded no doubt as something in the
nature of an intruder, the first day
was productive of little information
concerning my fellow passengers, but
on the second day, thanks to the gar
rulousness of an old gentleman who,
like many old gentlemen, had made his
neighbors' affairs the business of his
declining years, l learned all l wished
to know, which, after all, was not
much and chiefly concerned two people
the girl with the pale, pensive face
and the man with tho warlike mus
tache. She, l was relieved to know,
was not his wife, but n young Aus
trallan girl, Miss Hurst by name, who
was returning home with her mother.
The mother was the old lady in black
who sat next to her at dinner-awfully
sad story. Came homo for pleasure
trip and lost Mr.. Hurst shortly after
landing. The military looking gentle
man with the red face was Major
Coghlan, retired-awfully brilliant.
Shouldn't wonder if there's wedding
when we get to Melbourne. And so
on and so on.
Somehow the major did not seem
such formidable. creature after this,
though he dlscoursed wars with all the
hero's dlsdain of death and banded
the names of distinguished generals
with the easy familiarity of an equal.
He knew everything and everybody,
and, with the natural garrulity of an
Irishman, he did not hide his accom-
plishments, though he might have left
one wondering how such very ex-
traordinary person was permitted to
retire from n service which he did so
much to adorn. Alas, prophet hath
no honor in his own country!
j can afford to treat the major lightly
now, but then he was person of some
consequence in our little floating world,
man who '.tuk the flure" and made
himself heard. Over concert, theat-
ricals or ball he was the presiding gen.
ius. He promoted sweepstakes on the
days run, got up cricket matches and
tennis parties and, like the gentleman
In the comic opera, was Lord High
Everything.
Such greatness did not envy him,
for there are still a few positions which
one may not aspire to. but strongly
objected to his taking possession of
Miss Hurst every time she appeared
on deck and behaving us though he
were the only worshiper fit to approach
the shrine. 1 am not ashamed to ad-
NIT that the lady interested me greatly,
and l was not content with bow and
smile and few words promiscuously
dropped. But, thanks to the major,
such for long time seemed to be my
only portion.
One morning, however, found her
alone, leaning on the rail looking into
the sea, and though my advent startled
her she quickly recovered herself and
gave me q pleasant greeting. Then
from the common objects Of ship life
we touched on many subjects, and she
was In the midst of a glowing descrip-
ton Of her native land when the major
appeared upon the scene. l thought a
shade crossed lier face; I'd swear her
pretty mouth poutesl. 1t was foolish,
perhaps, hut as looked felt an In
ward joy.
Been lsoelng FOR you everywhere,
Miss Hurst" he exclaimed. "Just made
up set aa.! wai.t you for n partner"
He smiled his broad red smile and
scanned mr. somewhat triumphantly. I
bowed a"s! vas about to turn away,
when s!fp ,,til''e,,:
'",'llii','; sou. Major Coghlan. won't
a'a.r lis morning"
oh. ri It's csool of you," he re-
-. J, "a.!a after all the preparations
to-
I'm 80 sorry. There are plenty of
players.
Aye" he said boldly, "but 1t is
quality we want, not quantity"
She turned aside without replying,
and some one coming after him at that
moment he apologlzed profusely for
having to leave us. But his eye, as it
caught mine, had no twinkle in 1t.
That was but one of many long con-
versations had with her, for with the
impetuosity of youth flung down my
gage to the redoubtable warrior, much
to the amusement of the other passen-
gers, who Invariably spoke Of us us the
hated rivals. But that was only their
little way. The major and never for
got to treat each other with the most
gentlemanlile courtesy.
The run across the Mediterranean
was delightful. Feeling that l was
free of the Terror l abandoned myself
to the enjoyment Of my new surround
ings and lived each exhilarating dny
~ 49, AaAA' ~ was licuSuul " survey
the dark, far stretching circle of sea
and know that we were cut off from all
communication with our fellows. No
one could harm us here. There was no
ambuscade, no dark streets from which
man might spring and up which he
might disappear. We were alone upon
the waters, and sometimes sighed at
the knowledge that life could not be al
ways thus.
When we arrived at Port Said, 1
made one Of Miss Hurst's shore going
party. say Miss Hurst's because she
seemed the planet round which we
lesser satellites revolved, though Ma
jor Coghlan was. of course. the active
leader of the expedition. He marshaled
us in line, cast n severe military eye
down our ranks and then gave the or
der to march and head of his I'M
soldierlike den 4. led us through
the town.
A wonderful fellow, the major, but
his incessant chatter wearied me- and
while he and NV uncla were trvino