The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1901-08-28
n pacific Romance.

J.. quotation.) 1--WE get the chance TO see
| things on these ships, you bet, but I've
never seen Merida do a fool thing yet. IL
| may be because he's been TO school In
/ England, and runs the New York end OF
| affairs for their fincas, but why ever IL
| Is, it's so. And edicated." be added, awe
| inspiredly, "why, that fellow speaks four
| languages as well as he does his own
| and got something TO say in all of them.
| You mind what j say. Miss Elizabeth. l
knew your father when ] was boy. and
the best i could wish for his daughter
would be to marry young Merida He
stood up and started Off Here he comes
now. Get him 20 tell you how he and the
other young bloods held the governor q
palacio against a revolutionist mob for a
day and night Make up TO him"
Which--the advice and the strategy
| had the natural effect OF rendering Miss
Strathmore more barely civil to Merida
when he stopped to speak 10 her He had
changed the suit in which he had come
on board. and was in white hannels now.
J Hes not handsome" she decided, re-
membering the regular features OF other
Spanish blooded males she had known,
but he's quite the most swagger indi-
vidual / ever saw"
He puller up a wicker chair beside her.
and they began TO talk It was 10 o'clock
then. They were still talking when the
luncheon gong sounded at l. They went
down together and talked through the
meal
II 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 nap, and then devoted her
self-the least in the world. obviously--to
her mother. until dinner time. But there
was the evening after that. They spent
il together in the bow and talked--of the
phosphorus and things.
It was not until after good many
nights that they got 10 anything much
moro personal. Then II 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 a stay. She could
just see Merida's face in the starlight,
and his eyes were on her steadily. There
had been 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. 1 suppose?'
She admitted that she did not.
well" he explained. '1ts just this. I
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 him
self open to IL.
IL know / did But one doesn't expect
an American or an Englishman 10 know
his poets--if you don't mind my saying
so. never thought about your going on"
There was a pause. "And / don't go I'm
for woman and niSations. Merida said.
IL have never cared for any girl except
you"
II was sudden. certainly-so sudden
that she let go her hold on the stay. His
hand went out 10 steady her instantly.
Then no took II away.
II suppose you are surprised" he said.
II am myself But it's true
Miss Strathmore's self-possession had
weathered many experiences. but found
cred a this. She did not think of any
thing 10 say.
II don't want 10 bother" he told her.
"and ! don't expect you TO like me yet
but / hope you will--before long" Then
ne went of to other things, hut conver-
sation was not a success.
They were at anchor off Mazatian the
next day, some two miles out beyond the
bar. Merida put I'm his appearance at
breakfast shore clothes.
I'm going TO land" he told Miss
strathmore. III the captain will have a
boat whistled for me-"
ITS rough" she tried 60 suggest
"a know IL Is. he answered. leveling
his eyes straight on her for the benefit
Of all who might choose to see. 40 that
she flushed very pink. IN Il were not I
should ask you and your mother to go,
too" They had done II at Acapulco and
Manzanillo before.
II will not GO" observed the Chlian;
1T is too much danger TO.
Merida caught Miss Strathmore's glance
Of contempt and nearly smiled.
Toward the middle OF the morning
rowboat whose owners were courageous.
responded 90 the signals and ventured
ont TO tho ship. Merida went down the
Jacobs ladder. The captain watched him
'You'n come Go grief, Matcho. II you
don't watch out. See that your men
aren't tequila drunk when you start
back. It's pretty bad now. but it'il be
rolling like rin then. We n ist anchor az
2" he added wnrningly.
Merida watched his chance TO Jump; he
caught II eNpertly and the boat pulled
away.
II was 2 O'Clock when Il reappeared,
coming slowly. hidden I'm a hollow climb
Ing crest, lung about through the
frothlng bar MISS Strathmore and the
captain and q good many others were
watching 10. Miss Strathmore had been
shooting a. driftwood and AZ big turtle
that was floating on its back IN the sun.