Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-07-19
A STRAIN OF ROMANCE.

1t was late one afternoon as man
stepped from a small sailing boat on
to the quay at waterproof. Gibraltar
He felt uncomfortable and disreputa.
BILE. Earlier in the day, having moth
ing better to do, he had set out for a
sail across the bay. They had run in
on the sandy beach of a forsaken spot
called Puenta Majorga. There The
boatman had taken him on his shout.
ders and carried him through the surf,
finally dropping him 80 that he got
nicely wet. On the return journey the
wind had freshened and 1t had come on
to rain, with the result that he now
stood somewhat forlorn looking OBJ
ject, with clothes spoilt by sea water
and wet sand.
1t had just occurred to him that the
next obvious thing was to change his
attire, when the sound Of voices caught
his ear. Looking round he caught
sight Of q little group some fifty yards
away-a girl. middle-aged lady and
brawny looking man in a "brass
bound" suit. Something In the girls
appearance attracted him, and uncOn-
sciously he moved nearer to the trio.
He got within dozen PAGES of them,
and, standing behind pile Of crates,
enjoyed view at close quarters.
by Jove" he murmured, under his
breath. The girl was tall and slim,
magnifcently good-lOoking. He could
not take his eyes from her. There was
certain air Of vigor and independence
about her that fascinated him.
She raised her arm and pointed
across the bay to where large white
yacht lay at anchor.
"You mean to say the Scud can't sail
to-day, Captain Flint" she exclaimed.
Her voice sent thrill through him.
There was the slightest. most delicious
suspicion Of transatlantic accent In
1t, and he was enraptured.
In drawing tone the Captain gave
an account Of what had happened. 1t
appeared that the Scotch engineer, Nc.
Alister, had gone Off on a birthday
fr0llc, and, as the result of jovial
little excursion in the vicinity of Alge-
ciras. had managed to get hauled off
to local Spanish jail.
The girl was in despair.
"What shall we do? The cable was
urgent-the Scud will have to get to
Alexandria by the 22d. Can't we pick
up another engineer in Gibraltar"
The Captain shook his head.
But We can't wait until he's re-
leased" she cried with a little stamp
Of her foot. Something will have to
be DONE"
The man standing behind the crates
had been drinking in every word, his
eyes fastened on the girls face. Sud.
denly an idea flashed upon HINT was
a mad one, but 1t gripped him.
Without a moments further consld-
Grafton he stepped forward and con-
fronted the trio.
beg pardon" he said, touching his
hat. II happened to overhear. l gath
cred you want an engineer"
The girl looked at the figure before
her In establishment. She saw tall,
goGd-looking, clean-shaven man In wet
sodden clothes, with the collar of his
coat turned up.
"Are you an engineer" she asked,
eagerly.
He nodded.
II could take you to Alexandria in
the tine," he said.
Captain Flint was interested.
"Say. young Teller. got papers to
show" he drawled. "And what's your
name"
The man looked him back square If
the face.
my name is Dennis" he said. "And
{ haven't got papers to show"
He turned to the girl frankly.
"You would have to take me OH
chance" he said. II give you my word
that I am capable of running the en-
gines Of your yacht, and getting her to
/ Alexandria in the time, bar a break
down-but more cannot say. viii
you risk it?'
The girl glanced at him hesitatingly
'The Scud must sail" she began.
"Guess We can see in an hour or SC
whether he's up to the job" said Cap
tain Flint, suggestively.
The man looked at the girl with ar
lnquiring smile. She gave him one
more glance-then made up her mind
you're engaged" she said, brlskly.
| Thus 1t was In a short time he found
himself at work on the yacht. Ii
another three hours he had the steam
up. and the ladies having come OF
board, the Scud raised her anchor ant
slowly made her way out Of the bay
AS engineer he was a complete sue
cess, and quickly earned the warm ap
| proval of Captain Jake Flint, from
whom he CLEANED good deal of in
teresting information. 1t appeare.
that the yacht was the property o.
Mr.. Silas Lewison, a rich American
and that the girl on board was his only
daughter. Her father had left her II
England, and, few weeks ago, hat
made the journey to Cairo. leaving he
to follow more leisurely in the Scud.
For the first two days he spent mos
Of his time in the engine room. Once
q twice. as he sat watching the move
ments Of the big cylinders. he brOk
into soft laugh. 1t was on the thlrt
day. when he Mapped to be ON deck
that she spoke to him.
1--WE are getting on famously. Mr.
Dennis. think good fate must hav,
dropped you from the clouds" she said
with a smile.
He looked at her and tried to hid
the look of admiration that had crep
to his eyes. She seemed more glorious
ly beautiful than ever. He made SOM
vague reply. and she went on talking
about the yacht. 1t was intOxica tiol
to him. He had fallen desperately II
love at first sight, and he wondered