The daily morning journal and courier., 1902-02-18

quaintance was only the coquetry of g
 married woman pleased to add variety to tedious voyage or was simply a genuine friendship, and either hypothe- sis was not by any means to his liking for he was rapidly reaching the point where consideration of her married state and reflection that before long she would join her susband were not pleas ant Making all allowances for the greater freedom of Latin women, Stod- dard was not one of those men who view the prospect of a love affair with married woman with feelings of un- mixed satisfaction. Their talk some times ran dangerously near the senti- mental rocks he was determined to avoid. although, strive as he would he felt himself growing the more impotent to resist, and weakly redgning the very effort to resist. The touch of her arm of an evening as they leaned side by side over the rail thrilled him, and lit- tie by little he drifted into tenderness of look and speech which brought no re- proof from her, but sometimes frank, quzzical smile and sometimes an averted head.
 It was after dinner one memorable night, that Stoddard and Lucia seemed to draw unusually close together, yet scarcely a word was spoken between them as they turned their backs upon ly ripping waves. Turning to her sud- denly Stoddard took her hand in his while she looked Up with half-serlous yet lf-mocking, expression.
 "Lucia-Lucia-why did you ever do it?"
 'Mais, quoi done, mon ami?'
 Why did you ever get married?"
 "Oh, don't know why--I'm sorry ever said--no, I don't mean that, of course--I mean-but never mind what Come, it is time to say good night and a demain,'
 Stoddard slept in a chair on deck that night, it was so fiercely hot in his state room and, looking up from under the edge of the awnings to the brilliant southern stars for the hundredth time he thought over his predicament and made a thousand plans and resolves as to what he should certainly do and say on the morrow.
 A muff1ed report came from the stern of the ship. Men were heard running along the lower deck, and the second cabin passengers aft could be seen grouping themselves together in all stages and conditions of night apparel A thin column of smoke began to float upward from the after hatch separating the first and second cabin decks. The ship was on fire! Thoroughly reused at last, Stoddard rushed to the scene of excitement, to discover that the crew were already hard at work with the fire hose, and to be assured by the officers that it was a very trffling affair. But a woman's scream from the for'ard deck told that the news of danger had reached the sleeping passengers, and he put aside the scruples that momentarily presented themselves and hurried back to be greeted by girlish figure in a bath wrapper. who flung herself into his arms, sobbing hysterically.
 There, there; it is all over now, dearest" he said, soothing her as one does child. There's not bit of dan- ger; it is only tiny little fire anyway; in another minute it will be quite out"
 Her arms frightened about his neck. By degrees the hysteria passed away, and she looked up with shining eyes from her refuge in his arms. And what could Stoddard do, especially since all the rest had gone to the scene of the fire and left them alone together, than bend over and kiss the upturned ips that did not refuse the caress.
 Forgive me, dear" he said, bitterly, ] little later; "it was temptation that 10 man could resist. But you know low that love you, Lucia better than fife. Have l not said it? And the fu- ure--your husband"
 But Lucia was aughing-laughing lntil Stoddard feared that the hysterla vas returning and had recourse again | o the eff1cacious treatmen. of few l minutes before. l
 You foolish boy! Why, I'm not | married. I suppose that l will have to | ,xplain everything now. Promise not | o tell soul on board Well. you see, ny father and mother are so very old ! ashioned that they would not consent | o let me go out alone, even with my | maid. But my brother has been very | ick and wanted me so badly. Then I | ad this nspiration-simple, was it not? | but they ended by being persuaded | hat it would be altogether proper for ne to travel as signora instead of sig | Iorina'
 And you like the title? For a fact. | is full and resonant Too bad that will be sure to say Mrs. ;toddard, but I don't suppose we can elp it." and he embraced her again, to he scandal of some of the passengers, yho very injudiciously put in an ap- earance at this critical juncture.
 Those foreign women are silly hings," remarked wool grower from Australia little later in the smoking oom Did you fellows see that Sig ora della Rosa try to throw herself Stoddard caught her just I time. Pretty picture they made. Wnder what her husband would say?" New York Commercial Advertiser.