Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1903-03-13
A STRAIN OF ROMANCE.


Earlier in the day, having nothing better
to do, he had set out for a sail across the
pay. They had run in on the sandy beach
of forsaken spot called Puenta Major
ga There the boatman had taken him on
his shoulders and carried him through the
SURF, finally dropping him, so that he got
nicely wet On the return Journey the
wind had freshened and it had come ON
TO rain, with the result that he now stood
a somewhat folorn looking object with
clothes spoilt by sea water and wet sand
1t had Just occurred to him that the
next obvious thing was to change his at
tire, when the sound of voices caught his
ear. Looking round, he caught sight of
little group some fifty yards away-a
girl a middle-aged lady. and a brawny
looking man in a brass bound" suit
something in the girls appearance at
tracted him, and unconsclously he moved
nearer to the trio. He got within a dozen
PAGES Of them and, standing behind a
pile of crates, enjoyed view at close
quaters
BY Jove," he murmured. under his
breath. The girl was tall and slim. magni-
hcently good looking. He could not take
his eyes from her. There was n certain
air of vigor and independence about her
that fascinated him
She raised her arm and pointed across
the bay to where a large white yacht
lay at anchor
You mean to say the Scud can't sail
today. Capt. Flint she exclaimed Her
voice sent a thrill through him. There was
the slightest most delicious suspicion of
transatlantic accent in it, and he was
enraptured.
In a drawing tone the Captain gave an
account of what had happened 1t APP
peared that the Scotch engineer Nc
Allister had gone off on n birthday
frolic and as the result of a iovial little
excursion in the vicinity of Algeciras.
mad 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 Al
eXandria by the 22d Can't we pick mn
another engineer in Gibraltar"
The Captain shook his head.
But We can't wait till he's released!
she cried with a little stamp of her foot
Something will have 10 he 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 it gripped him
Without moments further consider
alton he stepped forward and confronted
the trio
Beg pardon" he said. touching his
hat II happened to overhear. I gath
cred you want an engineer"
The girl looked at the figure before her
in establishment She saw a tall. good
looking, clean-shaven man in wet. sod
den clothes, with the collar Of his coat
Are you ana engineer" she asked
lie nodded.
time 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 in
the face
My name is Dennis" he said And
! haven't got papers to show"
lie turned to the girl frankly
"Nou would have to take me on
chance he said Il give YOU my word
that | am capable of running the engines
of your yacht. and getting her to Alex
andria in the time bar n breakdown
but more I cannot say. VIII YOU risk
ito
The man looked al the girl with an in
curing smile. She gave him one more
made up her mind
You're engaged" she said frankly.
thus ii was in a short time he found
himself at work on the Yacht. In an
other three hours he had the steam up.
and. the ladies having come on hoard
inc Scuu raised her anchor and slowly
made her way out of the bay.
As engineer he was complete sue
cess and quickly earned the warm APP
prevail Of Capt. Jake Flint, from whom
he CLEANED good deal of very interest
ing information. II appeared that the
Yacht was the property of Mr. Silas
l.cWison, rich American. and that the
girl on board was his only daughter
tier father had left her I'm England and
a few weeks ago had made the Journey
to Cairo. leaving her to follow more lois-
uroly I'm the Scud
For the first two DAYS he spent most Of
his time in the engine room. once or
tWice as ne sat watching the movement
of the big pistonS. he broke into soft
laugh. 1t was on the third dav. when
ne happened To he on deck, that she
spoke to him
We are getting on famously. Mr.. Den
ms think good fate must have
dropped you from the clouds" she said
sweetly
lie looked at her and tried to hide the
look of admiration that had crept to his
eyes She seemed more gloriousIy beau
uful than ever. He made some vague
reply and she went on talking about the
yacht. 1t was intoXication to him He
had fallen desperately in love at first
sight and he wondered what it would all
lead to.
The next few days passed delightfullv.
He had several converse tions with her
indeed she seemed almost to welcome
an opportunity Of speaking with him
The more he saw of her the more CON
WINGED was he that he had made no mis-
take. This was no feeting fancy; he
was really in love.
Then came a bitter shock of disap-
pointment. They We're within a days
run of Alexandria. and he was about to
go on deck. As he raced up the com
panion something white on one of the
stairs caught his attention. He picked
It up and found ii was a telegram
CHANGING at it he saw that it was the
cable that had been sent to her at Gibral-
tar by her father. Almost unconsciously
he read the few words:
Get Scud to Alexandria by 22d with
out fail-Lord Hillmarch has promised
TO come with us to England"
He stood staring at it stupidity: then
as the meaning of the words dawned
upon him, fierce wave of unrea sonable
resentment swept over him. Old Levi
son had run across Lord Hillmarch and
him an eligible son-in-law,
had schemed to bring the two together
on the yacht. The old. stale arrange
heiresses and the Eng
fish aristocracy. Would they never tire
Of it?
With frown on his face, he made his
way slowly on deck, the telegram still
in his hand few yards away Miss
Lewiston was sitting in her deck chair. |
studying book. She looked up as the |
engineer appeared and smiled. He
crossed to her and held out the tele-
gram.
81 found this on the stairs" he said,