Waterbury Democrat., 1903-02-18
A WEDDING
 TRIP
By SOPHIE HAMMOND.


 the rail, was realizing what bore it was to be crossing with mob of French people, and not an acquaintance on board. That girl with the wind-blown hair over there was an American; but how the dickens
 The occupant of steamer chair near him got up suddenly, and the move ment made him turn. As his glance fell upon the pallid old lady who had arisen, he smiled quickly.
 Miss Lockhart!" he exclaimed. "Why, I didn't know you were aboard. I'm afraid you're finding this mo- tion unpleasant. Can I-get you any, thing?"
 The old lady clutched the rail, turn ing a shade more livid.
 Thank you, Capt. Powell" she gasped, stifay, ''but my niece will as- sist me.'
 The girl had put down her writing and came hastily forward.
 "Oh, Aunt Emily, I'm afraid you're not feeling well," she murmured, anx- iously. "Let me send for"
 sHelp me to my stateroom, Madge," said the old lady with dignity. II am ill."
 When the niece came back to her scat tered writing materials an hour later, Powell turned from his contemplation of the sea.
 T hope your aunt is better, Miss Lockhart," he said, with polite solici- tude.
 The girl raised her eyes, and looked at him curiously for a moment. 'sThank you," she said, formally, dropping them again; just now she is asleep, but I am afraid she is asuf- fering great deal.'
 'Oh, she'll probably be all right by morning Powell observed, reas- suringly Its this nasty rocking that knocked her up.''
 'When Aunt Emily goes below it is long before she reappears," she said. Then she looked at him again. Tt was in Florida that you met her, wasn't it?' she asked.
 "Yes, last winter. We were both on a search for health. I don't think she remembered me at first"
 She had taken up her portfolio and opened it on her knee.
 "Oh, she knew you perfectly" she said; and resumed her writing so os- tensibly that Powell, after moment. shrugged his shoulders and walked off.
 But there really wasn't another soul on the boat to speak to. He couldn't l. A T. and, looking them over, he decided that he wouldn't if he could. For awhile he wandered about, bored and aimless. But finally he found himself again by the side of his reserved young countrywoman, doing his usually sue cessful best to make himself entertain ing. And afterward, whenever she was on deck, he was generally to be found beside her.
 She was rather unappreciative at first. She didn't laugh whenever she might have been expected to; and she let him do most of the talking. But now and then subject would come up so particularly interesting that she was drawn into it in spite of herself, and after several such relapses the stiffness couldn't be regained. Hetold her stories of the army in the Philip pines, and of the adventures, thrilling and ludicrous, of his own regiment; they talked of the old world sights they had both seen; they discussed re- igion iberally, ethics gingerly, poli- tics warmly They were both clever; the universe was about them, inviting criticism; they dissected heaven and earth. And if sometimes trick of her eyelashes, or the sunlight in her hair, got in the way of his logic, he honestly didn't recognize the symp- toms.
 When they were more than half way across Miss Emily put in brief appearance on deck. Powell had count ed on good deal of frienGliness from her, for she had shown him quite marked attention when his wound had made him something of lion. But the mal-de-mar seemed to have worked havoc with her disposition, and she responded to all attempts at conver- sation with a resentful snappishness that was disconcerting. So that the regret caused by her second forced retirement was not unalloyed.
 twas the chance remark of passen- ger passing him in the moonlight "Only two more days aboard, ,"-that brought Powell to sudden realization of what the fates had been weaving.
 He sat up straight and stared out across the ocean.
 ''I've been forgetting everything,'' 2 he muttered. II ought to have told them, of course; buf 'pon my word, I didn't think of it. Well, if there's any harm done"-he drew his breath sharp ly-"it's only to myself"
 There was brushing of skirts past him.
 ''I can't persuade her to move" said girls voice, plaintively, as it's own CT sank into her steamer chair. 1T really believe she is worse now than she was at first. To think of her hav- ing come abroad for the sea air, and being forced to stay in that stuffy little purgatory all the way across! And it's been such lovely weather, tool"
 "Perfect," Powell acquiesced, glanc-