Omaha daily bee., 1903-02-08

oabAAa AAhAAh AANAA me- INC NthANHA AAAA ~
the world. Not only was / chRgrined at
losing the pleasure OF an ocean voyage
with her-the strolls up and down the
deck. with the shining eKpanse OF water
all around US the quiet tete-a-tete in snug
corners by moonlight. the long days and
evenings with nothing to do but revel in
her sweet companionship-bu there was a
particular reason why ] was anxious 10
sail with Eleanor on Minneapolis. She had
promised to give a final answer TO an i'm
pOrtant question / had asked her several
times. but to which she had returned only
evasive replies. You can see, therefore,
that my cup Of misery was running over
when I realized that an accident to my
train had made ii impossible for me TO
secure sthat answer, and the somewhat
strong language which l hurled at the
slowly vanishing hulk OF the departing
steamer may be excused.
/ had in fact spent my holiday in Eu-
rope thus far. apparently. 10 no purpose.
Was ever girl so vaeillating. so capriciouS,
so uncertain and yet so fascinating? When
! Joined her party In London three months
previous l found her effusively gracious.
and during the days we spent together
there it seemed to me that my suit was
making rapid progress. But at Berlin
dull stupid. inhospitable Berlin-she was
formal. cold. distant. At NsiennR she melted
somewhat. but another suitor Joined her
train. and ] was in despair until ] started
to pay a visit to relatives who were sum-
mering In the mountains. AT Lake Con-
stance she was distinctly kind, and when
broached the subject nearest my heart she
seemed about to yield-but, alas! did not.
Then at Monte Carlo her gaiety among a
swarm OF butterflies kept me aloof while
at Paris she was sweetest Of all, a marvel
OF tenderness and graciousness. But she
would not give me a hnRl definite answer.
reserving that, she said coyly, for the
quiet contemplation Of the sea voyage home.
A run up to Glasgow on business took
me from her. and now she had gone and
was not with her. Was ever fortune SO
OutrAgeously hekle7
Well. there was nothing TO do tut sub
init. ] could not take the Minneapolis,
that was sure. But It suddenly occurred
to me that there was one thing could do
could take the first train down 20
Plymouth. and there embark on a steamer
Of the German line, faster vessel than
Minneapolis. and. in all probability, be on
the dock in New York to claim my an
| swer when Eleanor landed So. pulling
myself together, hustled about, and was
soon speeding away toward Plymouth, as
sured that barring another accident.
would be in time to meet Bismarck when
/ II touched there. But 1 was in the very
worst of tempers when ] finally secured
my berth. and made preparations for q
lonely voyage. and ! must have made q
very decidedly unfavorable impression
\ upon my stRteroom companion, a middle
aged German with a terrible accent and q
more terrible thirst.
/ was still in a bad temper the next
morning when / went on deck after break
fast and overheard my name mentioned by
one OF a group Of American women just
after l had passed.
why, that's Guy Manning. the Harvard
half back" / heard one OF them say.
He's the man who made that long run
that won the game from Yale last year"
Ordinarily, recognition Of that kind
would have been grateful enough at the
| outset Of an ocean voyage, the more es-
| pecially as / noticed on passing the group
| later that they averaged we'll for beauty.
But just then the only girl cared for was
somewhere on on that heaving. trackless
waste, and could not Join her. looked
| ahead, sweeping the horizon with my glass.
| wondering where Minneapolis was and
whether we should overtake IL soon. But
I could see nothing and went 10 the smok-
ing room. where ! passed a wretched after
noon playing cards.
After dinner. happening 10 meet the cap
tain, / asked him when we should over
! take Minneapolis.
Tomorrow some time" he replied.
shall We pass near it?" asked, with,
fear. too evident anxiety.
within nifty or sixty miles" he an
swered. Near enough to talk TO her"
What do you mean?'
wireless telegraph. All the boats OF
this line and the American line are nov
equipped with the new system OF wireless
telegraphy. and we can easily eommuni-
cate a distance Of lbs miles with our In
struments."
Can anyone send messages to Mime
apolis, sir?" ! asked. pressing cigar into
his hands.
Anyone who's got the price" he re-
marked, lAoonicsIiy. as he walked away.
With that assurance my mOAa changed
! spent the afternoon IN preparing a mes
sage TO send - Eleanor soon the
| 20 boats NsIs within communicating dis
tRnoe. ThoI 'Ot q poet. I could have
written an o. TO Marooni then.
The following morning ] was up early
10 the annoyance of my fellow-lodger. and
at once went on deck. Surely enough. they
/
delicate little instrument attached to tbs
rigging in the forward part Of the shiI
having put it's long, invisible finger upon II
Its a fne morning" remarked the ON
Ger in charge OF the MRrooni apparatus.
Yes" / Rsssnted. Il have q message
J wish TO send 20 a lady on Minneapolis
produced the message had penned. vel
svare that II was q little long, but / wa
unable 10 see how I could spare a single
word of a..
; The Oficer looked at Il and burst on
laughing. why. there are 800 or 400 word
! IN that We can't take love letters. /
; will bankrupt you II you don't cut II short
Boil IL down 10 four or hve words"
Boil down that letter, felt myself turn
ing red in the face under his ironieal smile
and crushed ths message In my pocket
Very we'll" ] said sadly, ''I'll write an
! other"
} After a short time ! produced an ab
breviated dispatch. and he received II witt
} grunt OF satisfaction II Was as follows
Miss Z. p. Rives. steamer Minneapolis
Missed steamer. Is my proposition ae
cepteds Relieve anxiety.
GUY MANNING