The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1904-04-13
A DISASTER AT SEA

so, so. 1t ess like re sea Eat goes dis
\ ray and Eat, vut-vut you calls it?''
,hoPpy." she replied.
81. 81, Eat is what you calls my Eng
leesn-choppy."
Tfou are mistaken; / called it nothing
OF the kind. You asked me about the
sea. l said nothing about your use Of
the language. OF course, it is very diff
ficuIt for one to take up a new speech.
You do quite we'll
That night in the smoking room the
American, Mr. John Menry Martindale,
had made himself more popular than
usual by his good stories and lberality
Count FricadelIi was consuming cigar
cites on a neighboring sofa
There was the swish of the waves
without, and there was the roll Of the
boat, but all else seemed strangely 81
fenced as if a little storm had passed in
eventide, and the twilight had settled
down. But it did not last for long.
'Martindale is a regular old brick, ="
suddenly exclaimed an Englishman whose
voice filed the entire apartment. He
is a true American. and while people say
that he is lucky. l am sure he deserves
everything he has got. Certainly there is
nobody who enjoys life more. or who can
tackle a situation with better humor or
bigger nerve 1 was in Carfopolis when
he had the street railway fight and the
lines were being changed from the old
horse cars to the electric system. The
deals in that city must have netted him
from one TO two million dollars, and then
he took up two other lines and began his
manipula tons He succeeded the third
time, and then on the fourth affair. when
they tried to Guido him in another city.
he took the other track and made more
than in any other deal he had attempted
He is worth 100000
'Who will get all that money! in
auired a>young person. who should have
sJeen in bed.
His niece, 1 suppose" was the reply.
He has no children. you know. and his
wife, who is with him, has been i'll ever
since we left New York.
Ten million dollars Count Fricadelli
could scarcely believe his ears. 1t meant
wealth beyond anything his imagination
could comprehend. Ten millions! TWO
hundred million francs! 1t was grand
1t was magnificent.
same young lady again pacing up and
down the deck, he put all his energy into
the English hec ould summon, and, with
profuse apologies, made comments upon
the sea, the earth, the sky and all that
therein is.
She was pleasant and he was enthusi-
astic, and when the buoyant Mr. Martin
dale came out again to say something to
her, and after she had disappeared. the
Count let his enthusiasm bubble forth in
many earnest but somewhat broken syl-
tables.
''Mees WiltsOng, she is so charmingi"
''She is a very pleasant young lady"
replied to Martindale. and then he walk
ed dawn the deck with broad grin on
his face. After that he called her Nee
Wiltsong."
The court was very attentive very per-
sistent. very gallant. and every time Miss
Wilson appeared on deck in some mys-
ferrous manner he managed to be near to
offer every attention that gallantry could
suggest, that invention could find.
He was incidentally handsome. and his
English improved with the voyage 1t
was as if the shaking up had rubbed the
toughest edges off his sylIables When
Miss Wilson was not about he cultivated
Mr. Martindale, and theb uTly million
aire enjoyed the attention.
Finally, one day in great burst of
confession and confidence the Count
said:
"Meester Martindale 1 would be so glad
e pay my attentions to your niece"
why. certainly. Go ahead, exclaimed
Mr.. Martindale, with a laugh that was
en- the point of an explosion that might
lave shaken the ship if it had found its
ffun vent
And so it went on, and the climax came
one lovely morning when the great vessel
passed Queenstown on her way to the old
country
The young lady wit hthe flush of health
deep in her checks. her eyes as clear as
the skies, and her whole being a personi-
fication of vigor and beautiful happiness,
was standing in a corner by herself when
the Count approached and told her that
he had found that for which he had
searched the earth in vain-the object of
his love-the most adorable of women,
whom he loved with an unselhshness that
searched the earth in vain-the object of
his love--the most adorable of women
whom he loved with an unselfshness that
no language could express.
He certainly expressed it very made
quately in his broken English. But as
the journey seemed quickly ending he
grasped the chance with all the ardor of
a man determined TO win before the ship
was locked.
While he was speaking she was gazing
toward the horizon. and there was upon
her face a half-smile like the play of sun
light upon the face Of a goddess.
Finally he exclaimed:
II have ze permission of Mr.. Martin
dale, your uncle. to speak zus wiz you"
.'Of Mr.. Martindale. my uncIe!" she ex-
claimed.
Eyes. Mecs'' he Piled. ''of him: he
Knows of it. You may ask him; he will
comprehend
She said nothing. but seeing the rotund
form of the millionaire coming down the
deck. advanced to meet him, and without
q word. came back with him TO where the
Count was standing
"Mr. Martindale." she said. very sober
", Il understand Count Fricadeni to say
that you are my uncle. and that you have
given him permission to speak to me up
on somewhat personal subject"
Mr. Martindale smiled broadly and re
ssied.
sThe Count must he mistaken. I have
never claimed 10 be your uncle although
I should be very proud II I were
The Count was becoming strangely ag-
ftated but he said;
.'Meester Martindale. you said I might
paw my attentions 10 your niece
..WelI Count ] have not the SLIGHTEST