Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1905-01-25
His Postponed Voyage
rcopyright, 1904. by Ethel aolland.l

me to be his wife, and / have prom
Used to answer him at Mrs. Mynter's
reception. I don't know what to say
to him. I am awfully fond Of Sam,
but then there is Harvey Merritt. He
Is so clever, and l am sure he likes
me. l wish could make up my
mind
Mrs. Emerson stroked her daughters
hand.
you must do your own choosing,
DEAR" she said. There Is no one that
could do that for you, but my heart
has gone out to Sam"
That afternoon Sue called on her
friend, Mrs. Curtis. She found her
with a most disconsolate expression
on her face.
my dear JESSIE" cried Sue, what
is the matter"
II have q serious problem to solve"
she answered. Jack gives a stag party
tonight, and about ten minutes ago
the maid came to me and said her
mother was seriously i'll, and she must
go to her at once. Now who can
get W bcENc tucSc lucu tohiSht'
Sue meditated.
II have It," she said at length. II
will be your maid tonight"
"You" gasped Jessie.
Sue nodded.
But" exclaimed Mrs. Curtis, "Har-
vey Merritt and Sam and other men
that you know are going to be here"
1T will be such lark, Jessie. You
will remember l was q maid in those
amateur theatricals which Mrs. Myn-
ter gave. l have my costume now.
the wig, and the liquid to stain my
face. Consider 1t settled, Jessie. No
one will ever know me, and you will
see what an efficient maid I can be-"
IF they don't recognize you, l shall
be extremely thankful to you for help
ing me out of this strait" was Jessies
answer.
1T will be great fun" Sue declared,
''but you mustn't tell a soul, not even
Jack, until the evening Is over"
Evening came and with it the new
maid. As she entered the room where
Mr.. and Mrs. Curtis sat Jessie said to
her husband:
"Oh, Jack, Alice was called home this
afternoon by the serious illness Of her
mother. This is Mary, who takes her
place this evening"" And Jack, look
ing at the dark skinned, black haired
girl before him, did not for a minute
suspect she was dainty Sue Emerson.
While waiting on the guests the new
maid gave start at the turn the con.
versation had taken.
"Well, Merritt" Curtis was saying,
you and Sam are the only bachelors
among us tonight"
"And l won't remain one for long"
answered Merritt.
The maid was passing him sailed
almonds, and her hand shook trife.
II have made up my mind to ask
certain young lady to be my wife, and
she has given me reason to believe she
will not refuse"
The men looked up In surprise.
"Who is the giriT' asked Curtis.
Miss Emerson"
The dark blue eyes Of the maid fash.
ed as she filed the punch glasses.
"A toast to YOU" young friend of
Merritt's cried. Here's to your sue.
cess in winning Miss Emerson" The
guests raised their glasses and drained
them, all save Sam Congdon, whose
glass but touched his lips. A man at
the end Of the table called out:
"Who would have guessed that our
cynical friend had fallen In love?
''Of course am marrying for love-"
Merritt retorted, but his tone was
tinged with sarcasm.
you'll get the money along with the
love this time" some one ventured to
remark.
Merritt shrugged his shoulders. His
manner was near to insolence.
The maids hand trembled visibly as
she poured the wine. She placed a
glass at Sans plate, noting the pallor
of his face as she did SO. Her blue
eyes grew darker still as Sam arose
and said:
Wont some Of you fellows drink
with me? Tomorrow night at this time
I'll be on my way to Europe"
"Why, how is thatY some one asked.
A wave Of color spread over Sans
face for an instant as he deliberately
told the falsehood.
my father wishes me to look after
his business in Liverpool"
All drank to his prosperity. Only one
present knew the real reason for this
sudden voyage. The new maid blushed
furiOusly under her stained cheeks.
At 10 o'clock the following morning
Sam stood waiting for the cab that
was to take him to the wharf. His
trunk, strapped and labeled, stood In
the hall. His grip and umbrella were
on the table. Sam went to the dresser
and taking from 1t a photograph cut
out the head and shut Ii I'm the back of
his watch case. 1t was the head of
Sue Emerson. He heard the cab stop
In front Of the house, and. pulling his
hat down over his eyes. he started out.
nearly falling over small boy In II
blue uniform standing in his path. \
dirty hand passed Sam n yellow en-
velope.
"Sign here, sir"