Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-10
CHAPTER VIII.
Maggie Hutchinson
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w parlor-tricks, said Hooper, en-
deavoring to copy a judicial eye-glare he
had seen used by the Lord Chief Justice,
this committee will proceed to the bust
ness of the sitting"
1t was indeed necessary for our bud
ding lawyer to recall our wandering
thoughts to the affairs of the girl whom
we believed to be then halfway across
the Atlantic on journey to the British
Isles We might accept Karl's medium
istic statements to the fullest extent, not
only reading into them the literal sig
nifcance of the conversations and scenes
he reported, but also paying heed to the
logical outcome of these episodes; vet
there were serious difficulties in the way
of applying the information thus acquired.
Put badly, what would Karl say to
Miss Margaret Hutchinson, who was pre-
sumably accompanied by her mother, if
he went to meet the Merlin at Liverpool?
Let us, in imagination, reconstruct the
incident, after the manner beloved of
the French 1uge d'inStruCt1ou. The great
liner draws up to her berth at the landing
stage. Gangways are lowered, and there
is frantic rush of passengers to enter the
customs-shed, though the last philosopher
who walks placidly ashore knows that
his luggage will be decorated with little
printed crowns in time to permit him to
travel to London by the same train that
conveys the first triumphant struggler.
lowering between portion of wall
marked g H" and the ticket barrier of the
depot, will be found Maggie and her
mama, both appearing exceedingly well
after the voyage, and in state of re-
pressed excitement arising from the
conviction innate in every woman's soul
that she will never see her boxes again
once they have been so carelessly mixed
up with other peoples belongings.
Karl, exercising a degree of tact
blended with silver, obtains admission to
the inclosure, and recognizes Maggie at
once, having seen her ten days ago at
Manhattan Beach. But it is fully ten
years since Maggie last saw him. 50 there
is here a social embarrassment in the
nature of what our sporting friends call
bullfnch." Nevertheless, Karl, having
ingratiating manners and being really
an old friend and the son of Mrs. Hutch
inson's special crony, surmounts the
obstacle, and is received with enthusiasm
tempered by a certain shyness on Maggie's
part cher memory of youthful caresses
becoming clearer each instant) and by
speculation on the part of mama as to
the reason which induced this good
looking young man to come all the way
to Liverpool. to meet them.
Clearly, Karl must talk platitudes
about the weather, the fine sea-going
qualities of the Merlin, the ridiculous
ness of all customs examinations, or any
other inane topic at the outset-it would
never do to plunge straight off into the
occult cause of his presence. Moreover,
the train departs for London in five
minutes, and hosts of acquaintance
some of long standing, others of the ship
board or moth variety, exchange CHEEKY
greetings as they pass.
Il suppose you are staying in Liver
pool, Mr.. Grier?" says Mrs. Hutchinson
at last, and Karl is impelled to say that
he intends to accompany them to London,
when, at this critical state of affairs, there