Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1905-02-18


"You wouldn't believe what mis-
cradle half hour have put in. l know
now that odious old cat in the patent
rocker has grinned afrcsh each time
ny stock sprang fresh notch. Isn't
II funny that women can't show lit
tie Christian courtesy to each other"
We'll" said the young chap thought
fully. I'm very sorry didn't get here
half an hour sooner. | might have
saved you some-er-trifiing discom-
fort"
But that wasn't what his eyes said
at all. and Margaret woke with a start
to Il realization that after having made
use of the Young man. il was not go
ing to he easy To get rid of him. But
what annoyed her the worst of all was
the fact that she felt that she was not
particularly anxious 10 get rid of him.
He had put down his bags and settled
himself back in his corner of the divan
In way that suggested that lie meant
TO stay until New York was reached.
do you believe in signs and omens?"
she asked.
ing to be an awfully jolly trip. I usu-
ally dread the ride into town. but
then
We'll. when / go home / shall say
unpleasant things to the friends who
advised me to take the boat trip down
the Hudson. Oh. l didn't mean to be
PERSONAL. beg your pardon. l was
merely referring to the babies and the
lunch. l can't sit on the deck because
the sight of lunch boxes and perpetual
eating makes me positively ILL.,
We'll remedy that. l know little
corner where they don't admit either
babies or lunch boxes. If you'll just
wait a minute I'll fix the matter up
/ have little stand-in with the cap
tain of this boat"
He rose. but she laid a OBTAINING
hand on his arm. You really mustn't,
T.
snow. see here" he said frankly.
you're calling yourself all sorts of
things because we haven't been intro
duced It's all nonsense, don't you
know. We were bound to meet after
the conventional fashion some day.
Something's me So"
1t may have been that Margaret
wanted to get out the fresh air or
it may have been because she felt il
her duty to change the expression in
his eyes which were looking 1t her -
eagerly. He strobe down to the purs-
er's room and paid the price of the
best stateroom on the boat. which gave
them access to a tiny patch of deck
room shut in on the other side by
lifeboat. stack Of life preservers and
q most uncompromising railing. From
this point Margaret viewed the beaut-
full panorama Of the Palisades. and
the young man. loyal New Yorker that
he was. insisted that 1t was purely his
duty to make his state show up at its
best
The last ten or fifteen minutes of
the trip were uncomfortable ones for
Margaret. Mrs. Grundy whispered in
one ear that she had already been in
discreet, and 1t was her duty to drop
the young man forever. Her sense of
fairness whispered in the other ear that
she owed him something for his cour-
tesy.
AS they gathered up their traps to
disembark it was quite evident that
the young man was not giving himself
any anxiety over the situation. He
took her checks. He even accepted
Pedro as a matter of course. He led
the way TO hanson without asking
her so much as where she was going.
When she and Pedro were settled in
the vehicle the young man stood with
one foot on the step.
''Will you tell him to take me to the
Grand Central?" she asked.
Il have already done So" said the
young man placidly. and. without hest
tation. he sprang into the hanson and
sat down beside her.
Margaret was speechless, not sure
whether she was glad or sorry. Was
the young man trying TO kidnap her.
or was he mind reader? She was GER
tain she had dropped no hint as to her
destination
You see. | knew you all the time.
You are Margaret Trenton. and you
are on your way to visit Eta Wilson
at Rye Beach. saw your name on
your luggage"
Margaret looked at him in wonder
"Yes. but Eta! How do you know
Etta?"
"Oh. she's my cousin. 1t was you
I was looking for all the time She
had asked me to meet you on the boat
II happened to be coming down at
the same time from the Merriam house
party. very nearly. missed you be-
cause because = well = that picture
doesn't do you Justice"
"Oh.' said Margaret. feeling some
how that there was nothing else to be
said.
Il was going on TO Newport for a
week, but ! think I'll stop off at Rye"
Margaret's glance fell, and slight
flush spread over her face The young
mans lips twitched.