The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1902-1905, 1905-02-17

A 6 II e AT
ANNOYANCE
[Original.l

Of forty who had left his family a
Point Comfort and come down on tn
boat for the day. The two friend
talked over times they had spent to
gether as boys and mutually agreed
that in the future they would not again
lose sight of each other.
what can we do to bring ourselves
together occasionally" asked Chan
dler.
Don't know" replied Bruce. per
haps something will turn up"
BY the next mail after their separa
ton Chandler received a letter from
his friend, in which, among other
things, he said: I'VE are much worried
about Joe's health. | recommend {
trip to the south, but at present mel
ther my wife nor can go. Indeed We
must leave here for the north within 6
few days"
To this Chandler replied that he had
chartered schooner and with Il few
friends was going for cruise to Flor
ida. He would be very glad to take
Joe along. He would sail from Viz.
ginia Beach on the following afternoon
To this a reply came in the shape OF
telegram that Joe would arrive at
Norfolk the next day by the morning
boat In charge of the captain. Chan
dler, who was busy getting stores
aboard, sent one of his crew to the
boat to meet the boy, with orders to
bring him by rail to the beach.
All was ready on the schooner, and
Chandler was impatiently waiting the
arrival of the boat with Joe. Present
ly he saw the boat coming, and, to his
establishment, In the stern sat a girl,
She was apparently about eighteen
years old.
what In the name of Conscience
began Chandler and stopped.
The boat came alongside, and the girl
stepped on the gangway, ran up the
stairs and met Chandler on the deck
with Il pleasant smile. If she was an
invalid, she was not conscious of the
fact.
Pm Joe" she said
'JoeW exclaimed the astonished
man.
why, yes. Wasn't 1t all arranged
between you and fatherY'
MY dear young lady, there has been
a mistake. l supposed you were boy.
You'll have to go back. We are all men
on board this schooner"
Joe began to cry. How can l get
back? I've no one to take me-"
"Confound itT' muHsred the host.
what are we going to do? I must sail
at once or break into all my plans Be
sides, l have no one to send with you
Did your father suppose there were to
be ladies in the partyT
Perhaps. Please don't send me back.
l don't mind the absence,of other ladies
If you don't"
'"There's no help for it." said Chan
dler. Get up the anchor, men,"
Chambers friends were three plain
men of business who were interested
with him in riprap contract, and he
was going with them to Florida to lay
plans for the work. He put them in
forward rooms and gave up his own
cabin to Miss Josephine Chandler, TAX
ing one amidships himself.
Now. it is a very different cruise d
lot of men will make cooped up in a
small vessel having a woman aboard
from what it would be without her.
Every man looked annoyed. The mo-
ment Miss Josephine knew that she
would be permitted to remain she was
braced by the novelty of the situation
and was In high spirits. She seemed
either unconscious that she was I'M
welcome or didn't mind If she was.
Instead Of maintaining n dignIfied
reserve she was all over the ship, ask.
ing questions about the compass, the
anchor, the captain, the ropes, and at
one time when no one was very near
her she ran up the ratlnes, chattering
and laughing like monkey. The
schooner was rolling considerably, and
before she could be lgot down she lost
her grip and was overheard. The
steersman brought the ship about.
Chandler plunged in and held the girl
above water till they were dragged on
board, she laughing fas if she consid.
cred the affair verXyfunny.
But gradually Joe came ITO be consid-
cred something unique. Bittersweer
perhaps is the. 'best word to explain
how she was (regarded. She was al.
ways in the way, but somehow the
men liked to- have her in the way,
though none./of them would admit it.
They would heap no end of abuse upon
her when out of earshot, but obey her
wish when present. As for
Chandler, from feeling disgruntled at
her presence he first came to tolerate
her, and by, the time they reached the
Florida coast he would have considered
The vessel desolate abode without her.
The investigation that had brought
the party south was over, and the
'chooner'stprow was turned northward,
but Miss Josephine, happening to come
% Geek vat the time and being told
that they were going. home, put down
ler foot, declaring that she should not
20 home. Chandler. instead of ignoring
Ter wishes, consulted with his friends,
1ut they declined to interfere. The re-
'ult was that the schooner now was
turned about and sailed for New Or
cans. On reaching that port Chandler
eft the schooner with his charge and.
meeting with married
ady going north, determined to send
Zoe with bpr. Next he concluded he y
would go home by rail himself, and
yhen he1handed Miss Bruce over to,I
Ter father he said:
The something to bring us togeth.
r has occurred" And he forthwith