The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1905-09-01
AT THE VOYAGE END

intention CT seeking the seclusion Of
smoking room. AS he made his
way along the deck, his mind still oc-
cupied with disquieting thoughts. he
a"kwardly bumped against the foot
rest Of an isolated steamer chair
lie lifted his cap and turned to offer
AFFECT apologies to the occupant of the
chair.
"Polly!'
The girl sprang from the chair.
"John!' she cried in a tone hat
matched his own.
Corbin leaned against the rail and
continued to stare at her az IL he
could not credit his eyes.
Great Scott" he said, running h,s
hands through his hair and smiling
foolishly.
Well, you're the last person I ex-
pected to meet" said she.
Corbin groaned.
ana I've missed six whole days Of
your society," he complained. "Tell
me, how does it happen 1 have not
e you before?"
The girl laughed.
Mamm Is none too good a sailor.
you know, and this has been a rather
nard passage" she explained. .I'ye
been looking after her the greater
part Of the time"
Corbin turned his yves and looked
noughtfully at the thin blue line of
the horizon.
wei be locked in five hours" he
said. May l claim those five hours
Of your time?"
EYES," she said readily "shar no
stay hereY"
Now said Corbin when he had
Drought another chair and they had sat
down together, "tell me about your
summer campaign"
"Oh"-she shrugged her shoulders
the usual thing-a month In town and
hen the usual round of stupid country
places"
with dukes and earls dancing a
lively attendance" he supplemented.
Lets not talk of them" she said
quickly. II am tired to death of titles.
and-don't tell mamma, will you?
I'm glad to get home-foolishly and
pathetically glad. Have you been
across on business7" she asked.
NO." he said shortly. IT thought I
went on pleasure"
Didn't you find the p~leasure?s abe
said.
mot exactly" said he. very prob
ably | chose an unfortunate itinerary,
You see, l went to the cathedral at
Cologne again and to that little coffee
house In Antwerp, and l did the gal
lerles at Brussels. 1t was very unwise.
There We're ghosts Of too many happy
days hanging about. Then 1 went to
Venice, and the pigeons at st. Marks
put the finishing touches to my misery.
l fed the little beggars one morning
do you remember that other morning
at st. Mark's?"
EYES," she said, looking across the
sparkling water.
THAT was living" he said. "And the
day we lost your mother in Naples
DO you recall 1t?'
She nodded.
"Oh, WELL" be said resignedly, "It's
something to have the memory Of those
days anyway"
The girl turned her head slowly.
$50 I have discovered" she said.
"Do you ever think Of them?" he
asked eagerly.
sometimes. For mammals sake,
you know, l wish I didn't think Of
them so much" she said.
They were high old days." he OBJ
served.
Weren't they" she said, Just a hint
Of usefulness in her voice.
Corbin looked at her searchingly.
Was she sincere or merely sympa-
thetic?
II wish that one Of two things had
happened" he said impatiently. II
wish we had never found your mother
in Naples that day or that l had been
born to a title"
I'm glad that you haven't a ttle,'
she said.
COrDlu sat up suddenly.
Honestly" he asked.
Honestly" she repeated.
Look here" he said, III it wasn't
for your mothers ambitions
He stopped, hesitated, then reached
over and took her hand.
"Polly, dear" he said softly, TN
honestly and sincerely sorry to disap-
point your mother"
$50 am I. but-but I can't help It,"
she said.
For a moment he was lost in
thought.
II should have persisted that day
at st. Marks, shouldn't II" he asked.
Z "If I had known" she laughed, that
you wouldn't have persisted, you dear
stupid man-I-I should never ave
, said No."
Corbin rose and held out his hand to
help the girl to her feet.
! 81 think" he said, "we'd better
: break the sad news to your mother
while she's still too weak to lecture
ns" GRANT OWEN.
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