The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1905-09-15
AT THE VOYAGE M
Copyright, 1905, by T. c. Mcclure.7

y ~ Gel
CorDln stood by the rail eagerly
watching the thin blue lines on the
western horizon and thankful in his
neart of hearts that in q few hours
ne would be again on American soil.
lie turned from the rail with the
intention Of seeking the seclusion of
the smoking room. AS he made his
way along the deck, his mind still &C.
cupleu with disquieting thoughts, he
awkwardly bumped against the foot
rest OF an isolated steamer chair.
He lifted his cap and turned to offer
abject apologies to the occupant of the
chair.
"Polly!'
The girl sprang from the chair.
John" she cried in a tone that
matched his own,
Corbin leaned against the rail and
continued to stare at her as If he
could not credit his eyes.
Great Scott" he said, running his
hands through his hair and smiling
foolishly.
We'll you're the last person 1 ex-
pected to meet" said she.
Corbin groaned.
END I've missed six whole DAYS of
your society,"" he complained. "Tell
me, how does it happen I have not
seen you before?"
The girl laughed.
Mamma is none too good a sailor.
you know, and this has been a rather
hard passage" she explained. "I've
been looking after her the greater
part of the time"
Corbin turned his eyes and looked
t~houghtfully at the thin blue line Of
the horizon.
Wen be locked in five hours" he
said. May I claim those five hours
of your time?"
Yes" she said readily. "shall we
stay here?"
Now said Corbin when he had
brought another chair and they had sat
down together, tell me about your
summer campaign"
"Oh"-she shrugged her shoulders
t usual thing-a month in town and
then 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 business?" she asked.
No." he said shortly. II thought I
went IN pleasure"
Didn't you find the pleasure2" abe
said.
Not exactly" said he. Every prob
ably l 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
leries at Brussels. It was very unwise.
There We're ghosts Of too many happy
days hanging about. Then I went to
Venice, and the pigeons at st. Marks
put the finishing touches to my misery.
l fed the little beggars n morning.
do you remember that other morning
at st. Mark'sT"
YES" she said, looking across the
sparkling water.
THAT was living" he said. "And the
day we lost your mother in Naples
do you recall it,"
She nodded.
"Oh. WELL" he 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
Weren't they?" she said, Just a hint
Of ~wistfulness in her voice.
Corbin looked at her searchingly.
Was she sincere or merely sympa-
81 wish that one of two things had
happened" he said impatiently. 81
we had never found your mother
Naples that day or that I had been
to a title"
I'm glad that you haven't q titla: