The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1905-08-25
IN THE FOG.
BY Franz Won courins.

BY Franz Won Couring.
copyright, lao. by w. X. Hearstl
Ut was on one of my first trips from sew
York to Naples on board one Of the Ereai
North German Lloyd liners. and before
Wa had been many dayv out. l had met =
few sympathetic people, Win whom !
spent most of my time while going across
Two OF these were American ladles, OF
whom especially ono before long told ma
everything about herself. though ! had
never tried to win her confidence. Sha
felt In need of a friend on board the big
steamer travelling alone. and SO she 1ola
me that she had been engaged Tor hNs
years to a countryman whom she was no."
on her way to meet and marry at Naples.
Her Intended husband was a scientist and
had formerly been too poor 10 ththK OF
marriage. but now he had received a posi-
ton In the famous aquarium which en-
sbled him to support u family. II not in
luxury, at least comfortably. For I'VE long
years she had not seen him-had only
heard from him through letters whlch
came with unerring punctuality every
week-and now she was SO happy that she
could harly realize that the whole thing
was not a dream.
She was far from beautiful, pale and
thin, with an expression which told OF
many s%u1erings; but when she spoke OF
him" her face became so radiantly happy
llAk OuC S0aAN dASk SAR
pretty; and in my thoughts l often con-
graduated the man who was to be the
husband of such an afectionate and low
ing wife.
TIL other American girl waaver much
different. Serious. intelligent. wen rean
and evidently unusually energetic. She
was a socialist and had devoted much OF
her time to the Improving Of the condi-
lions of the poor of Chicago. She was the
author of several books on the social quss-
ton which had brought her not a llttls
fame, and was a delightfully."- conversation
alist.
These two American ladies', one OF ths
ships surgeons, a Frenchman who was re.
turning to France after having made his
fortune in the States and myself soof
formed a little exclusive clique which was
watched with jealousy by the other pas
sengers. Our seats were close together az
the table. on deck we moved our easy
chairs together in a little nook at the end
Of the promenade deck. and the EVENING"
we generally spent in the salon playing
cards or chatting.
One evening, when We were %ploughins
our way through a heavy fog and the roar
Of the whistle made the whole ship trer.-
BILE every minute, the Frenchman. who
had until then been very silent. began to
speak Of ghosts, splritism and clairvoy-
ance. The sturgeon felt In duty bound to
declare that he only believed In sciences
and denied the existence OF spirits OF any
kind. Much to my surprise. he was hotly
contradicted by the socialist lady, while
the other lady and myself did not take any
part in the discussion.
IT am willing to let you decide for your
SELF" the socialist lady said. Maybe you
will believe me when I tell you all about
your own thoughts, your plans and your
past"
"And what about your future?"
1.-The future neither I nor any other hui
man being can say anything about"
"Oh, then, I do not see much In It,"
laughed the Frenchman. Il know my own
past; 1t is only the future which interests
me-"
But can tell you not only your past.
but also what any of your relatives are
doing at this moment"
mo, thank you; I do not care a CONT
mental for my relatives"
Miss May Somers, the bride, looked up
and eagerly said: "If you do not mind.
Miss Burton, I should like to know what
my fiance at Maple has been doing today.
or is doing now. Then I will ask him il {
is correct when we arrive?"
with pleasure" replied Miss Burton,
and seized her right hand, whose lines She
began to scan carefully. Suddenly she
turned very pale and became greatly agt-
taxed, though Miss Somers, who was BASH
fully looking down. did not notice it. We
looked at one another in surprise, but soon
lne Color came DaCk IC nee lace, ana III Il
most natural and unconstrafned tone She
told the bride-to-be q few commonplace
things, which she evidently Invented on
the spot.
Miss Somers was rather disappointed.
but said nothing, and soon after retired.
When she had left us we sat for a few
moments in deep silence. which was
broken only by the hoarse roars of the
whistle. All Of us felt a suspicion, a fore
warning OF something, but nobody dared
ask Miss Burton what she had read in
Miss Somers' palm.
Finally 1 took courage and asked:
please tell me, Miss Burton, what dark
secret you kept away from Miss Somers?"
Oh, something terrible - something
which filled my heart with the greatest
sorrow and pity" =
"Is he dead?" asked the Frenchman.
mo! Much worse than that"
What, then?'
cat 5 o'clock this afternoon he wrote a
letter to her, in which he breaks the en-
gagement because he loves another-au
Italian girl-and Immediately after he de-
posted the money for her return ticket
with the American consul at Naples. She
will get the letter the moment We arrive"
The earnest way in which she said these
words made a strong impression upon us.
but with all effort the surgeon tried to
make light Of it. and said with a smile:
you are not as smart as I thought, Miss
Burton. we Snall easily De aDle TO nnd
out whether you are right"
You doubt? Well, we shall see when
we get to Naples. Good night and with
out another word she left US.
Four days lat&, when the pilot came on
board, the first officer distributed the mail
among the passengers. Miss Somers was
standing leaning over the side of the ship
so as to be sure to catch sight Of her lover
as soon as he came near the dock.
Now we shall see whether you were
right, Miss Burton whispered the sur
geon.
Yes, we shall see.' she replied. almost
%inaud.bly.
Suddenly we heard the officer call out:
Miss Soners! Miss Somers! A letter
for Miss Somers!"
The young lady ran toward him, while
We eagerly watched her every movement
She looked at the envelope with a smile
and tore it open. We began to breathe
freer.
A piercing cry. and we saw her faint and
80 - 49, &c l-aa