Durant weekly news. (Durant, Choctaw Nation, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 190?-1944, 1906-02-02
AN AFTER DINNER
STORY
Ioriginal.1

the latter had coffee in the drawing
room. Mrs. Ernest remarked that she
had heard that the first meeting OF
Mrs. Amory with her husband had
been very romantic and asked Mrs.
Anory to tell about 1t. Mrs. Amory
complied, telling how the man she was
TO marry had surprised her In street
costume when she had intended that
he should see her in evening dress.
This led TO other stories of a similar
kind, each more vapid than the last.
One Of the party, newcomer among
them, sat unnoticed by the rest. When
the conversation Jagged one of the la
dies said to her:
II Judge, MRS. beg pardon, didn't
catch your name-that you can't con-
tribute to these interesting episodes or
you would have done so already"
There was a trifiing incident be
tween me and the man / married, but
fear It would sound tame"
I'm sure 1t would not. Tell Il by
all means"
"Mr. Hardy-Hardy is my name-in
the summer OF 1S9- owned a yacht.
He invited a small party to go sailing
with him, among the number. The
truth is he had been in love with me
since the previous Christmas, when he
had saved me from death, my dress
having been set ahame by a burning
Christmas tree"
IL should suppose that It would have
been you who fell In love with him."
remarked one Of the ladies, taking a
fresh cup Of coffee
80 did. His coat tails caught fire.
seizing them, l Rugged them to my
bosom, extinguishing them. ! saved
his life, but retain scar on my breast
to this day"
coffee cups. ALI were interested. This
was something far more stirring than
anything that had yet been produced.
"As was saying" continued the mar
rator, -Fitzherbert was
his first name-got up the yachting
party on purpose to propose to me.
After luncheon every one left us alone
together In the cabin. Fitzherbert
pleaded with me for an hour. standing
out with maidenly modesty. My hus-
band told him, must be brave, cool
In the presence Of danger and, wlthal,
resourceful.' Would he replied, that
1 might ind an opportunity to show at
least that can die for you.'"
"DelightfulT exclaimed several lis
teners in unison.
Suddenly l saw him start. I listen
ed, with him, and heard a strange noise
without Then something struck the
yacht, and we were thrown against the
side, which had now become the floor.
Then there was further change, and
we stood on the ceiling. The yacht had
been caught In a squall unprepared
and had turned turtle"
Beg pardon" said Mrs. Amory.
What do you mean by turning turtleT
"Capslze," replied the narrator i'm
perturbably. "Of course the water
rushed in, but the air caught In the
cabin prevented It's being filed. We
stood In water up to our necks In al
most total darkness on the ceiling Of
the cabin"
Coed graciOusw exclaimed the party
at breath.
"Fitzherbert at once took advantage
OF the situation to show that he pos
sessed every requirement to be my
husband. Taking me in his arms, he
said to me: DO not be alarmed. This
is nothing. Trust to me-
"The yacht was full Of fishing tackle,
and fishhook fortunately caught In
his clothes. Pulling on the line to
which 1t was attached, he drew up a
reel
my plan is complete he said.
Hold on to the reel. | shall dive and
rise to the surface beside the Xacht,
taking the line with me. When / am
free shall pull you out by the line.
Courage
"Now, there was Just one best place
to attach the fishhook, but''-hesltatlng
-"I don't like to mention IT,"
''Do So" "You must" Tell u.s."
came from the group at breath.
"The seat of his trousers. Giving me
parting caress TO rcassure me he
dived, and in about a minute I felt
pull on the line"
what a terrible situationw exclalm-
ed Mrs. ErAest
ut was the moment OF my life. |
followed the line under water, was
guided down the companionway and
under the gunwale. then rose TO the
surface where Fitzherbert caught me,
supported me to the yacht, and we
crawled up on the bottom, from whence
we were rescued later by a tug"
The lady ceased to speak, and every
one present drew a long breath.
Were the others savedT inquired
one OF the party.
"All lost," was the reply. mot one
left to congratulate us on the engage
ment that occurred ON the yachts bot
tom"
The story teller stirred her coffee,
slipped II and sat demurely silent
did you net suffer from shOckT'
asked Mrs. Ernest
II would have had not been stimu-