Amador ledger., 1906-02-09
AN AFTER DINNER
STORY
[Original.1

SpSctIully Wnlle the laQ1eS fet1reQ
Then the former lighted cigars while
the latter had coffee in the drawing
had heard that the first meeting of
Mrs. Amory with her husband had
been very romantic and asked Mrs
Amory to tell about it. 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.-I beg pardon, didn't
catch your name-that you can't con-
tribute to these interesting episodes OIL
you would have done so already
''There was a trifing incident be-
tween me and the man l married, but
1 fear it would sound tame"
I'm sure it would not. Tell it by
all MEANS"
"NGr. Hardy-Hardy is my name-in
the summer of 1S9- owned q yacht
He invited 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 afiame by a burning
Christmas tree"
81 should suppose that it would have
been you who fell in love with him, y
remarked one of the ladies, taking a
fresh cup of coffee.
$50 did. His coat tails caught fire
Selling them, 1 hugged them to my
bosom, extinguishing them. 1 saved
his life, but retain scar on my breast
to this day."
Several Of the ladies put down their
coffee cups. All were interested. This
was something far more stirring than
anything that had yet been produced.
"As was saying" continued the mar
rator, "Fitzherbert-Fitzh 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, l standing
out with maidenly modesty. My hus-
band,' 1 told him, must be brave, cool
in the presence of danger and, withal
resourceful.' Would he replied, that
1 might find an opportunity to show al
least that 1 can die for YOU"
"Delightfulr' exclaimed several lis.
teners in unison.
Suddenly saw him start. 1 listen
ed, with him, and heard a strange noise
without. Then something struck the
yacht, and we We're 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 turtleF
"Capsize," replied the narrator i'm.
perturbably. ''Of course the water
rushed in, but the air caught in the
cabin prevented its being filed. We
stood in water up to our necks in al
most total darkness on the ceiling OF
the cabin"
"Good 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 a fishhook fortunately caught in
his clothes. Pulling on the line tc
which it was attached, he drew up g
reel.
"'My plan is complete he said
Hold on to the reel 1 shall dive and
rise to the surface beside the yacht
taking the line with me- When 1 am
free l shall pull you out by the line
Courage
"Now, there was just one best place
to attach the fishhook, but'-hesitatine
-"I don't like to mention it."
"Do So" "You must" ''Tell u.s.
came from the group at a breath.
1.-THE seat of his trousers. Giving me
q parting caress to reassure me he
dived, and in about a minute 1 felt q
pull on the line"
what terrible situationw exclaim
ed Mrs. Ernest.
-"It 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 long breath.
Were the others saved" inquired
one of the party.
"All lost" was the reply. "Not one
left to congratulate US on the engage
ment that occurred on the yachts bot
tom"
The story teller stirred her coffee
slipped it and sat demurely silent.
"Did you not suffer from shockr
asked Mrs. Ernest
II would have had not been stimu
lated by the devotion I had received
1 had been saved from Il horrible deat1
by a man who loved me devotedly
whom l loved and who filed all my
requirements in a husband"
Soon after the party dispersed. Wher
the rest had gone Mrs. Amory asked
the hostess:
''Who is your friend who has passed
through such a thrilling experienceY