Barbour County index., 1906-06-13
On a Transatlantic
Liner
By PHILIP vERRILL M,GHELS
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Copyright, by Joseph B. Bowles.)


If this in itself were not sufficiently
remarkable, Ada was beautiful, clever
and young, while Seton was manly,
wholesome and wise.
Grown weary of her reading, Ada
glanced across the deck. A man there
leaned against the rail. smoking She
noted the back of his head and
thought of a boy with whom, on a
time, she had played at game en-
Sltled: "Courtship, Marriage and Di-
vorce."
The man, who was Seton, turned
about. Then she saw that he was,
in very fact, that self-same boy, ex-
panded and sand-papered off, accord
ing to a plan of civilization. Their
.glances met He oscillated where he
was for a second, and then came
Ieisurely forward, raising his cap in
salutation.
"Why, it's Seton Lowe-Mr. Lowe" "
she said. 81 didn't eyen know you
were aboard"
0No, came a"1ittle Unexpectedly, "
ne confessed. 81 took the trip to
avoid my friends"
"Oh then l trust you will be sue
eessful," she answered, somewhat
fcily.
He made no attempt to reconstruct
his observation. They were silent for
a moment
''It's going to be a smooth, tedious
trip" he presently stated.
at looks that way-at present" she
agreed.
He glanced at her furtively, after
which she abruptly scanned him over
with keener interest.
''You are not alone?" she inquired.
practically, yes"
why. l thought read-wasn't it
true? Shouldn't your wedding"
Should have come off to-day" he
supplied, nonchalantly Cali of it
true, so far as it went
ooh Really? Then
Miss Schuyler"
Exercised her divine prerogative of
changing her mind. She is wearing
the other man."
Wearing"
'Yes. They put us on and off like
hats. I trust he will find it wearing. ="
Ada's eyes glistened, somewhat
fiercely. 'I have known men who re-
newed their ties as often as we choose
between our hats" she said. "The fad
of changing the heart is quite as flip
pant as that of altering the mind"
Personal experience is the hothouse
OF rancor," he told her, "and am
still under glass;"
"Well, do you fondly imagine you
are all alone in an enjoyment of ran
corr"
my fault-fnding is at first hand
he answered, while yours should be
vicarious only, at the utmost"
Indeed" she said.
He looked at her sharply and
Blinked through the smoke of his
pipe.
See here" he blurted, "you were
not the Miss Lee Cavendish who was
engaged to some fellow from Oxford?'
"You are neither acute nor compli
mentary, not to know-or to assume
so little interest"
Him." he mused, T-I always
called you Ada. l never supposed that
fellow"
He glanced at her again, earnest
Iy. "You were always sensible girl,
he observed. Shall 1 tell you what
I've done?"
: mot if you wish it kept a secret"
''Ive Joined the Association of Un
mitigated Bachelors" he impaired
"Ive taken solemn VOW never to ash
any maid, girl or woman on eartl
to become my wife,
She looked at him oddly, her fac,
slightly Redeemed.
''I've joined myself" she murmu-ed
mot the bachelors
mo, the Bachelor Girls. We have
each of us taken grave and reverend
obligation never to wed any lad, you'll
or man who may, can or must ask u
to become his wife, mate or partne
for life, if We live to be thousand"
You don't say!" he exclaimed, witt
frank admiration. I'm mighty gla,
to hear it. Ada. we shall get alon
this voyage delightfully."-. Let us shak
hands"
She placed her dainty hand in his
for a funny little second, and tn
glance that played between them me
on neutral ground.
OF all the unstable, neutral ground
that Fate has yet devised for man
confusion, the sea is perhaps the mos
conspicuous. For the matter of tha
any ground whatsoever, when fir,
quently employed, is perilous to NEE
upon, especially for people who hav
protested much against conjugal ell
tanglements.
Ada, however. as the days went b,
was confident of her own immunit
from danger, and Seton was fortifie
securely in his own iron mail of d
termination.
Wonderful weather we're havin
after ALL" he said, pausing at he
chair at last, when he had walked til
deck by himself f6E half an hour.
She arose, dropping her rug to tt