The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1906-07-19
On a Transatlantic
Liner
By PHILIP vERRILL M.oHELs
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 a game en-
titled: "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-
banded and sand papere1 off, accord
ing to a plan of civilization. Their
g~lances met. He oscillated where he
was for q second, and then came
leisurely forward, raising his cap in
%salutation.
"Why. it's Seton Lowe-Mr. Lowe"
she said, 81 didn't even know you
were aboard"
"No, l came a little Unexpectedly"
he confessed. 81 took the trip to
avoid my friends
"Oh; then | trust you will be sue
cessful," she answered, somewhat
icily.
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.
ut looks that way-at present" she
agreed.
He glanced at her furtively, after
which she abruptly scanned him over
with a keener interest.
"You are not alone?" she inquired.
practically, yes"
why | thought read-wasn't it
true? Shouldn't you Wedding
SHOULD have come off to-day" he
supplied, nonchalantly. "All Of i,
true, so far as it went"
"Oh Really? Then
Miss Schuyler"
Exercised her divine ~prerogative OF
changing her mind. She is wearing
the other man"
"Wearing?"
Eyes. They put us on and off like
udlo. L lIOSl nG Will nhu IL e lhS
Ada's eyes glistened, somewhat
fercely. 81 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 dollhouse
of rancor," he told her, "and | an
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 bt
v%icarious only, at the utmost"
Indeed" she said.
He looked at her sharply ant
blinked through the smoke of hi
pipe.
"See here" he blurted, you wert
not the Miss Lee Cavendish who wa.
engaged to some fellow from Oxford?'
you are neither acute nor compll
mentary, not to know--or to assume
so little interest"
HIN" he unused, II always
called you Ada. never supposed tina
fellow"
He glanced at her again. earnest
ly. you were always a sensible girl,
he observed. "Shall | tell you wha
I've done?"
Not if you wish it kept a secret"
"I've Joined the Association of On
mitigated Bachelors" he impaired
"I've taken a solemn vow never to asl
any maid, girl or on eartl
to become my wife"
She looked at him oddly, her fac,
slightly Redeemed.
1--WE Joined myself" she murmured
mot the bachelors"
mo, the Bachelor Girls. We hav,
each of us taken a 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 a thousand"
you don't say!" he exclaimed, witt
frank admiration. I'm mighty sla,
to heal it. Ada, we shall get alonI
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 tina
any ground whatsoever, when FRI
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 ~fortife
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 Ii
deck by himself for half an hour.
She arose, dropping her rug to tn
deck. He took it up and adjusted
roughly about her shoulders, as sh
. leaned against the rail and watche
the graceful birds as they followe
the steamer.
II love them-the sea gulls." 81
stated.
: Then love has not been entirel
' eliminated from your nature?" he vel
tured.
!. sno.,. h. efllu Cato, 70 x,o, nlaaca