The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-04-05
= What Happened
Il To GIoriana.

q A'A n blowing across the lake.
Ho< Most of the passengers had
sought the refuge and Sc
clusion Of the cabin, and seemed to
be engaged despairingly in praying
for death. But two still remained on
deck.
They were Orlando G. Spoonamore,
capitalist and young man Of leisure,
party of the first part. and handsome
young woman with fluffy brown hair.
party of the second part, and they
happened to be sitting side by side.
She was absorbed in copy of the
Philadelphia Saturday Evening Stake,
and he was reading the automobile
news in a daily paper-when he wasn't
glancing at his fair companion out of
the corner of his starboard eye.
The wind freshened and he proceeded
to button his light overcoat. But the
top button was unaccountably missing.
To the best of bis recollection it was
there when he boarded the boat. The
breeze, or something, must have torn it
off.
Mechanically he detached the stick
pin from his necktie and pinned the
two flaps securely together. Then lie
resumed his reading.
And his glancing.
Presently, having finished the story,
the young woman raised her head.
looked around her with sudden sur
prise, and started to rise.
Mr.. Spoonamore felt slight tug at
his chest. He looked down.
TO his horror he found that he bad
pinned the loose flap of her light gray
wrap to his oyercoat, and turned red
with anger and modification.
What does this mean. sir:'' she de-
: manded, in freezing, indignant tones.
"I-I beg your pardon" he stam-
mered. ut was an accident. 1 had
lost button from my coat. and sup
posed I was shutting up the garment
with pin. l had 10 Intention"
But you haven't lost button, SIR:
she interrupted. For she could see it
plainly.
He looked down again.
81 see you are right" he said, his self
possession gradually returning, "but /
thought I had"
"Will you release me, sir. at once!'
Her eyes flashed dangerously. but he
did not finch.
81 fear you will have to sit down
again." he proceeded to explain. 'These
two flaps are fastened together with
my stickpin, and it has patent fasten-
ing on the shank. for safety from the
light-fngered gentry. I screwed it up
tightly, and it will Ne a work Of time
to unfasten it,"
She sat down again, but stif1y, and
without q word.
II never expected" he remarked, as
he fumbled at the pin, ito form a sud
den attachment Ike this"
''Sir!n'
"I'll have to suspend operations fo'
q moment. Here come two or three
persons hurrying to the rail. to loot
at the water, I presume. May asl
SOu " uuUSllu lll(lC oho oppSAA w ~
engaged in an animated conversation
With me, purely for the purpose o.
averting suspicion?"
Il will not! Such position as thi
is intolera BILE e--unthinkable!"
ut is. 1t is impossible. But it ex
lists, my lords and gentlemen. like II
human race"
Besides" she again interrupted, re
laxins trifle as the hulnor of the sit
uation forced itself upon her. 1T ism
proper for me to be engaged in convel
sation with a total stranger"
20, yes it is. If it were not. the
wouldn't do it in those dellghtfr
stories you've read so often in tina
->aper. It's quite the thing these day!
To remove the curse, however, alloN
me to Introduce
''But I don't wish"
Pardon me, but let me ask you nc
to be so cold and distant-especiall
not so distant. You'll excuse the n:
ture of the tie that binds us. One
those persons j.; looking at us cur
ously."
Hurriedly she leaned little neare
to him.
That's better. AS I was about
say, my name is Orlando 6. Spoon;
more. move in respectable societ,
and personally am entirely Harmless
l don't look like cannibal, do p
"N-no, but"
"And your name, as have Just d