The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1906-01-17
AN AFTER DINNER
STORY
NA~~<~Ss
lorlslnal1

AmoTy to tell about 1t. Mrs. Amory
complied, telling how the man she was
4 to marry had surprised her In street
costume when she had intended that
he should see her in evening dress
This led 10 other stories of similar
kind. each more Yapid than the last.
One OF the party, a 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-thnt you can't con-
| tribute to these interesting episodes or
you would have done SO already
"There was trining incident be-
tween me and the man / married. but
! fear 1t would sound tame"
I'm sure 1t would not. Tell 1t by
all means
mfr, Hardy Hardy is my name--in
the summer OF 1885, owned a yacht.
He invited O small party to go sailing
with him. among the number The
4 truth Ii 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 burning
Christmas tree"
II shouldssuppose that 1t wouM have
been you who fell in love with him. Y
remarked one OF the ladies, taking a
fresh cup of coffee.
$50 / aid. His coat, tails caught Ere
seizing them, i Rugged them to my
bosom, extInguishing them. I saved
his life, but retain a 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 I was saying sontinued the mar
rator. 'sF'itzherbert- rltzherbert was
his first name got UP the y,chting
party on purpose TO propose to me.
After luncheon every one left lis alone
/ together In the cabin, FitGhcrbert
pleaded with me for an hour, standing
out with maldenly modcsty. My hus-
band / told him, must be brave, cool
in the presence Of danger and, withal,
resourceful.' Would he replied, that
l might md an opportunity to show at
least that can die for you'"
"Delightfni!' exclaimed several lis
tenefs in unison.
Suddenly / saw him start. ] listen
ed, with him, and heard a strange noise
without Then something struck the
yacht, and VIC were thrown against the
side. which had now become the floor.
Then there was a further change. and
we stood on the ceiling. The yacht had
beer caught III squall unprepared
and had turned turtle"
beg pardon" said Mrs. Ainory.
what do YOU mean By turning tuItlcT'
"CapslEe," replied the narrator i'm
perturbably. "Of course the water
rushed la, 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 gracious" exclaimed the party
at q breath.
"IFitaherbert 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 5e alarmed. This
is nothing. Trust TO me-
1.-THE yacht was full Of fishing tackle,
and fishhook fortunately caught In
his clothes. Pulling on the line to
4 which 1t was attached, he drew up d
reel.
"'My plan Is complete, be said.
Hold on to the reel. I shall dive and
rise TO the surface beside the yacht,
taking the line with me. When I am
free ] shall pull you out by the line.
Courage.
Vow, there was just one best place
70 attach the hshhook, but" -hesltating
~ don't like to mention It."
do sof "You must Tell u.s."
came from the group at breath
''The seat OF his trousers Giving me
a parting caress to reassure me he
dived, and in about a minute | felt q
pull on the line"
What terrible sltuationD exclaim-
ed Mrs. Ernest.
ut was the moment Of my life. /
followed the line under water. was
guided down the companionway and
under the glnwale, then rose to the
surface, whore Titzherbert caught mo.
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 sayedg" inquired
one Of the party.
All lost" was the reply. mot one
left to congratulate us on the engage
ment that occurred on tho yachts bot
tom"
The story teller stirred her corec.
slipped 4 and sat demureIy silent.
Did you not suffer from sliock?'
asked Mrs. Ernest
Il would have had not been stimu-
lated by the devotion l had received.
| had been saved from a horrible death
by q man who loved me devotedly,
whom ! loved ana who filled ali my
requirements in a husband"
Soon after the .party dispersed. when
the rest had gone Mrs. Amory asked
the hostess:
Who is your friend who has passed
through such thrilling experiencc?a
"She Ia writer OF action. Her
story, ! fancy, was impromptu, but
was none the less interesting. I'm
glad she enlisted your attention. You