The Brandon news., 1907-03-28

L
aire. Alice had only seen the man
once in her life, and that when she
was girl of fifteen. You see, it is
some daft, fat-headed family arrange
ment. Her father is mean, grasp
ing Yorkshire manufacturer, who
thinks money is the axle of the uni
verse. He couldn't even spare time
from his money-grubbing to bring
his daughter out himself, but sends
/ her alone to meet this Mr.. Goodwin,
man of over forty years of age. It's
abominable! Why isn't there a
blessed parson on the ship! We'd be
married straight away"
/ After / had thought over the mat
ter a bit and got few more particu-
lars from Dick, it came to my mind
that the matter was a very unfair
one, and / determined to give these
two youngsters what help 1 could.
Are you sure you are quite serious
this time, Dick?" I asked. "Serious!"
he cried. Ned, old chap, can't tell
you, nor even Alice herself, how
much love her."
It's a funny thing" he added,
but ii she were as ugly as sin
should love her just the same. I
/ have told her all about myself"
Il am glad of that" I answered.
II am sure she would be pleased to
hear about your love affair with the
harbormaster's daughter at Brindisi
and the little Spanish girl at Malta,
and that almond-eyed Japanese girl
you were going to marry"
I'm not quite SO idiotic," replied
Dick.
"And she's told you how many
times she's been engaged, and how
many chaps have kissed her besides
you?" asked.
"She!" exclaimed Dick, with with
ering scorn. "You-you idiot, she's
an angel! And, if you cannot think
OF anything else but abuse you had
| better shut up" and he rose to leave
| the cabin.
"Stop!" said I. "I have one little
| suggestion to make. Directly we ar
rive in Alden I will give you leave
| to go ashore. Procure a special Ii
cense, get married at once, and then
why, then Mr.. Millionaire Goldwin
can go and hang himself"
Ned, you're brick!' said Dick,
wringing my hand. 81 knew you'd
see us through. I'll go and tell
! Alice"
A little later on I was on deck
/ q k OF I'd xryt,o
| mOnd came up to me.
II think you are perfect dear,
Mr.. First" she exclaimed. "And next
to Dick love you better than any one
| in the world. 1t is good of you to
promise to help u.s.
/ was not in a particular good
| humor just then. Trying to get a
| correct altitude with your sea horizon
in strong haze is no joke, especially
when some one is talking twaddle to
you at the same time, and I limited
as much to her.
eyes, am going to help you two
to make fools of yourself" an
,swered. You thank me now, but
after twelve months of cat-and-dog
| married life, you won't thank me, I'll
be bound. Dick has an awful tenn
per, and I should say yours is just as
bad" W
well, think you are very hor-
| rid" replied the girl, "and don't
like you one little bit, so there"
Then she tossed up her head and
started to walk away; but swung
round again, and stamping her foot,
she exclaimed:
i've not got a nasty temper, and
I think you're poor sailor, and I
don't think you know anything about
ships and things at all, so there!''
That's the way in life. Make up
your mind to help people, and they
will ever afterward be your enemies.
Directly We arrived at Alden I
packed Dick off ashore to procure a
I license, and sent Alice with him.
Then went to the skipper and told
him how matters stood.
He took the affair as I knew he
would, and hardly seemed surprised.
well, it has nothing to do with
me, Mr.. Grey" said he. You have
the affair in hand and must do as you
think best in the matter =
At this moment observed a man
hurrying along the quay in the di-
rection of the ship. He was a great,
big, fiorid-faced man, dressed in white
ducks and a large Panama hat on
his head. He crossed the gangway
in short. nervous strides and seemed
in state of suppressed excitement.
This is the Desmond, 1 believe"
he began. Il mean the-er-Alice,
that's to say the Allahbad, of course,
| to be sure; how absurd of me. You're
the captain, believe" turning to
me.
| disclaimed the honor, and pointed
out the skipper, while strange mis-
| giving came over me.
| "Oh, how do you do, captain he
| began. Pleased to meet you. Ny
names Goodwin. I'm from Mel
/ bourne, don't you know. Couldn't
wait. Thought Id come and join
| the ship here. BY Jove, isn't it cold
/ - -, 90 ', hot And xox.,1x,sx,<~ L =