The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-25


fore. She was a sort of social secretary
to his wife, and that she wag tactful was
cvinced by the fact that she had been
serving in that capacity for two years.
He found her sitting well up forward.
for it was not Mrs. Frazer's way to make
an employe an equal
Briefly Frazer sketched his troubles
The cruise viii end up in a free fight,
he said humOTously, unless you will
serve as a peace commission"
Let's have a minstrel show this even
ing" she suggested. Don't let the
women know and surprise them after
dinner"
Just the thing" cried Frazer. as.
with beaming face, he hurried off 20
round up the men. 1t was not difficult
matter, for they were all sitting gloonlIy
apart, and presently they were gathered
in the chart house. and Clara was out
lining her plans.
They worked so hard all the afternoon
that they were positively cheerful when
they went of to dress Tor dinner Frazer
glanced about the table, and the contrast
between the men and the women, the
latter with their airs OF ennui. cheered
him. Miss Brockway had worked half
the cure. The rest would come after
supper.
The minstrel show. held on the after
deck. was huge success. and the roars
OF laughter even brought Mrs. Frazer on
deck. That was but the first of a series
Of entertainments that kept the passen-
gers and crew alike busy Clara was
director Of amusements. and sometimes
it taxed her brain TO develop new ideas,
but something always turned UP. A ghost
party was one of her last resorts, and
in the bright moonlight the white draped
figures had a most spectral effect.
Long since she had been recognized as
one Of the party. and she looked par
ticularly effective in her white wrappings.
Dicky Rich was leaning beside her at
the rail
Il think you are more witch than
ghost" he laughed. You have certainly
bewitched us The day Of the minstrel
show I was carefully planning a murder
just to Offset the deadly dullness Of the
cruise
Minstrel shows are a more refined
form OF torture she smiled. Wish I
were witch. I might conjure US a
ship"
TRY it." he urged. Lets see If you
are able to make a go OF it,"
She pointed a slender. white arm over
the water. Here, ship" she called.
Come. ship Nice shipt"
In steamer chair near by some one
had left pair Of glasses. Dicky caught
them up and looked out over the water.
Then he made for the bridge where the
sailing master paced impatiently.
Clara. watching his strange movements
wonderingly. started as a trail of light
shot from the Ventura. and Dicky came
dashing back
you did it" he shouted. You con-
jured it up. Look. There comes the an
swer"
A faint streak of fire marked the hori-
zon and the whole party crowded to the
rail to watch. though they knew that it
would be hours before the steamer could
come up.
She was a Brazilian freighter, and with
view of the salvage gladly undertook
TO leave her course and tow the Nassau.
They came up to the harbor at night and
lay till morning off the bar.
Dicky and Clara stood together watch
ing the lights of the town and the brilliant
illumination Of the hotel
1T has turned out a pleasant cruise,
after ALL" he said. I'm just a little bit
sorry that you found the ship
so am l." she admitted. 1T has been
a sort OF Cinderella time for me- Now,
/ must get back 20 my duties as secre-
tary and forget this pleasant time"
Il don't think any of us VIII forget it,
he smiled. Il know Halgren is devoutly
| thankful to you. He and Miss Holcombe
adjusted their dispute. you know. Then
! Frazer was lifted from the depths OF
despair, and all OF us will have some
cause to remember your mirthfuI rule"
1T will be pleasant" she said, ito re-
member that 1 was of real service
Il think you did me the greatest serv-
| ice" he said softly. You showed me
/ that even confirmed bachelor can fall
/ in love"
! Are congratulations in order?" she
asked, smiling through the tears that
glistened in the moonlight.
/ THAT depends upon yourself" he an
/ swered, "For you are the woman l
have learned to love"
Don't you think you had better wait"
/ she urged 1T may be that IL is merely
owing to the way we have been thrown
| together on this cruise Wait until you
mingle with your own set again. They
/ say that the hotel is still crowded
/ Wait he laughed. "It has been all
! I could do to wait this long Is it yes,
dear?'
! She looked into his honest eyes. and
what she saw there satisfied her Her
hand slipped within his
! Il think it is" she said softly, though
! il seems too g9od to be true"
That's just how l feel about it." he
agreed, only with d different meaning"