The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-02-03


to care so much about visiting Italy
and Paris and the Riviera, but Switzer-
land tickled her awfully. She had
picture Of Mont Blanc on top of a
work-box. When 1 think how cheap
the postcards aye in these days, / do
wish wife could have had a lot to paste
In an album that she kept. She always
said was to take daughter, If we
ever got money enough for two to cross
on, and that she would stay at home.
And now, the moneys come, enough for
all of us, and I'm taking daughter, just
as sha said. and we're to see England
and she isn't! tell you ma am, things
are sorted out unevenuy by our good
Lord"
Miss Carstairs carried into her cabin
the usefulness OF the gentle old face
the irresistible conviction of his homes
ty. What, in the beginning, had tempt
ed her to mock, now laid forcible hold
OF her better nature and impelled her
to gentler thoughts.
A sharp awakening was the recounter
with Miss Bleeckers apprehensions as
to where she should sit at table, and
the effervescence of that lady's regrets
that the parties with whom she had
counted upon being included, were all
made up" Helen recalled previous
voyages under the aegis of her distin-
guished father, where their table was
the one most desired by social pre-
tenders, with its plats and wines served
from his private stores it's aura of
plutocratic exclusiveness in which re-
volved obsequious stewards! She
WINGED at thought OF glory fled. but
while Miss Blocker enlarged upon the
neglect Of the secretary, Foster, in not
having arranged this matter for them,
reflected bitterly that Foster, trimming
his sails to the wind OF Fortune, was
now the devotee of the new Mrs Car
stairss whims. and unles especially or
dered SO to do. would be likely to make
no effort for the rebellious stepdaugh-
ter's advancement.
Affecting indifference to the detail
in question, she found herself at din
ner assigned to small table in one
corner of the saloon, of which five
of the nine seats were already filed,
When Miss Blocker, sparkling inter-
mittently in jet, sailed ahead of her
charge, and motioned Helen into place
beside her. A steward, who had iden-
titled the ladies, came hurrying to over
take them, and express his hope that
Miss Carstairs would be satisfied with
his selection for her. assuring her, in a
whisper, that he had taken every care
that she should have only the best
people as neF COluTdueS.
Helen, who had not yet sat down,
smiled at the reassurinG promise. The
whisper, overheard by two of the gem
tlemen unfolding their napkins oppo-
site, produced an answering smile. I'M
possible to resist a voucher so bestow-
ed! simultaneously the two men arose
and stood till Miss Carstairs had taken
her revolving chair and was safely in
stalled beside her chaperon. The table
was now complete, save for the seat
at the end and that at it's right adj
joining Helens.
Soup had hardly been placed before
them when the intended occupants of
the vacant places resolved themselves
into a couple, at sight of whom cold
tremor passed into Miss Carstairs S
limbs-for they were none other than
the mild little man with whom she had
been talking on the deck. and the girl
who had thrown John Glynn flower!
The old fellow had made scant prep
araton for the ceremonial meal of the
day on silipboard. His kind face shonc
with soap and water, while think lock
of gray hair was laboriously trained by
the same medium over his bald crown.
His mustard-co tourist suit" of
tweed the red tie and rumpled cheViot
shirt might, indeed, have served a no.
BILE earl upon his travels through an
American drawing room; but Whatever
the appearance Of her sire, 1t was at
once lost to sight in the radiant pref
tness and extraordinary self-possession
of he girl who accompanied him.
A goddess of liberty in height, with
the complexion of a pnk-and- white
balsam flower, and rippled hair of gold
worn parted in the middle and en-
tending outward in exaggerated wings;
her admirable. young form was attired
ina cheap China silk of mn 4Rzure tint
s incorpora ting transpareactes of white
q II y