The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1907-05-17
Seleet Stnrp.
THE SECONDS" Love AFFAIR.
BY BERNARD MASTERS.

pressed excitement on his face.
81 say, Ned" he began, ''have you
seen that pretty girl the skipper has under
his charge? She S a regular sumner. Fair
hair, sky blue eyes, pearly teeth and a
complexion like
stopped him there. Dick simply
couldn't help falling in love with every
pretty woman he saw.
Dick was second officer of the Allahbad,
and was the first He was tall, slim
and good looking, and, to own the truth,
the girls were as bad oyer him as he was
over them.
We were bound for Australia, and du-
ring the first few days of the voyage no.
ticed, and, in fact. 1 wonder everybody
didn' notice, the open manner those two
young beggars firtsd at every opportunity.
The skipper noticed it, | know; but he
didn' care, for he had beautiful way of
relieving himself of all responsibility. He
would come to me and say "Now, Mr..
Grey, place this matter in your hands.
You must see it is done correctly. leave
II entlreiy to your care.
Then, if anyone bothered him about it,
he would simply observe:
ooh! you must see my first officer.
He has the matter in hand. Ihave moth
ing to do with it., and, in consequence, |
had some lively times.
We were about half way through Suez
when one morning the skipper came to me
as l was taking my watch on the bridge.
II wish to place the young lady, Miss
Desmond, under your charge" he began,
''and, as | have other things to attend to
| wish you to look after her until we arrive
at Melbourne, when she will be met by her
future husband, Mr.. Goodwin. | notice
young Ransome, the second, spends much
of his spare time with her. Please see to
it, Mr.. Grey. [ leave the affair entirely
in your hands,
Then, after asking one or two questions
about the business of the ship, he left me-
AS soon as my watch was over | deter
mined to seek out both Dick and Miss
Desmond (Alice her name was), and tell
them straig ght the way that they were going
on would have to be stopped.
1t was fast growing dusk when | left
the bridge, and just as passed shaded
corner of the deck house [ heard voices.
| didn't mean to stop and listen, but L
recognized Dick voice and turned to speak
to him. There they both sat, with their
arms around each others necks, like any
boy and girl, and kissing each other.
'It is almost too good to be true, dar-
ling" Dick was saying. "We'll be mar
ried when we get to Melbourne. You do
love me, don't you, dear?''
The girl gave very satisfactory answer
from Dick point of view, and | stepped
forward.
"And what about Mr.. Goodwin? I
exclaimed. "Arent you both ashamed
of yourselves?'
They both started up and calculated ::
"Hang Mr.. GoldwinT' At least Dick
did, and the girl thought it if she didn't
say it.
"Now, look here" l continued; "this
sort of thing will have to stop, or | will
have you, Dick, clapped in irons.'' The
girl gave a startled cry of fear at this, and,
| believe, put her arm around Dick; but
the light was bad. continued, grimly !:
stAnd shall have you, miss, confined to
your cabin.
"Look here," began Dick.
"The skipper I added, "has placed
this matter entirely in my hands, as per
usual, and have to take what steps |
like. You are now in my charge, Miss
Desmond" and 1 looked grim and savage.
The next moment they both jumped at me.
"Good, old Nedr' cried Dick, in a
stentorian whisper, "now we shall be all
right
.'Oh, you dear Mr.. First exclaimed
the girl, nearly hugging me. "You will
help us, won't you?
intimated to them both that l certain
ly should not help them to make fools of
themselves; and I tried to be very severe,
and said many nasty things of love and lovers
in general for which, I regret to say, they
didn' seem to care bit.
We were day out of Alden when l
went below and found Dick sitting in our
cabin with his hands thrust deep into his
pockets, and looking as pleased as if he
had lost sovereign and found coop.
check instead.
ssPleasedr' he exclaimed, savagely; "1
am pleased. Haven't | a perfect right
and just cause to be pleased? Am | not
engaged to the best and sweetest girl in the
world? And-and-oh, hang it, Ned !!
you might help fellow"
eyes, know 1 might" I answered.
II might help you to collar another chaps
girl, but won't. am ashamed of you,
Dick. She, being woman, can't help
being tickle, I suppose. But you-well,
didn' think you'd do it. Just think of
the other chap waiting in Melbourne for
the girl he loves. Perhaps he's been slav-
ing for years to make home for her, and
now you go and"
"Oh, stow itr' growled Dick. "Slav-
ing to make home for her, indeed! Why,
the beggar's millionaire. 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 a mean, grasping
Yorkshire manufacturer, who thinks money
is the axle of the universe. He couldn't
even spare time from his money -grubbing
to bring his daughter out himself, but sends
her alone to meet this Mr.. Goldwin, man
of over forty years of age. It's abomina-
able! Why isn't there blessed parson
on the ship! We'd be married straight
away"
After I had thought over the matter
bit and got few more particulars from
Dick, it came to my mind that the matter
was very unfair one, and I determined to
give these two youngsters what help l
could.
care you sure you are quite serious this