The daily Alaskan., 1907-01-09
His Self Confidence
IOriginall

were to study hard. to beware Of de | signing women and not make q mis- ! alliance. He assured her that he was wide awake on the latter subject, and 1 she had nothing iO fear for him. HalI l a ycar later he waS graduated with high hOnOrs and wrote his mother that he had followed the first of her r"- quests. and man who could accom- plish what he had accomplished at one of the oldest universities in the world certainly Should hr trusted not to make fool of himself in becoming entan- Gled with an unworthy woman.
 A few weeks after that he took pas sage on an ocean liner for home. On the voyage he became acquainted with a lady whr was registered as the Hon. Amelia urysdalr She was of refined appearance. and her manners were those of the British ariStocracy, q num- Der of whom Easton had met while spending vacations with lis university friends. Shc knew several titled peo- ple he had met aud described them. Ono nf his college mates she claimed as d relative. What. Cousin Dick she exclaimed Well, upon my word. to think that you should have been friends
 There is nothing like discovering mu- tusl friends 10 draw travellers together, and Eastou was delighted at finding a young and pretty woman with whom 10 pass time which was all leisure The Hon. Miss Drysdale was travelling with her mother. who. being troubled with seaSickuCSS. kept her room during the whole voyage. They were going to travel in America. first visiting friends in Newport whom EaSton knew well hv reputation The moon when the ship left port Was iu the second quar- ter. and >turc huc weather prevailed he auL the Hon. Miss DrySdale passed their evenings on deck under the sOOth- ing influence of it's light. Byron says. The devils In the moon for mischief Whether this be SO or not. Easton found that IL was especially conducive to drawing two people of opposite sex together Besides, the time spent in England h.:d given him fancy for it's urlSturrucy. .Mother.' he said to him self. thought me silly enough to get entaugled with some actress or chorus girl What would she say if l could tell her on my arrival that l was engaged tu daughter of au earl: l cant do that. ot course, especially in So short time. but l have friends at Newport, and shall take care to secure invita- tiUnS there.
 once just before reaching port he ocean acquaintance, more than any ac- Quaintaurr. but the lady gently took occasion 10 say that all acquaintanceS with any but those born To the circles to which she had been accustomed could be ouly tranSitOry. But on the morning of their arrival while they stood on deck. the vessel Steumiug up New York bay. she turned from hiIn with q Sigl that gave hjm faint hope Just before coming down the gang plank the mother came up. and EuSton vaS presented. She was old and fat. and her daughter in no way reSembled her. EI>ton offered the mother his arm. hut the daughter would not per nit. Instead she asked him to carry bundle of umbrellas and parasolS strap ped together He did so and when they had diSembarked called a carriage for them. putting the umbrellas in after them.
 As he was closing the carriage door he thought he saw slight pallor come upon the face of the Hon. Miss DryS- dale. which he could not but attribute to the parting. Quickly drawing one of the umbrellas from the package, one with a large silver knob on the handle, she gave 1T to him. saying:
 Please accept this as a token of my appreciation for your kindness dur Ing the voyage"
 He bowed his acknowledgements and turned away. Then the carriage and all that made life prospect of happi- ness for him departed.
 Easton joined his mother, who was waiting for him on the dock. He con cluded to have his baggage examined and take it with him. While waiting his turn he stood talking with his mother. His heart was too full to keep of the subject that engrossed it.
 Mother, Ac said, II haven't been picked up by an adventures. On the contrary. have met daughter of a British peer cant tell you that have won her but 1 am sure she loves me-
 At that moment q customs inspector stepped up to him and said:
 "Tll trouble you for that umbrella"
 Easton was indignant. but surrender ed the umbrella. The official opened and shook 1t. Then, Seizing the silver knob at the handle, he turned it. The knob unSCrewed, and the official shook the hollow handle. Out came a little ball of tissue paper Unwrapped. it displayed a valuable diamond. The handle was full of diamonds.
 Easton was thunderstruck.
 No blame to you" said the officials. "We had a cablegram warning us of . smuggler personating the Hon. Amelia Drysdale whose maid she had once hoar Shn saw thut I was watching