The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1907-05-17

she's been engaged, and how many chaps
have kissed her besides your I asked.
"She!' exclaimed Dick, with withering
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.
"Stopr' said |. 81 have one little
suggestion to make. Directly we arrive in
Alden | will give you leave to go ashore
Procure special license, get married at
once, and then-why, then Mr. Millionaire
Goodwin can go and hang himself"
''Ned, you re a brlckr' said Dick,
wringing my hand. 81 knew you'd see
us through. I'll go and tell Alice"
A little later on l was on deck taking
an altitude when Miss Desmond came up
to me.
81 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 us.
l was not in particularly good humor
just then. Trying to get correct alti-
tude with your sea horizon in a strong haze
is no joke, especially when some one is
talking twaddle to you at the same time,
and limited as much to her.
eyes, I am going to help you two to
make fools of YOURSELF" | answered.
"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 temper, and I should say yours
is just as bad. D."
"Well, think you are very horrid, "
replied the girl, "and l 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:
"T We not got nasty temper, and think
you re poor sailor and don't think you
know anything about ships and things at
all, so therer'
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 packed
Dick off ashore to procure license, and
sent Alice with him. Then went to the
skipper and told him how matters stood.
He took the affair as 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 man hur
rying along the quay in the direction Of
the ship. He was a great, big, forid-
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, I believe" he
began. II mean the--er-Alice, that s
to say the Allahbad of course, to be sure;
how absurd of me. You re the captain, l
believe turning to me.
I disclaimed the honor, and pointed out
the skipper, while strange misgiving
came over me.
"Oh, how do you do, captain" he be-
gan. PLEASED to meet you. My name S
Goodwin. I'm from Melboure, don't you
know. Couldn' wait Thought L come
and join the ship here. By Jove, ism
it cold-I mean hot p And, removing
his hat, he violently mopped his brow.
Save us-Goldwin! What a mess! l
felt like hooking it ashore myself, [ can
tell you, but the next moment the captain s
words cooked my goose for me.
PLEASED to meet you sir, began the
skipper, rather awkwardly. "We didn' t
expect you just yet. You We come to meet
Miss Desmond, a very charming young
lady. She's under the care of my first
officer, Mr. Grey. Mr.. Grey, kindly step
this way. This gentleman has the matter
in his hands; have nothing to do with it
whatever. Please talk to him about it.
Sorry I must leave you now. Affairs of
the ship, you know. Good day, sir. y
Then he left us, left me standing there
like stuffed doll, and wishing for what |
had never wished before or since-a vio-
lent shipwreck.
After standing there looking at each
other in silence for what seemed to me
several hours, I ventured to remark that
it was very fine day, to which my COM
panion responded, and the enthusiastic
way he agreed with my remark gave me
the comforting assurance that he felt as
nervous as I did. In fact, he said it was
the finest day he had ever seen in his life.
Then inquired if he had ever visited
Alden before, and he solemnly assured me
he never had except on the occasions when
he had chanced to be there. | could see
the man was terribly embarrassed, and
wore very worried look on his face.
"Miss Desmond has gone ashore, l
blurted out.
ooh, she has," he exclaimed, with
what sounded like sigh of relief.
'She's gone with the second officer I
added, determined to get the matter out as
soon as possible.
As spoke the worried look faded away
and he was positively smiling all over his
genial looking face.
"Ah, indeed! The second officer, you
say? always liked second officers, Mr..
Grey. Shake hands, sir. You should
encourage that young man, Mr.. Grey; I
am sure he will be credit to his profess
sion.
And as he shook my hand like pump
handle I wondered whether he was mad
or I.
"Have cigar?" he exclaimed. "Can
always talk better when smoking Look
here, shall we 60 ashore and have drink p
I couldn't leave the ship, but took him
into my cabin and gave him a drink and