Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-03-04
CHAPTER |.

hum of engines, was speeding evenly
through an azure sea.
81 agree with that opinion most
heartily, though, to be sure. so much
depends on the weather" replied her
friend, Elsie Maxwell, rising to pour
put the tea Already the brisk sea
breeze had kissed the Chilean pallor
from Elsie's face, which had regained
Its English peach bloom. Isobel Bar
)ng's complexion was tinged with the
warmth of a pomegranate. At sea,
bven in the blue Pacific, she carried
with her the suggestion of tropical
harden.
weather." purred Isobel again as she
bubsided more deeply into the cush.
IONS.
sIet us hope such blissful state
be mind may be justified. But you
know, dear, we may run into a dread
bull gale before we reach the strait"
/! Isobel laughed.
"All the betterw she cried People
bell me I am a most fascinating in
kalid-I look like a creamy orchid.
And what luck to have chum so dis
Interested as you where a lot of nice
men are concerned! What have I
Home to deserve it? Because yeu are
keally charming, you know"
@Does that mean that you have al
ready discovered lot of nice men on
boardT'
Elsie handed her friend cup Of tea
and plate Of toast.
Naturally. While you were moon
Ing over the lights and tints Of the
Andes I kept an eye-both eyes, in
fact-on our compulsory acquaintance
bf the next three weeks. To begin
with, there's the captain"
.He is good looking, certainly. Some
what reserved, fancied."
Reserved Isobel showed all her
nne teeth In smile. Incidentally she
look satisfactory bite out of a square
of toast 9TH soon shake the reserve
put of him. He is mine. You will see
him play pet dog long before We meet
that terrible gale of yours"
'Isobel, you promised your father
ITO look after my health during the
voyage. Do you think / intend only to
sleep, eat and read novels all the way
to London? Then indeed l should be
ILL., But there is a French count on
the ship. He is mine too"
''You mean to find safety in num-
bers?"
"Oh, there are others. OF course l
am sure of my little count. He twist
ed his mustache with such an air when
I skidded past him in the companion
way | am sure VI. lie Comte Edouard
de Poincilit will do our French far
more good than a course In Mo-
here"
"Am ! to be included In the lessons?
And you actually know the mans
name already"
Read II on his luggage, dear girl.
Ee has such a lot. See if he doesn't
saear three different colored shirts for
BREAKFAST, lunch and tea. And, II you
refuse to help, who is TO take care Of
10 pitt Edouard while give the cap
hahn a trot round? Don't look cross;
there's darling
Nov, Isobel, that does not matter
b bit In Valparaiso, where You are
knOwn, but in Paris and London
fswhere I mean to be equally we'll
Known. It is passport to smart soci-
W to be trifie risque. Steward.
live my compliments 10 Captain Cour-
tenay and say that Miss Maxwell and
Miss Barring hope he will favor them
with his company to tea"
Elsie's bright, eager face flushed
Slightly. She leaned forward, with q
pertain squaring Of the shoulders, be-
ing a determined young person In some
respects.
"For once I shall let you or" she
said in a low voice. $50 give you
fair warning, Isobel-I must not he
Included in impromptu invitations Of
that kind"
J. Good gracious, I only meant to he
polite. Tut, tut, as dad says when he
can't swear before ladies' I shan't
make the running for you any more"
Elsie drummed an impatient foot on
the deck. There was little pause.
1sobel closed her eyes lazily. but she
opened them again when she heard
her friend say:
Il am sorry If seem crotchety,
dear. Indeed. II is no pretense on my
part. You cannot imagine how that
man Ventana prosecuted me. The
mere suggestion Of any ones paying
me compliments and trying to be fas-
cinating Is 50 rppeIlent that I cringe
at the thought"
isobel Bs-ing raised her head froR
The cushions.
"Ventana was a determined voOer,
them What did he dOE'' she asked.
~He-he pestered me With his atten-
lions. Oh. should have liked TO fog
him with a whip
He Was always that sort Of person
too serious And the head dropped
again
The steward returned He was q
kalf caste. His English was to the
point
de cspt'in say he busy. he No cone
was his message
Elsis's display Of irritation vanished
N q merry laugh IsOtel bounced mp
fron the depths Of the chair. Her
dark eyes blz1ed vTsthfuIly.
Tel him she began
Then she mastered her annoyance
euf5rfently to ascertain what ID was
a.. ss.-.s- Fsz.-- - .-.--.~r--