Milford chronicle. [volume] (Milford, Del.) 1878-1974, 1908-07-31
Chapter VII
ON THE DARK DECK.

''Then l shall have to
take the part OF the rebelliOus and
doubling crew. There is no America,
and we're sure to get into trouble If
we don't turn back"
you shall be clapped into irons and
fed on bread and water and turned
over to the Indians as soon as we reach
land"
Don't starve mel Let me hang from
the yardarm at once OF walk the plank.
/ choose the hour Immediately after
dinner for my obsequies|
They were silent for a moment. con- /
tinuing their tramp. Fair weather
was peopllng the decks. Dick Clai-
borne was engrossed with vivacious
California girl and Shirley saw him |
only at meals, but he and Armitage |
held night sessions in the smoking |
room, with increased liking on both |
sides.
Armitage saw something OF all the
4Claibornes every day in the pleasant
intimacy Of ship life, and Hilton Clai-
borne found the young man an inter
esting talker. Judge Claiborne is, as
every one knows, the best posted
American Of his time in diplomatic
history. and when they were together
Armitage suggested topics that were
well calculated to awaken the old law
yer's interest.
Shirley and Armitage talked-as peo-
ple will on shipboard-of everything
under the sun. Shirley's enthusiasms
were in themselves interesting. but she
was Informed in the worlds larger al
fairs, as became the daughter OF a
man who was an authority in such
matters, and found it pleasant to dis
.cuss them with Armitage. He felt the
poetic quality in her. 1t was that
which had first appealed to him. but
he did not know that something OF the
same sort in himself touched her. 1t
was enough for those days that he
was courteous and amusing and gained
a trihe in her eyes from the fact that
ne had no tangible background.
Then came the evening Of the hfth
.dav. They were taking turn after
dinner on the lighted deck. The spring
stars hung faint and far through thin
clouds. and the wind was keen from
the sea. A few passengers were out
vTbe deck stewards went about gather
ing I'M rugs and chairs for the night.
"Time oughtn't to be reckoned at al
at sea. so that people who feel them
selves getting old might sail forth INTO
the deep and defy the old man Wlth
the hourglass."
81 like the idea. Such people could
become fshers-permanently ana gro"
very wise from SO much brain FOOD.
"They wouldn't eat. Mr.. Armitage'
brain food forsooth! You talk like a
breakfast food advertisement. My IDEA
mine, please note-is for such Iortu-
nate people to sail in pretty little boats
with orange tinted sails and pick up
lost dreams. l got hint OF that IN a
pretty poem once
''Time seemed to pause little space
l heard dream go by.
"But out here in midOcean a little
boat with gateen sails wouldn't have
much show. And dreams passing over
the idea is pretty and is creditaDle 10
vour Imagination. But / thought your
fancy was more militant Now, TOT
example sou ike battle pictures nc
mid. eThat was a wonuesiul e1iee
ZION OF military and battle pictufes
shown in Paris last winter.
She half Withdrew her hand from hl'
arm and turned away. The sea winds
did not wholly account for the suddeL
color in her cheeks. She had seen AT
mitage in Paris-in cafes, at the opera
nut not at the great exhibition OF the
world famous battle pictures, yet un
doubtedly he had seen her, and sn'
remembered with instant conscious
ness the hours of absorption she nae
spent before those canvases.
81 was in Paris during the exhlbi
ton" he said quietly. "Ormsby' TN
American painter-the man VINO Oh
the High Tide at Gettysburg'-is a.
ACQUAINTANCE of mine"
"Ohw
II was Ormsby's painting that ha
particularly captivated Shirley. sh
had returned to it day after day, an
the thought that Armitage had take
advantage of her deep interest in PICK
etts charging gray line was annoying
and she abruptly changed the supJee
Shirley had specialized much as I
the meaning of Armitage's remark
the carriage door in GeneEa-that q
expected the slayer Of the old Austria
prime minister to pass that way Arm
tage had not referred to the crime
any way in his talks with her on II
King Edward. Their conversation
had been pitched usually in light an
frivolous key, or, if one were dispose
TO be serious, the other responded in
note Of levlty.
They watched the lights Of an cas-
bound steamer that was passing nea
The exchange of rocket signals-th
pretty and graceful parley betwe'
ships that pass in the night-intsrest'
them for a moment Then the de'