The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1908-12-03

Yes, was there"
Are you going far by this ship?"
There are some questions people
are always privileged to ask their
fellow passengers.
ITO Naples"
The orange tr--t will be in
bloom; but it do,on't do to stay
there long-so unhealthy"
81 am going to stay above It at
Posilippo," she spoke reluctantly.
II know Posilippo. There's lit
tie restaurant up there. where one
goes to breakfast, you know"
81 don't know anything about II
yet" she answered distantly. II
have never been there" She turned
as If to go below, then hesitated.
You must be careful of your foot"
she said II could fetch you stick,
stairs, If you are going down." Her
manner was quite Indifferent. 1t
showed no desire in 1t TO strike up
acquaintance--rather the reverse.
She was evidently merely doing her
Christian duty toward a stranger.
"Oh, shall manage all right"
he said gratefully, and she slowly
went her way. she doesn't look
more than eight and twenty VIXEN
she speaks" he thought. Wonder
who she is-probably strolling
spinster." for he had noticed that
she wore no wedding ring. Per
haps dissatisfied and restless, as wo-
men of her age often are. But she's
rather nice. like her. somehow"
An hour or two later, when he
sat down for the first time to dinner
on board the Arab, he found that
his place was next to hers.
I'VE are to be neighbors for
whole week." he said, unless you
object?"
Il am not likely to object Why
should II"
She was very unsophisticated, he
thought.
People sometimes become init
mate on board ship in week, then
say goodby and usually never set
eyes on each other again. often
watch them on the way o>t."
DO you travel so much. them"
II have been to and fro good
deal. l am a soldier. Going back
to India In October-on leave till
then" He paused. thinking she
might give him some Information
about herself. but she said nothing.
He noticed that she had beautiful
ly shaped head and soft brown hair
grew close round her ears and YVES
coiled up very simply at the back.
She looked up once, as II trying to
take in the evidently novel scene
about her, and he saw that the gray
eyes had long dark lashes. 1t was
very odd about this woman, he
Insignificant, then gradually you
felt that there was something al
most beautiful about her; but her
attractions came out slowly. and
one by one, as stars in the twilight.
do you know any of the people
here?" he asked, simply to make
talk.
Not a soul" she answered.
don't want to know them" she added
half to herself.
We'll. they are rather an ungod-
ly looking set. Most of them will
probably be invisible by this time
to-morrow-perhaps you will, too"
"Oh, no." she answered with a
little shudder, nothing will hurt
me; I mean to sit on deck all the
time and feel the four winds of
heaven"
blowing away the cares of life,
eh?"
A sudden idea seemed to dart
from her eyes.
Yes, blowing them all away" she
said. Il wonder If they will?"
She seemed unwilling TO talk. but
he liked her for 1t, He hated peo-
pie who snatched at 4 new acquaint-
ance, who chattered at tables d'hote
and hung about hotels to attract at
tention; they belonged to definite
class he despised. He was veXed
with himself for trying to draw out;
he felt as If he was forcing himself
upon her, but for the life of him he
couldn't help 1t.
She disappeared quickly when the
dinner was over, but he saw her an
hour later. He grew tired of the
smoking place and the group that
filled IL and went TO try II with the
help of stick and under cover OF
the darkness he could manage 10
drag his foot along for a few turns
on deck; he meant 10 be careful
this time and not TO sprawl on the
bulwarks again. The lamps from
the saloon shed blurred lengths OF
light on the waves that broke softly
against the ship, while the entranc-
ing sound of cutting through the
water, of going onward and away
that always excited him at the be-
ginning Of voyage, made an accom-
paniment to the stirring in his heart
He passed quite near her and was
rather ashamed of it, but II was SO
dark that at first he had not readily
made her out. She looked up and