Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1908-07-11
Cupid Across
the Seas.
By EPES W. SARGENT.
BY EPEs W. SARGENT.
Copyrighted, 1903, by Associated
Literary Press

4.
( Literary Press +
3.++..4s.4.*+f.f++
Grantley Graham leaned over the
steamers rail- and regarded the city
with a frown. he hated the water, so
the distant pier promised relief from
the dlsqulet be always felt when he
was on ship, yet every beat Of the
powerful engines, every revolution Of
the huge propeliers that pushed the
nose Of the liner into the very drizzle
Of a summer rain, brought him nearer
to the dreaded dreariness OF his own
home.
With an almost self commiseratlon
he looked back upon the last few
months and contrasted their brilliancy
with the life that lay before him, and
his soul revolted at the thought Of re-
turning to take up the dull monotony
of the home life he had always known.
Presently they would dock at the
pier There would be the usual diff
Guilty with the customs which seems to
be reserved for the American citizen.
The carriages would be waiting, and
in little while he would find himself
before the somber brownstone prison
that in earlier days had stood to him
for all that was elegant and refined.
Jean. his wife, would come out on
the high stoop at the sound Of the car
rlage. She would offer her cheek to be
kissed. She would ask If he had had
pleasant trip. And then she would fol
low him into the house and with the
closing of the door would be shut out
all the social possibilities of the past.
Nothing. however, could deprive him
Of the thought that he had lived for
once. For six weeks In London he had
dwelt In a fa:ryland Of fancy. He had
| mingled with men and women OF the
world, and almost he had learned to
say "My lord" and "Your grace" with
out feeling his knees weak at the real
izatIon that he was speaking to a men,
Der Of the nobility.
During the year just passed he had
accomplished a triumph Of engineering
and had beaten the British masters at
their own craft They had given up the
problem which to Graham had seemed
simple enough, and when he had ac-
complished the result he had become q
national hero for a day. The Ameri-
can colony had dined him, and he had
been presented to the king, and he had
received many invitations to country
house parties. all part Of the fairy
dream.
Graham had married, early, and as
soon as be Ieftlessl AZ had plunged
into his work with never a thought OF
play. This had been his first real va
cation. and he had mingled in English
society with a delight that was wholly
unworthy Of his country and his gen
ius.
He had had no time for society In
his own land because the work thai
made him what he was had prevented
relaxation. Then, too, Mrs. Graham
proud Of his achievements, had beer
content to share his isolation and FIND
reward for her renunciatlon Of society
in the pleasure OF removing from his
path the hundred petty cares OF daily
life.
Jean had grown somewhat stou
with the passing Of the years, and thu
complexion which had been her great
est charm In her girlhood had faded
AT first while abroad Graham ha'
missed her for time, but in the enc
he was glad she had not come.
He contrasted her placid conten
with the feverish brllliancy OF the wo
men he had met, and he knew tina
they and she never could have mixed
For the first time he felt an actua
dissatisfaction with his wife and wish
cd that she might be more like thos
butterfly creatures.
AS he thought Of them while the car
riage rolled uptown he felt more ant
more a distaste for the wife awaiting
him. and when she came to the doc
to greet him he contrasted the portl
fpure in its sober dress with the sler
derness Of the smartly gowned wome
of title who had amused themselves D
}, turning the head Of the clever Amer
: can for few weeks.
+ Yet Graham was astonished TO IN
i that he was glad to see Jean. he
kiss of greeting was less perfunctor
| afr tod
=, been one moment abroad that now D
!, would like to forget. 1t was at bal
The lights. the music and a strongt
punch than he was used to mad
! gone to his head.
For one delirious moment he ha
held a slender yielding figure in b
arms. The next instant Lady Elean'
had accepted the impetuous emDra'
as a graceful excuse for ending DO.
isb filtration that promised to gro
embarrassingy serious instead
merely amusing. The memory OF tn'
kiss had not been pleasant to Graham
for he was a clean minded man, an
he had shuddered at the brink upc
which he had found himself.
He followed Jean up the narro
? stairway, contrasting it with the gre
staircases he had seen abroad, al
even with the contrast it did not see
TO be as mean as he had imagined.
His room was as though he had lie
II the day before. There were match
ON the mantel and some Of the ciga
he liked best A book and a readil
ucbt xvere by the head of the bed al