The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1908-01-09
Like Unto
Caesar.
By J. LUDLUM LEE


against each other us they turned the
corner. both mutiled to their ears. puff
ing vigorously at their pipes to produce
welcome speck of warmth.
beg pardon didn't see you in this
rotten fog said the younger Of the
two
Rotten don't describe it. sir. It's
we'll I'll be hanged My pipe went
out In that collision. | guess. Got a
match?"
"Sure ] have But what good Is II
out here? \ torch wouldn't stay light
ed in this wind Come inside minute
and light her up"
They were back on deck in a mo-
ment and as so often happens on
board ship. in that time seemed to
have made friends. Arm In arm this
time they braved the wind and wealth
er. The older man was talking.
~ suppose you think a man of my
age ought to be in his cabin a night
like this. But. you see. my wife as
sick in one bunk and my daughter
I
and are about the only ones to ven
ture out. aren't wepN
Guess we are, sir, unless of course
the girl with the sable coat is on deck
Nothing keeps her below"
Girl in sable coat Who's she?' de
manded the elderly man. his attention
somewhat aroused.
well. don't know. She is the
usual mystery found aboard boat of
this character. Captain says she's a
titled woman from the continent going
over to see the States Whoever she
is, she's a sumner. old man. Here she
is now" he whispered as the figure of
woman passed them.
The old gentleman turned but too
late to see anything save the outline
of woman. clad In long sable coat
which enveloped her from head to
heels.
Looks pretty good in the dark,
young man. I'll take better peek in
the daylight. and in the meantime
guess I'll go below and look after my
sick. Good night. sir"
Good night" said the younger man.
as he left his newly made friend at the
companionway.
Eaton Hollis, representing an Eng
lish syndicate and bound for New
York. was not ready to turn in. He had
no one below to look after and fell
into a long. steady stride around the
deck. He puffed at his pipe and won
dered what the girl in the sable coat
was doing. He didn't want to appear
officious. but he could not help Won
dering. and as he walked he kept his
eyes we'll open for the fur clad figure.
He did not have to look long. for she
passed him very soon. Try as he
would he could find no plausible ex-
cuse for speaking to this evidently self
reliant young woman Of title, so on be
strobe
/ Just amidship he heard a voice-such
a voice that today he can shut his eyes
and hear 1t In his demonstrating:
"Oh. beg your pardon, but would
! you help me to open this door? sim
ply cannot do it,
but the door did not yield 80 easily.
DO you want to go In? You know
the moon is just coming up, and
think the storm is all over" Hollis
had grown bold OF a sudden.
"Well really, | do not want to go
in, but you know my maid is dreadful.
! ~ Ill., and 1t seems cruel to leave her
alone" answered the sweet voice.
"Oh, bother the maidl Take my
arm and let's see how 1t goes driving
double-you can fight the wind sc
much better with two abreast" urged
Hollis, as he extended his left arm.
She looked up at the strong features
and then at the glimmer of the moon
breaking through the clouds. hpsitated
for just a moment then without a
word took the proffered arm. and off
they went
The next morning broke clear and
| bright and the girl in sable had chang
| ed her raiment to a suit which hrspokt
the art OF England's best tailor That
night her gown was of soft. clngllr
material which showed her figure tn
perfection, while the cloak that Gov
cred her shoulders was the envy Of
the women passengers. With every
gown were bits OF jewelry that seemed
to belong to them and to just sui her
who wore the gorgeous raiInent IIol
lis stared az did the rest. then shut
his eyes and lived over again the walk
Of the night before with her frnil arm
clinging close to his strong one and
that sweet distractiDg voice chatting
In his ear
He started up as from reverie as
the purser passed him. Hollis offered
him cigar
II say. purser, who's the woman
over there that nobody speaks to and
every woman on the ship envies for
her clothes?''
"Oh, that is the Countess OF Brenne
Beautiful creature. isn't she? Cad hui
she'd make good show piece for some
of those newly rich Americans he
murmured az he passed on with the
cigar in his mouth.
Hollis turned in disgust at the last
remark. to be confronted by the beau
tiful creature" His attempt at an ex.
PLANTATION was cut short by her rip
pling laugh.
"Oh. don'tr' she cried laughingly. II
was tickled to death to hear It. You
see | had no idea | was going so we'll