Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1908-05-07
CHAPTER I.
THINK l shall enjoy this trip"
purred Isobel Barring. Nesting
LII comfortably among the cush-

r. LII ~ Sudli cuJOy tblS
purred Isobel Barring. Nesting
N comfortably among the cush-
ions Of her deck chair. stew
ard was arranging tea for two at a
small table. The Kansas, with placid
hum Of engines. was speeding evenly
through an azure sea.
II agree with that opinion most
heartily, though, to be sure. so much
depends on the weather" replied her
friend Elsie Maxwell, rising to pour
out the tea. Already the brisk sea
breeze had kissed the Chilean pallor
from Esie's face, which had regained
Its English peach bloom. Isobel Bar
ing's complexion was tinged with the
warmth Of Il pomegranate. At sea,
even in the blue Pacific, she carried
with her the suggestion OF tropical
garden.
81 never gave a thought to the
weather" purred Isobel again as she
subsidized more deeply into the cush-
ions.
LET us hope such blissful state
Of mind may be justified. But you
know dear. we may run into a dread
full gale before we reach the strait"
Isobel laughed.
] "Al the better!' she cried. People
| tell me l am most fascinating in
valid--I look like creamy orchid
And what luck to have q chum so dis
interested as you where lot of nice
men are concerned! What have
done to deserve it? Because you are
really charming, you know"
Does that mean that you have al
ready discovered lot Of nice men on
board?'
Elsie handed her friend q cup of tea
and plate of toast.
Naturally. While you were moon
ing over the lights and tints of the
Andes ! kept an eye-both eyes, in
fact-on our compulsory acquaintances
of the next three weeks. To begin
with, there's the captain"
'IIe is good looking, certainly. Some
what reserved. fancied."
Reserved" Isobei showed all her
fine teeth in smile. Incidentally she
took a satisfactory bite out Of a square
Of toast. IN soon shake the reserve
out of him. He is mine. You will see
him play pct dog long before we meet
that terrible gale of yours"
"Isobel, you promised your father
"To 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 should be
H. But there Is French count on
the ship He IS mine too"
"You mean to find safety in num-
bers?"
ooh. there are others. or course
am sure of my little count. He twist
cd his mustache with such an air when
| skidded past him in the companion
way l am sure NJ. lie Comte Edouard
de Poinclit will do our French far
more good than course in Mo
Iiere."
Am to be included in the lessons
And you actually know the mans
name already"
Read it on his luggage, dear girl.
He has such a lot See if he doesn't
wear three different colorcd shirts for
breakfast, lunch and tea. And. if you
refuse to help, who is to take care OF
lie pitt Edouard while l give the cap
tain n trot round? Don't look cross
there's darling"
Now. Isobel, that does not matter
bit in Valparaiso, where you are
known, but in Paris and London
Where I mean to be equally we'll
known. 1t Is a passport to smart soci'
ETY. to he tri6e risque. Steward
give my compliments to Captain Cour'
tenay and say that Miss Maxwell and
Miss Barring hope he will favor them
with his company to tea"
Elsies bright, eager face flushed
slightly. She leaned forward, with a
certain squaring of the shoulders. be-
ng a determined young person In some
respects.
"For once l shall let you off," she
said in low voice. 80 i give you
fair warning, Isobel-I must not be
included in impromptu invitations OF
that kind"
Good gracious! l only meant to be
polite. Tut. tut, as dad says when he
can't swear before ladies. sham
make the running for you any more"
Elsie drummed an impatient foot Oh
the deck. There was little pause
lsobel closed her eyes lazily, but she
opened them again when she heard
her friend say:
II am sorry II I seem crotchety
Scar. Indeed, 1t is NO pretense on my
part You cannot imagine how thai
man Ventana prosecuted me. The
mere suggestion Of any ones paying
me compliments and trying to be fas
einating is so repelient that ! crings