Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1908-03-19
CHAPTER /.


"R THINK 1 shall enjoy this trip"
purred Isobel Barring nesting
comfortably among the cush-
ions of her deck chair A 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.
81 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 Elsie's face, which had regained
its English peach bloom. Isobel Bar
ing's complexion was tinged with the
warmth of pomegranate. At sea,
even in the blue Pacific, she carried
with her the suggestion Of a 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 bissful state
of mind may DE justified But you
know, dear, we may run into a dread
full gale before we reach the strait"
Isobel laughed.
t'All the better!' she cried People
tell me | am a most fascinating in
Valid look like creamy orchid.
And what luck to have Il ehum so dis
interested as you where lot of nice
men are concerned. What have l
done to deserve it? Because you are
really charming, you know"
docs that mean that you have al
ready discovered lot of nice men on
boardw
Elsie handed her friend 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 acquaintance
of the next three weeks To begin
with, there's the captain"
"He is good looking, certainly. Some
what reserved, / fancied"
Reserved Isobel showed all her
fine teeth in a smile. Incidentally she
took satisfactory bite out of square
Of toast .'Ill soon shake the reserve
cut of him. He is mine. You will see
him play pet 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 London2 Then indeed should be
III. But there is a French count on
the ship. He is mine too"
you mean to find safety in num-
bers?"
'sOh, there are others. OF course
am sure of my little count. He twist
ed his mustache with such an air when
I skidded past him in the companion
way am sure NJ. lie Comte Edouard
de Poincilit will do our French far
more good than course in Mo-
here"
"Am I to be included in the lessons?
And you actually know the mans
name already?"
Read it on his luggage, dear girl
He has such lot. See If he doesn't
wear three different colored shirts for
breakfast, lunch and tea. And. If you
refuse to help, who is TO take care of
he pitt Edouard while / give the cap
tain a trot round? Don't look cross;
there's darlingr'
Now, Isobel. that does not matter
n bit In Valparaiso. where you are
known, but in Paris and London
where ! mean to be equally well
known. 1t is passport to smart soci-
ETY. to be trife 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"
Elsie's bright, eager face flushed
slightly. She leaned forward, with a
certain squaring of the shoulders. be-
i-g determined young person in some
respects.
For once shall let you off" she
said In low voice. $50 ! give you
fair warning. Isohel--I must NOT be
Included In impromptu invitations Of
that kind
s<G0od Qracfougi I nuIv meant To bp