Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-03-03
CHAPTER I.

| tnrougn an azure sea.
II agree with that opinion mos
heartily, though, to be sure, so muct
depends on the weather." replied he
friend, Elsie Maxwell, rising to poul
out the tea. Already the brisk sea
breeze had kissed the Chilean pallol
from Elsie's face, which had regaineG
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.
II never gave a thought to the
weather." purred Isobel again as she
subsidized more deeply into the cush
ions.
LET US hope such a blissful state
of mind may be justified. But you
know, dear, we may run into dread
full gale before we reach the strait"
Isobel laughed.
"All the betterw she cried. People
| tell me l am a most fascinating in
valid-I look like a creamy orchid.
And what luck to have a chum so dis
interested as you where lot of nice
men are concerned! What have I
done to deserve it? Because yeu are
really charming, you know"
Does that mean that you have al
ready discovered lot of nice men on
board?"
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 1 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, I fancied."
Reservoir Isobel showed all her
fine teeth in smile. incidentally she
took satisfactory bite out of square
of toast. ''Pll soon shake the reserve
out Of him. He Is mine. You will see
him play pet dog long before we meet
tudl Terrible Sale OF yours.
'Isobel, you promised your father
ITO 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 I should be
i'll. But there is a French count on
the ship. He Is mine too"
you mean to find safety in num-
bers?"
ooh, there are others. or course l
am sure OF my little count. He twist
ed his mustache with such an air when
| skidded past him in the companion
way / am sure NJ. lie Comte Edouard
de Poincilit will do our French fur
more good than a course in Mo
liere."
Am to be included in the lessons?
And you actually know the mans
name alreadyT
Read 1t on his luggage, dear girl.
He has such lot. See IL he doesn't
wear three different colored shirts for
breakfast, lunch and tea. And, IL you
refuse to help. who is TO take care Of
lie pitt Edouard while / give the cap
tain q trot round? Don't look cross;
there's a darlingr'
Now. Isobel, that does not matter
a bit in Valparaiso, where you are
known. but in Paris and London
where I mean to be equally well
known. 1t is passport to smart socl-
ETY. TO be a triHe 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-
ing determined young person In some
respects.
For once l shall let you Of" she
said in a low voice. so I give you
fair warning. Isobel-I must not be
included in impromptu invitations Of
that kind"
Good gracious! I only meant to be
polite. Tut. tut, as dad says when be
can't swear before ladies'. / shan't
make the running for you any more"
Elsie drummed an impatient foot on
the deck. There was a little pause.
lsobel closed her eyes lazIly, but she
opened them again when she heard
her friend say:
Il am sorry II seem crotchety, /
dear. Indeed. II is no pretense on my
part. You cannot imagine how that
man Ventana prosecuted me. The
mere suggestion Of any ones paying
me compliments and trying to be fas- /
is 80 repellent that eringe
At the thought
IsobeI Bs-ins raised her head fro.
The cushions.
''Ventana was a determined wooer,
.henI What dId be doy' she asked.
-He-he rcstered me with hts atten-
ions. on. should have liked to Cog
i'm with a vhip~
He was always that sort Of person
100 serious And the head dropped
gain
The steward returned He was a
islf caste His English vas TO the
,oint
DE espt'in SAY be busy. be 10 come
vas his message.
Elsis's display Of irritation vanished
4 a merry laugh. IsobeI bounced I'D
rom The Depths q the chair. Her
.srk eyes b,szei vrathfuTIy.