The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1909-01-29
Seeing ! |
Bentley . sE 4
Off. 4
Copyrighted. 1903, by Associated
Literary Press.
* e0F 0lt0a0. Oql


steamers ran. watched the crowd on
the pier and wished, just for mo-
ment, that there had been an oppor-
tunity 10 get word to some Of the PEG.
pie she could trust
This ws all so different from her
last sailing, and 1t brought more sharp
~ to her memory the scene of two
days before when she had given Dick
Nesbit his ring and had declared that
she hated the very sight OF his face.
She had last sailed In June, and the
pier had heen crowded, but until the
very last she had seen Dicks smiling
face framed In an indistinct blur Of
other faces. Now she would look In
vain, If, indeed, she looked at all.
She had about decided to 20 to her
stateroon until the boat should swing
into the gtream.
She ha6 turned 10 suggest 10 her
aunt that course OF action when she
caught aGbht OF Dick making his way
through me crowd about the gangway,
and preseatly be came on board with
q heavy snit case that seemed to argue
bis determination to take passage on
the Aurania
Amy hmf turned back 10 tho rail;
then she turned again and made her
way to Whe lower deck, where she
knew teqt the purser's once was To-
Gated
Passing rapidly through the gang
way, she saw that It really was Dick
though he was In earnest converse.
ton with a man In blue and brass. and
he did not zee her.
He had his pocketbook In his hand
and with flashing eyes Amy made her
way back TO the upper deck, where her
aunt stih sat In the winter sunshine
enjoying the hustle that preceded the
departure.
One Of the most admirable things
about Aunt Molly was her willingness
to do what her tempestuous little niece
wished TO do, but even the usually
placid Aunt Molly demurred when Amy
stormed up and demanded that they
leave the ship at once.
But I've said goodby to the Brookes
and Mrs. Brooke is going to send all
our mail In care Of the London agent"
protested the little old lady. I'VE
can't go back home after telling the
Brookes that we were to be gone until
fall. She VIII tell all her friends and
And that's just the trouble" inter
rupted Amy, with stamp of her little
fort. Mrs. Brooke has been talking
already. She must have gone TO the
telephone the moment we left last
night and told everybody she ever
knew"
but what viii Dick think II you
start and then turn backT" reminded
Aunt Molly. determined not 10 give up
spring In the south OF France with.
out exhausting every argument
That's just the trouble" explained
Amy. THAT horrid Mrs. Brooke must
have called him up last night after
promising that she would not tell a
soul. He's on board. just saw him
in the purser's Office buying his ticket"
II thought that they bought them at
the dock" objected Aunt Molly. but
Amy shook her head.
"You can buy tickets on board at the
last momen-. suppose that Dick-I
mean Mr.. Eesbit-had to wait until he
could settle about his practice being
looked after not that there Is 80 much
to the practice" she added spItefully
II don't believe that he's been In court
this month"
els he altogether TO blame for thatT
asked Aunt Molly, fencing for time in
which to marshal other arguments
And suppose that did let him
waste lot of time with mer retorted
Amy. ave been telling him for the
last month that I was tired Of seeing
him. about and that our engagement
was all q mistake"
Then don't think that he is fol.
lowing you" advanced Aunt Molly
"Dick Is not the sort Of man to follow
when he is not wanted. II he Is on
board It Is because he has TO reach
Europe by the first steamer, and he
won't bother US in the least"
Because l shan't give him chance"
explained Amy promptly. II am going
down to the stateroom to have the
steward take our steamer trunks back
to the dock. II Is lucky that we ar
ranged to have our other baggage fol-
low"
But what will people sayT de-
manded Aunt Molly as she rose and
prepared to follow her energetic niece.
It was plainly to be seen that the trip
was of, or at least postponed, and Aunt
Molly knew the signs well enough to
realize when resistance was useless.
Amy, by dint OF liberal tipping, man
aged to collect her things on the dock
just as the final warning sounded. For
the moment It was useless to try to
leave the dock.
The port captain stood beside the re.
naming gangway ready to superin.
tend the lowering Of the last connec-
ton between ship and shore. and
line was stretched to keep back those
who had not gone to the end OF the
pier to wave n last farewell.
The sides OF the ship were lined with
Eager faces. some smiling. some be-
dewed with tears. Aunt Molly stood
guard over their belongings and looked
wistfully at the fortunate ones on the
decks.
Just as the signal was given to
hoist, Dick Nesbit appeared at the
heed OF the gangplank and dashed
Gown, his feet not touching the dock
sefore the upper end of the plank was
hoisted clear OF the ships side.