Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1909-02-06
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Copyrighted. 1903. by Associated
Literary Press.

steamers rail watched the crowd on
the pier and wished. just for mo.
ment, that there had been an oppor
tunlty to get word to some OF the peo.
pie she could trust.
This was all 80 different from hel
last sailing. and It brought more sharp
ly 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 been crowded. but until the
very last she had seen Dicks smiling
face framed In an indistinct blur Of
other faces. Now she would look III
vain. II, indeed. she looked at all
She had about decided to so to her
stateroom until the boat should swing
into the stream.
She half turned to suggest to her
aunt that course Of action when she
caught sight Of Dick making his way
through the crowd about the gangway,
and presently he came on board with
a heavy suit case that seemed to argue
his determination to take passage on
the Aurania.
Amy half turned back to the rail:
then she turned again and made hei
way to the lower deck. where she
knew that the purser's Office was 10
Gated.
Passing rapidly through the gang
way, she saw that 1t really was Dick
though he was In earnest converse.
ton with a man In blue and brass. and
he did not see her.
He had his pocketbook In his hand
and with flashing eyes Amy made her
way back to the upper deck, where her
aunt still 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. 1--WE
can't 20 back home after telling the
Brookes that we were to be gone until
fall. She will tell all her friends and
"And that's just the trouble" inter
rupted Amy. with stamp Of her little
foot. "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 will Dick think IL you
start and then turn backY" reminded
Aunt Molly. determined not to give up
a 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. I 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 moment. I suppose that Dick-i
mean Mr.. Nesbit-had to wait until lie
could settle about his practice being
looked after-not that there Is so much
to the practice" she added spitefully.
II don't believe that he's been In court
this month"
"Is he altogether to blame for thatY"
asked Aunt Molly. fencing for time In
which TO marshal other arguments.
"And suppose that l did let him
waste a lot Of time with me" retorted
Amy. ave been telling him for the
last month that was tired OF seeing
him about and that our engagement
was all 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 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 say" de
manded Aunt Molly as she rose and
prepared to follow her energetic niece.
1t 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 II 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-
tfon hetween shin and shore. and