The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1910-01-22
A VISIBLE PORTION
OF A ROMANCE

Naples and speed westward to the
new continent. The chameleon water
Is the hue Of the sky, whatever that
may be; perhaps azure. perhaps green,
perhaps silver. From the cutwater a
pair Of white plumes shoot backward,
reminding one Of those decorating a
lady's hat Even the volume of smoke
pouring from her great funnel has It's
tlnts. An American standing ON the
sea wall, perhaps bit homesick, looks
upon her as a connecting link with
loved ones on the far shore. Then,
too. IL given to dreaming. he remem-
bers that within the distant ship are
being enacted romances.
Here is one l saw with my own
eyes.
We left Naples at In the after
noon. l stood on the afterdeck look
ing back at the city and her gigantic
sentinel, Vesuvius. trifie of smoke
emerging from the crater. as If he were
ready to pour forth redhot missiles in
its defense. Looking down on to q
deck where the steerage passengers
We're lounging. | noticed young girl
gazing up at the deck where / stood
She was evidently Italian and above
the usual grade of steerage passen-
gers. There was something I'm those
black eyes of hers that indicated that
she was powerfully moved within.
When she saw that she had attracted
my attention she withdrew to place
where l could no longer see her.
The next morning l was smoking
on the upper deck. where an old salt,
whose business 1t was to provide i'm
plements for games, was putting
chalk lines for Switchboard on the
planks. Two young men and two
young girls came and played. One of
the girls attracted my attention. A
small felt hat secured by veil,
sweater and skirt only reaching to
the tops Of her boots made up her
visible attire.
She laughed most of the time. and
her laughter was delicious. In short,
she was one of those fresh hearted
girls at that attractive age when they
have just reached womanhood. whom
mature men love tp gaze upon and
boys either do not appreciate or are
ready to commit suicide for. saw her
at dinner In evening dress and was al.
most ready to commit suicide for her
myself. Above the table line was the
round bust. white shoulders sloping
into lovely neck, lips parted in a per-
petual smile. eyes laughing. too, and
mass of black hair parted on the side
of the head Beside her was the young
man who had played Switchboard as
her partner. and ii was plain that he
was enthralled.
Every day and every evening my
eyes were at some time or times on
the couple. Other passengers passed
the days reading stories in print. Why
should read stories when | had the
real thing before me-? Is not a beau
tiful view superior to its picture! And
Is not love In flesh and blood more at
tractive than in cold print: At any
rate, was interested. In the morning
the sunlight smiled upon them while
they romped. In the afternoon she sat
In steamer chair. her eyes laughing
at him as he continually tucked her
rug about her ankles or folded 1t about
her shoulders. In the evening they sat
together in some coy corner of the
deck
At Gibralter l saw the lovers side by
side In the little steamer used to take
visitors ashore. The girl. as usual. was
laughing. At Madeira l went ashore
with them In the same boat. In the
public garden there. redolent with
tropical plants and perfumes, heard
a laugh and, turning curve. came face
to face with them. verify believe
they did not even recognize me for one
of the ships passengers. so engrossed
were they with each other. The same
evening as we steamed westward
along the island coast they stood to-
gether. viewing the vineyards on the
hillsides through binoculars
Several times during the voyage
while on the afterdeck saw the ltal.
fan steerage passenger and always
with her eyes turned upward and for
ward as though looking Tor some one
She was always alone, and never saw
her speaking to any one. There was
a mingled melancholy and savage look
on her face. as though she was brood
ing over Some wrong. The day before
we reached the American coast saw
her looking, as usual, up at the deck
on which l stood. Presently the lovers
came up. the sunshine lighting the
girls smile. Suddenly saw the Ital-
ian below tear knife from her waist
and throw It at them. The y,ung map
must have seen the act. for hp put !
himself between his companion and
the danger and received the knife In
his right breast. saw the red blood |
his white flannel coat and
thought for moment he was killed.
Drawing the girl along with him. he
rushed to the steps leading to the deck |
below. She seemed hardly to have
realized what had happened.
was the only one who had seen the
hurting of the missile. and kept the
secret. saw the ships doctor hurry
ing to the young mans stateroom, and |
when he came out i asked him II hin |
patient was fatally hurt. He had en-