The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1911-09-07
Ole
CHEVALIER
By C. B. L E WIS

breast the instincts and sentiments
Of a chevalier of old, the speaker
would have been suspected as up tt
some confidence game. And yet he
would have been right. James Pen
hington did not know himself Those
Instincts and sentiments were lying
dormant and waiting, like newly
planted Early Rose potatoes, for their
chance to grow and expand.
Even the chevalier stunt comes to
him who waits, and though it had lain
in ambush for many long years, ii
finally appeared in the open. Business
called him to Liverpool, and he went
to Montreal to take one of the slow
steamers to that famous port. Friends
of his warned him against many
perils, but strangely enough they for
got to warn him against the main
one. His steamer had not sailed yet
when he made the acquaintance of
Miss Elite Clay. It was one of those
simple events that are always occur
ring aboard Of a passenger steamer,
even when she is fast to her dock.
The lady dropped her handkerchief on
deck and he picked it up and restored
1t, and 10! they were acquainted 1t
was not until several hours later, how
ever, that the young lady gave him
her confidence. Then she was rather
forced to do SO. The passage had
been booked for her aunt and her
self, and some dreadful accident must
have detained the aunt at the last
moment Indeed, until the steamer
was miles down the river, it was be-
ieved that her relative was on
board
The captain was of course appealed
to, but he could do nothing. Owners
and officers of ocean liners do not
know aunts from uncles, and the tears
and sobs of nieces have no effect on
them. Miss Clay's Aunt Sarah must
come on the next boat or give up the
trip. Miss Clay herself must wipe her
weeping eyes and prepare them ready
to see whales and icebergs. She must
confide in some one, and why not in
Chevalier Pennington? AS they sat
together in the moonlight she did not
hesitate to tell him that she had read
romance, courage and nobility of char
ncter in his face at first glance Mr..
Pennington, in his home city, was
carrying on the business of selling
sand, lime and guano at wholesale and
retail, and the compliments of the
young lady at his side made his heart
swell, determining him to buy some
adjacent property and add the cement
business. Days afterwards, when he
came to think of that moonlight talk
on deck, he could remember that he
told Miss Clay all there was to tell,
even to his stealing eggs when a boy,
and that though she had talked
whole lot she had really told him
nothing.
1t cannot be truthfully said that Mr..
Pennington fell in love at first sight,
Or that he fell in love at all. He had
got into the rut of the sand, lime and
guano business, and he was not a man
who cared for changes. Miss Clay did
not seek to arouse his love. She want
ed to look on him as her chevalier
and knight for the voyage-the sturdy
oak from the shores of Lake Erie to
which the clinging vine might cling,
and that's how that moonlight night
settled things.
Almost within day it was under
stood by all that Mr.. Pennington and
Miss Clay were old acquaintance, and
hat when the aunt was first missed.
le had volunteered to Jump overheard
Ind swim back and tell her that she
lad missed the boat. He did not do
my boasting in regard to himself, but
Miss Clay, who seemed perfectly at
lone and made acquaintance right
md left, called general attention to
lis many noble qualities. She was so
persistent about this that the purser
cit that he had made a great mis-
AXE In not seating the man at the
'aptain's table.
The steamer did not collide nor
ounder nor attempt to stand on her
lead. She went ahead in a manner
hat called out encomiums, and ey-
rybody was happy. Mr.. Pennington
ound himself in full charge of Miss
Jay, and both Of them rather liked
ne situation. The sturdy oak braced
lmsef, and the clinging vine chung.
It the end OF the third day, however,
omething descended upon the decks
that ship with flop. 1t was as
farmer had thrown a summer
Quash against the port side of an
Id brindle COW. One of the lady
assengers had missed three diamond /
lngs and bracelet from her state
pom. They try to keep all such mat
ers still on shipboard, which is the
eason why they are speedily known
D all.
There was talk, and talk and more
ak, and then the theft was of course
lid to steward of the ship and
oth1ng more done about it.
Next day two other rings were
Missing, and on the next a bracelet
nd 500 in bills. Then the passengers
cyan to sit up and take notice. and
very woman had suspicion in her
ye as she looked at her neighbor.
mere was thief aboard, and with
reat unanimity 1t was declared that
ne said thief must be female. The
teWardesSes were given the "tbird