Saint Mary's beacon., 1911-12-14
AN INCENTIVE
TOMARRIACE
By DOROTFEA HALE
Copyright by American Press Asso.
citation. 1911.


new conditions. A set humdrum state
Il not likely 20 be conducive 10 wed
lock. This is especially true OF those
who are passing out OF the heyday of
youth. II a man growing into bach
elorhood or a woman into sp.nsterhood
wishes to change their condition their
best chance is to take an ocean voy-
age at season when they viii meet
other travellers. Probably there are
more marriages concocted on shipboard
In proportion to the size OF the passen-
ger list than in any other community.
But after q couple have mutually re-
solved to cast their lot together let
them not take any more such trips sep
arately or what has been accomplish.
ed may be undone.
William Martindale had come TO his
thirty-fifth year without being mated
and was looking forward to a lonely
old age with horror. Not being very
closely tied down TO business he re-
solved to take trip abroad In order
to relieve that ennui which begins 10
show itself in bachelors and splnsters
while they are crossing life's eQuinoc-
dal line. Miss Susan Eldridge, aged
thirty. had given up trying to make up
her mind TO marry some one OF the sim
gle men she had long known and CON
cluded that IL she could not be inter-
ested In a household she might ut least
enjoy a change of scene.
Mr.. Martindale and Miss Eldridge
met on n steamer running from New
York to Naples. They left the Amer
lean coast In chilly weather and found
the contrast on reaching the balmy at
mosphere OF the gulf stream delight
ful. They sat on deck most OF the day
and occasionally in the evening, rising
and falling with the swell, listening 70
the swish made by the meeting Of the
waves and the vessel and each others
chat, now watching n bird sailing
above and wondering how IL dare fly
20 far from land. and found It all de-
lightful.
marked Mr.. Martindale to himself. eff
I had before met n girl like that |
would by this time have been the fa
ther OF a fsssAAt.yf HAD the young
men have known so long," remarked
Miss EldridGe. had a tenth part OF
the soul this man possesses | would
not now have the prospect before me
OF finishing my life an old maid"
On the Mediterranean trip the steam
or usually stops at the island Of Ma
deira. Mr.. MartIndale and Miss FL
drtdge went ashore together and enter
ed a garden flied with tropical plants
redolent OF fowery perfumes. When
were engaged.
The rest of the voyage was like sail
ing I'm the heavens on a balmy moon
light night. The critical fashion In
which they had previously viewed
members OF the opposite sexes from "A
point of view was re-
placed by an ideal appreciation OF each
other induced by an atmosphere en-
drely different from any to which they
had been accustomed. They landed at
Naples, stroiled together through the
exhumed streets OF POmpeii. sat on the
cliff overlooking the Mediterranean lt
Corrento and drove together to AInal6.
And Ii seemed TO each that the other
resembled some divinity perpetuated
In marble iu the galleries they fire.
quented.
They separated ut Rome TO meet
later In America, where they were TO
make arrangements for their wedding.
The Intervening time had passed.
Mr. Martindale had arrived at home.
and Miss Eldridge was sailing up New
York bay. She paced the deck with
brow on which lowered a mental dis
turbance. Mfr MartindaIe. she knew.
was on the doek waiting for her. Why
did she not wear q happy expression at
the expected meeting!
And Mr.. MartIndale-why did be
walk through the long dock house with
a perplexed look on his face and shnd-
der as he caught glimpse Of the ship
on which stood his fancee1 They met
Each strove 10 put on a smile OF wei
come, expression Of heaven born love
The effort was failure. Each retain
Cd a secret which must be sooner or
later broken 10 the other.
81 can endure this no longer" said
Miss Eldridge az they rolled over the
stony streets In q carriage. 81 could
never act a part. must confess at
once"
"ConfessT'
~Yes. thought loved you. I was
mistaken. On the return voyage ! met
the man who at once felt was born
for me and for whom / was born.
Forgive me for the wrong have done
you. ] couldn't help It."
A long sigh-a sigh Of relief-es-
capped from Mr.. Martindale.
"Your confession be said. has tax
en- q great load from my mind !. too.
on my return voyage met a girl who
charmed me and. ! blush to say, won
me from you
For a moment that amour propre.
that dislike for being supplanted, TO
which we are all subject kept her
Silent, but when she thought Of the
complication she had escaped she said
smiling:
''Oh, how fortunate-'
Both Of these persons had met Others
with whom they might have mated.
but II needed that something furnish
Cd by q voyage 10 induce union-some-
thing that Is as common on the ocean
as seasickness, though much pleasant
CT. Unfortunately all persons who de-
sire TO be mated cannot Try Ii, because
k n expeasive