Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-05-29
The Daily Story
THE MOON AND ~HE ocEAN-BY RYLAND BELL.
Copyrighted. 1919. ny Associated Literary Bureau

would be uncomplimentary and the
second would be blame. So the lady
never received 4 reply to her note.
But Southmayd was not man to
be easily discouraged. Since the be-
ginning of his correspondence court
ship he had got his business affairs.
into such shape that he might leave
them for short period. He determin-
ed that. if he made another engage
ment. rather than have his bride elect
risk the fascination of n sea voyage
he would go TO her. This was the re-
suit of his experience with his first
fiancee. confirmed by the information
he had derived from the purser. He
had not before been aware that the
sexes, thrown together within the mar
row compass of 4 ship. during a voy-
age were so liable to be Brought down
by the tender passion. He had sup
posed that most of them We're victims
of seasicknesS. and. as for himself.
when in that condition Venus herself
would have no attraction for him. But
he firmly resolved that he would never
take the same risk Il second time.
In time a letter came from his old
friend, Stephen Courtney. Stephen
expressed his regret that Ernest had
suffered such a disappointment, and
there was really nothing else to be
said in the premises. Stephen went on
to say that he felt it incumbent on
him-and his sister had suggested Il
that he should find his friend n girl to
take the place of the one who had dis
appointed him. Stephen had married.
and he gave broad hint that he
thought his wife's sister would fill the
bill Southmayd was ready TO catch
at anything to heal his wound. The
result was that a correspondence was
arranged similar to the last one. ex-
cept in this case, the object being from
the first more definitely understood,
the period was shorter. In due time
the lady. Miss Alice Hathaway. con-
scented to the nuptials. Southmayd
wrote that he would so to America to
claim his bride. But Miss Hathaway
replied that she wished TO procure her
trousseau abroad and would prefer to
meet him in Paris and marry him
there
Southmayd did not like TO risk his
fiancee even for a passage of the At
lantic ocean. but couldn't very well
tell her that he had so little faith in
her. So he assented to her plan. AS
he was preparing to start he received
word from her that she had changed
her plans and was sailing on the
Mediterranean trip for Naples. This
was greater risk than he had bar
gained for, the distance TO be Travelled
being greater, and, the weather on this
route being usually balmy, there would
be more opportunity for flirting. But
there was no way to call a halt, and
! he set sail to meet his bride.
| 1t is quite a voyage from HongkonG
to Naples. and a great deal transpired
| before Southmayd reached the latter
| point. He was to meet his bride ut
| the - hotel and soon after going
ashore he called upon her The meet
| ing was constrained on both sides. 1t
/ did not seem that either was disap-
| pointed in the other. but there was
nothing especially cordial. certainly
! not lover-like between them. But love
was hardly to be expected by two per-
sons who had not met before. After
some ten minutes of interchange OF
| commonplace remarks Southmayd said
| bluntly:
You do not seem especially pleased
| to meet me. There is something on
your mind-something concealed. l
trust I am not about to hear that you
have been married on the voyage"
mot married. but l presume may
as we'll confess now as later. l cannot
marry you"
Are you disappointed in me-"
by no means. Had you come for
me l should have married you willing
~. As it is. on the steamer coming
ort''-
Il knew IT, On the steamer coming
out you met gentleman who walked
the deck with you, sat by you In n
steamer chair. read bits of romance or
poetry to you, leaned over the forward
rail in the moonlight when the ship
was bounding over the pillows. You
placed your hand on the rail to steady
yourself. His hand fell upon yours.
YOU
How do you know all this?" she in
terrupted.
How do / know It? Because have
just been through the same experience
myself. On the s:eamer between Hong
kong and the canal / fell in with q
lady as you fell in with this gentleman.
The moon that shone on you and him
shone on me and this lady. / laid my
hand on hers and
Enough: Are you engaged or mar
ried:'
Married. When found that must
yield TO the fascination of an ocean
! trip with a beautiful woman and al
the end OF the voyage face one TO whom
/ was already pledged / made up ny
mind to have it over with before left
the ship and face you already as q
married man."
The lady stood staring at him for q
few moments. then said:
whats the matter with the ocean,
anyway. that it plays with us thug"
II don't know. Byron says. The
devils in the moon for mischief he