Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1913-07-18

her something magnanimous But he
never could think Of anything appro-
priate TO say to her. He couldn't very
well say Its Of no consequence. / as
sure you" nor could he say that she
had ''pained him deeply" for the first
would be uncomplimentary and the
second would be blame SO the lady
never received a reply to her note
But Southmayd was not a man TO
be easily discouraged Since the be-
ginning Of his correspondence court
ship be had got his business affairs
into such shape that he might leave
them for a short period. He determin-
ed that. If he made another engage
ment. rather than have his bride elect
risk the fascination Of a sea voyage
be would go to her. This was the re-
suit Of his experience with bis drst
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 a ship, during voy.
age were so liable to be brought down
by the tender passion He had sup
posed that most of them were 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 second time.
In time 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 be felt It incumbent on
him-and his sister had suggested it,
that he should find bis friend a girl to
take the place Of the one who had dis
appointed him Stephen had married.
and he gave a broad hint that he
thought his wifes sister would I'll 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
sented TO the nuntials. Southmayd
wrote that he would go 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 a 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 great deal transpired
before Southmayd reached the latter
point He was to meet his bride al
the - hotel. and soon after going
ashore he called upon her. The meet
ing was constrained on both sides. II
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
Ffxs -. l4o- kx.&
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-sometlnng concealed. J.
trust | am not about to hear that you
have been married on the voyage"
Not married. but presume | may
as well confess now as later. cannot
marry you"
Are you disappointed In meT'
by no means Had you come for
me | should have married you willing
ly. AS it is. on the steamer coming
OUT
II knew it On the steamer cominl
out you met a gentleman who walked
the deck with you. sat by you IN a.
steamer chair. read bits of romance OF
poetry to you, leaned over the forward
rail in the moonlight when the shif
was bounding over the pillows. 70
placed your hand on the rail to stead,
yourself His hand fell upon yours
You"-
'How do you know all this?'' she In
terrupted
How do know III Because have
just been through the same experience
myself On the steamer between Hong
kong and the canal fell In with
lady as you fell in with this gentleman
The moon that shone on you and him
shone on me and this lady ! laid nj
hand on hers and
Enough. Are you engaged or mar
ried7'
Married. When | found that mus
yield to the fascination Of an oceaf
trip with a beautiful woman aud afl
the end of the voyage face one to whom
was already pledged | made up my
mind to have # over with before ief
the ship and face you already as ii
married man
The lady stood staring at him for
Few moments. then said:
whats the matter with the ocean
anyway, that it plays with US thus?'
II don't know. Byron says. tn
devils in the moon for mischief
should have added a sea voyage"