The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1913-05-30

self, only to have her snapped I'D by
another before he could get her to
Hongkong.
He found at his home-it had just ar.
rived-a note from the girl who had
come out to marry him and married
another man on the way. She made
no effort to excuse herself She ad-
mitted that she had treated him she ne
fully. but said she simply couldn't help
1t. He wrote a number of replies, but
tore them all up. intending when he
had recovered from the shock to write
her something magnanimous. But he
never could think Of anything apprO-
pirate 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 reply to her note.
But Southmayd was not a 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 a sea voyage
he would go to her. This was the re-
suit Of his experience with his first
6ancee. 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 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 he felt it incumbent on
him-and his sister had suggested it
that he should find his friend 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 correspondence was
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 go to America to
claim his bride But Miss Hathaway
replied that she wished to procure her
rousseau abroad and would prefer to
meet him in Paris and marry him
there
Southmayd did not like to risk his
llancee even for passage of the At
antic ocean. hut 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
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 halt and
he set sail to meet his bride.
1t Is quite a voyage from Hongkong
10 Naples. and great deal transpired
before Southmayd reached the latter
point. He was to meet his bride at
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
remarks Southmayd said
bluntly:
You do not seem especially pleased
TO meet me. There is something on
your understanding concealed.
trust l am not about to hear that you
have been married on the voyage"
mot married, but presume | may
as well confess now us later. ] cannot
marry you"
Are you disappointed in me?"
"By no means. Had you come for
me l should have married you willing
ly. AS it is. on the steamer coming
OUT
II knew ii. On the steamer coming
out you met a gentleman who walked
the deck with you, sat by you in a
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
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
IN fba foo NOR hafyaan H0pg-