The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1915-01-30


Bellew cursed his race and made
hurried preparation for the voyage.
There was nothing worse in his es-
timation than to be literally thrown
into an appallingly close proximity
to a thousand strange people and to
have to eat, sleep and spend every
hour Of the day with those same peo-
pie.
However, all his fears were in
way minimized when the great ship
sailed smoothly out and past Sandy
Hook. A cursory glance over the
people on deck told him that they
were a harmless enough looking
crowd and not lacking in variety
/ Of attractive girls.
! Much to his amazement he realized
that the soft motion Of the boat, the
swish Of water and the rhythmic chug
Of the engines gave him q sense OF
rest such as the noise of the city had
never offered him.
He went below and sought typist.
The sea-going stenographers were for
the moment all engaged, and Bellew
was obliged to wait until one was free
to take his letters When finally .
cotton broker came out Of the Office
nearest Bellew he stepped In and
gazed blankly at the girl sitting at
her typewriter.
"Humph!" he muttered. II see
now why 80 much business Is done
on shipboard. Gee whiz-what a
beauty!"
did you say anything?" Sally
Parker looked straight into Bellows
, eyes.
II want to dictate some letters" he
said more or less gruffly.
"Are you not feeling well?" Sally
asked with peculiarly irritating
sweetness. Il am SO sorry for people
who can't stand the sea. Perhaps II
your letters could wait you will feel
such a difference"
II will write them now" Bellew
said, and Sally put paper in her ma
chine without another word.
The debating went on smoothly
enough, and when the letter was fin.
ished and another one started. Bel
lew found himself smiling inwardly.
After all. bondage to girl like Sally
was going to prove rather interesting.
When Liverpool was reached she
seemed to disappear with maddening
swiftness from the wharf. Bellew
cursed his fate. and from the moment
he stepped from the gangplank he
lived only for the moment when he
would again step on 1t. He called him
self every hind Of fool for falling
headlons ia love with . seafaring
stenographeT.
His business in Liverpool proved .
hattering success, and when he again
went up the gangplank to board the
ship II was with . startlingly weak
pair Of knees and . heart that beat
with painful rspidity.
81 would be sorry for myself II love
j came to me more than once in q life
time II this Is the way 1t bowls one
over" he told himself with a short
laugh. III that girl won't listen to
} met will be all up with yours
truly"
Il Sally was at her post in the type
writing office and she looked up with
. most charming smile when Bel.ew
stood beside her.
; 81 want you to take down q letter
Immediately" he said.
Dear" dictated Bellew. darling
Girl of the Sea-"
. This letter is rather of a private
nature" suggested Sally looking in
q very startled fashion at Bellew.
; II love you." continued the young
man and watched with delight the
| color that leaped into Sally's cheeks
III you won't try to return my love
1 I shall jump"
81 wouldn't d. anything desperate
Sally interrupted with a soft laugh
1T delays the trip when lifeboats
have to be lowered to fish for people
who act foolishly."
l 1T wouldn't be acting foolishly,'
Bellew said with more feeling thar
he thought himself capable of. Life
e wouldn't be worth farthing to me Il
you refuse me-Sally-please don't re
, fuse to love me-" he pleaded boy
e ishly.
r 81 did not say 1 intended to refuse,
It she told him.
Wonderful thing-the ocean," Bel
L lew murmured.
Copyright. 1914 by the Mcclure Newspa