Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1916-10-24
[ooNTINUEp.1
Copyright 1914, by Dodd, Mead and
Company

Later on X. Schmidt sat alone In
sheltered corner Of the promenade
deck, where chairs had been secured
by the forehanded Hobbs. The thin
drizzle now aspired to something more
definite in the shape of steady down
pour, and the decks were almost de-
serted save for the few who huddled
In the unexposed hooks where the
sweep and swish Of the rain failed to
penetrate. There was faraway look
in the young mans eyes, as OF one
who dreams pleasantly with little ef'
fort, but excellent effect. His pipe
had gone out, so his dream must have
been long and uninterrupted. Eight
bells sounded. But what is time to q
dreamer? Then came one bell and
two, and now his eyes were closed.
Two women came and stood over
him, but little did they suspect that
his dream was Of one Of them-the
one with the lovely eyes and the soft
brown hair. They surveyed him, whis
pering, the one with a little perplexed
frown on her brow, the other with dis
tinct signs Of annoyance in her face
The girl was not more than twenty
her companion quite old enough to be
her mother. a considerate if not com
plimentary estimate, for girls moth
erNmay be either forty, fifty or even
f1fty-flve when you come to think Of It
They were looking for something
That was quite clear. And 1t was de
plorably clear that whatever it was R
Schmidt was sitting upon 1t. They
saw that he was asleep, which made
the search If not the actual recovery
quite out of the question. The Older
woman was on the point Of poking the
sleeper with the toe of her shoe, be
ing matter of fact sort Of person
when the girl imperatively shook hel
head and frowned upon the lady in 8
way to prove that, even though she
was old enough to be the mother Of 8
girl of twenty, she was by no means
the mother Of this one.
At that very instant R. Schmidt
opened his eyes. It must have been 9
kindly poke by the god Of sleep that
aroused him 80 opportunely; but, ever
30, the toe of a shoe could not have
created graver catastrophe than thai
which Immediately befell him. He
completely lost his head. II one hai
suddenly asked what had become ot
1t he couldn't have told, not for the
life Of him. For that matter he
couldn't have put his. finger, so tt
speak. on any part Of his person and
proclaimed with confidence that it be
longed to R. Schmidt Of Vienna. He
was looking directly up into pair o.
dark. startled eyes, in which there was
q very pretty confusion and far from
impervious blink.
I beg your pardon" said the Older
woman without the faintest trace o.
embarrassment-indeed, with some
asperity-"I think you are occupying
one of our chairs"
He scrambled out Of the steamer
rug and came to his feet, blushing tt
the roots of his hair.
II beg your pardon" he stammeret
and found his awkwardness rewarded
by an extremely sweet smile-in the
eyes Of the one he addressed.
I'VE were looking for letter that
am quite sure was left In my chair
said she.
"A letter." he murmured vaguely
and at once began to search with his
eyes.
From her father" volunteered thu
elderly one. as If 1t were necessary
bit Of information. Then she jerket
the rug away, and three pairs Of eyes
examined the place where r. Schmidt
had been reclining. That's odd. Die
you happen to see it when you sal
down. sir?'
81 am confident that there was NJ
letter., began he and then allowed
his gaze to rest on the name card al
the top of the chair. "This happen:
to be my chair, madam" he went on
pointing to the card. "R. Schmidt.
am very sorry"
"The steward must have put thai
card there while you were at lunch
con. dear. What right has he to sell
our chairs over again? I shall report
this to the captain
T am quite positive that this Is my
chair. sir" said the girl. red spot IN
each cheek. at was engaged two
days ago. have been occupying II
since-but 1t really doesn't matter. II
has your name on 1t now, 30 I sup
pose I shall have to-
~Not at ALL" he made haste to say
at Is yours. There has been some
miserable mistake. These deck stew
ards are always messing things up
Still. 1t Is rather a mystery about the
letter. I assure you saw no.
mo doubt the steward who chang.
cd the cards had sufficient intelli.
gence to remove all discriminating
evidence" said she coolly. eve shall
find 1t among the lost, strayed and
stolen articles, no doubt. Pray retain
the chair, Mr. She peered at the
name card-"Mr. Schmidt"
Her cool insolence succeeded in net
Ting q nature that was usually most
gentle. he spoke with characteristic
directness.
"Thank you, shall do so. We
thereby manage to strike fair av.
erage. seize your deck chair, you
seize my table. We are quits
She smiled family. ar. Schmid,
did not sound young and gentle, but
old and hateful. That Is why I seized
the table. expected to ind r.
Schmidt fat old German with very
bad manners. Instead, you are neither
fat, old nor disagreeable. You tool
II very nicely, Mr.. Schmidt, and I an
undone. Won't you permit me to re.
store your table to youf"
CHAPTER X
Tie Prince Chats With Mis- oulIe.
~HN elderly lady was tapping tht
deck with q most tmpatien'