The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-08-13

were made up, the spur of the moment for
bridge or poker. never claimed him. He seemed
to see no fun in throwing rope quoits at stick,
and he passed the devotees of SWITCHBOARD with
tolerant smile. He made no friends at meals,
for he was careful to take his meals always after
the other passengers at the table had returned to
deck; this, when he did not eat in the solitary
state of his State-rooms.
So Mona herself deprived Of the aid of
all the pleasant culsiyators Of aequainta celip
that 50 abound on ship. On the the con-
ventions are relaxed; introductons dispensed
with more often than not. But though plenty
of the men among the passengers found excuse
for talking with her, for joining in her walks
about the wind-swept decks, Mr. held aloof. II
he noticed her at all he gave sign, and Mona,
though she might have managed it sklfully
enough, was afraid to resort to the crude strata
gem of boldly beginning the acquaintance herself.
She did as much as she thought was safe.
One day, when she that he coming
toward her, she stood the rail, peering out over
the waves Calculating her time to nicely she
dropped the that contained her marine
glasses. They fell at the feet of the sef-styed
Armstrong; in moment, cap in hand, he
bowling before her
Permit me-" he said, handing her the case
"Oh, thank you, much!" said Mona, prettily
confused. What clumsy thing to do, I'm so
afraid they're broken"
Gravely he took the case from. her, drew out
the glasses, and inspected them.
you are Fortunate he said. They are quite
unin1ured. | congratulate you! !"
He restored them to her then, and she had,
perforce, to look through them at distant gull.
And when she turned, expecting to find him at
her side, he had gone. She bit her lip; certain
chargin at her failure to his interest that
was wholly personal sent the color into her
cheeks. 1t feeling distinct from her disgust
Mt the effect of his action upon the more inn
portant phase of her work. but it promised to
rankle. 1t long time since any man whom
Mona had deigned to notice had turned away from
her. She turned to go back to her chair. and saw
regarding her. speculativey. family amused,
from spot little distance away.
"Beast!' she said to herself He's perfectly
sure / dropped those glasses Observation-Disclosures
him to pick up. l wonder-am getting clumsy,
or is he preternaturally wise and experienced?
He looks like the sort of man that women are
supposed to find irresistibler'
But, though Mona's determination to succeed
was only sharpened by this incident she was
obliged to admit to herself, after few
days, that she had met a at last who was
entirely impervious to her charms.
The two girls had followed the suggestion of
Jones; they contrived, without resorting to any,
thing obvious, TO give the ship the impression
that they disliked one another. Like all the wom-
en- on board they spoke, but each was cold and
distant 1t seemed that they We're of opposite and
instnctively antagonistic types.
Meanwhile. though Mona had failed in her
part OF the undertaking. Marys triumph was COM
plete. Her snbjugation of the purser was the talk
OF the ship. The two took long walks about the
decks; heads nodded they passed, and there
We're many smiles and whsperings about the
budding romance. Shelley found Mary captiyat-
ing: it was difficult for her to keep his ardor
within bounds at all He sighed, talked of his
wretched work, that almost forbade him to
marry; confded to her that he intended, as soon
as he could to find work ashore.
This sort of thing is all very well for a
time he told her But when chap begins to
think of marrying and settling down-why the
seas no place for him. them
oh-oh" said Mary. insocen.ly. "Whv, when