New Britain herald. [microfilm reel] (New Britain, Conn.) 1890-1976, 1916-11-13

or bring you down from the Clouds"
II am glad you decided upon the
latter course I said, rising, for, now
that I think Of it, 1 am decidedly
ready for luncheon myself. If you'll
just get my small bag for me I'll take
it in the women's dressing room and
freshen up a bit"
Across Dicky's face flashed the
quick frown that I SO dreaded. 1t al
ways shadows his countenance when
ever he is asked to do anything that
inconvenience him.
What under heaven do you need
the bag for?" he growled. 'I'll have
to go way down to the check room
after it and then come back up to-
the dressing room. You look all
right. What do you want to fix up
for luncheon for?">
my hair is almost blown down with
this wind-Im a fright I know I
simply cannot go into the dining room
in this condition.
ooh, all right" Dicky returned
sulkily, suppose I'll have to, but it's
a COMPOUNDED nuisance just the same"
'I'H Be Ready
AS followed Dicky's protesting
back over the upper deck and down
the stairs to the saloon, I wished that
I had put a few necessary articles in
a large hand bag, a relic Of my teach
ing days, and had carried it myself
had done so because I knew Dickys
fastidious dislike Of large hand bags,
but might as we'll have annoyed ixim
in one way as another, I felt, with a
touch of bitterness.
Near the door of the women's dress
ing room Dicky stopped, motioning
me to a chair.
WYATT here'' he said gloomily
"while I go down to the chuck room
and bring up the bag
He was back in a short time, and
handed the bag to me with the NUT
tered adjuration:
NOW don't be all day primping.
I'll be back here in ten minutes"
"I'll be ready" I promised. But
when I opened the dressing room door
I found I had my work cut out for me
if I kept my promise. Six women and
five children were already in the dress
ing room. The only place besides the
floor on which one could rest ones
bag was an old-fashioned walnut
bureau with deep drawers, evidently
used by the stewardess for linens
The top of this was already occupied
by two bags, and the owners OF the
valises were glazing at each other, as
each endeavored to appropriate all or
the space possible.
AS T emerged from the dressing
room, bag in hand, / saw D1cky snap
his watch shut, and knew that he had
been timing me.
"you certainly stretched that ten
ninutes.'' he said ungraciously, as he
took the bag from me and started in
the direction of the dining room.
An Unexpected Champion.
NV heart sank as we came in sight
Of the dining room door, for massed
in front Of it was a grumbling, jostling
crowd of people. In fact, the lines Of
men and women waiting for a chance
+o get into the dining room extended
far out along the corridor.
"Now Just see what your Internal
primping has DONE" Dicky growled
GROSSLY. "Everybodys rushed down
here now, and therell be no chance
for a seat for hours
"Why, dear, wasn't fifteen minutes
in the dressing room,' I replied, my
face flushing at his words.
I looked around nervously, wonder
ing if any one of the bystanders had
heard him. The first person 1 saw
was an aggressive looking, middle
aged woman standing directly OPP
posite me, who was gazing at Dicky
with Indignation in her mien. That
she had heard his rudeness to me, and
that she disapproved Of it on general
principles I knew from her demeanor.
I did not know whether to be
amused or angry, when she lifted her
voice and spoke, ostensibly to her
companion, but, as I knew, in reality
at Dicky
"I believe this is the worst crowd
ing I've ever experienced on this boat.
I came down here exactly a half hour
ago"-she consulted the severely prac-
tical little wrist watch on her arm
land it was as bad or worse then than
it is now
She looked defiantly at Dicky as she
spoke, and I knew that she meant her
little speech to squelch his pretense
that our delay in getting dinner was
due to me.