The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1923-10-12

had happened to see any anywhere
She said she had sent them all to be
| pressed. She said she knew l never
went out in the mornings don't as
| rule-and they would be back at lunch
time. A fat lot of use that was
had to be at the church at eleven.
Well, told her i had most impor-
tant engagement with man at eleven,
and she wanted to know what it was
and tried to think of something, but
1T sounded pretty feeble and she said
had better telephone to the man and
put it off. / did it, too. Rang up the
first number in the book and told some
fellow had never seen in my life that
couldn't meet him! He was pretty
peeved judging from what he said
about my being on the wrong line.
And mother listening all the time, and
l knowing that she knew-something
told me that she knew-and she
knowing that / knew she knew-I tell
you 1t was awfulw
"And the girl?"
"She broke off the engagement APP
parently she waited at the church
from eleven till one-thirty and then
began to get impatient. She wouldn't
see me when l called in the after
noon, but 1 got letter from her say
ing that what had happened was all
for the best and she had been think
ing it over and had come to the conclu-
sion that she had made mistake.
She said something about my not being
as dynamic as she had thought was.
She said that what she wanted was
something more like Lancelot or Sir
Galahad, and would look on the cpl
sodo as closed"
did you explain about the trou-
sers?''
Eyes. 1t seemed to make things
worse. She said that she could for
give man anything except being
ridiculous
II think you're well out of it, said
Sam judicially "She can't have been
much of girl"
Il feel that now. But it doesn't
alter the fact that my life is ruined
have become woman-hater. Wom-
en-! When l think how mother be-
haved and how Wilhelmina treated me
wonder there isn't law against
them. What mighty Ills have not been
done by Woman! Who was 1t be-
trayed the Capitolv"
'In Washington said Sam, puzzled.
He had heard nothing of this. But
then he generally confined his reading
of the papers to the sporting page.
81 was quoting from Thomas OF
ways Orphan l wish could write
like Otway. He knew what he was
talking about"
well, of course, he may be right in
way. AS regards some women, l
nean. But the girl l met on the
dock"
DON'T" said Eustace Hignett. IF
you have anything bitter and deroga-
tory to say about women, say it and
will listen eagerly. But if you merely
wish to gibber about the ornamental
exterior of some dashed girl you have
been fool enough to get attracted by,
go and tell it to the captain or the
ships cat or J. B. Midgeley. Do try
to realize that / am soul in torment!
l am ruin, spent force, a man with
out future! What does life hold for
me? Love? / shall never love again.
My work? / haven't any. think
shall take to drink"
Talking of that" said Sam, 81 sup
pose they open the bar directly we
pass the three-mile limit How about
small one?"
Eustace shook his head gloomily.
do you suppose pass my time on
board ship in gadding about and feast
ing? Directly the vessel begins to
move go to bed and stay there. AS
matter of fact think it would be
wisest to go to bed now. Don't let
me keep you if you want to go on
deck"
"It looks to me-" said Sam, "as if /
had been mistaken in thinking that
you were going to be ray of sunshine
on the voyage"
Ray OF SunSh1ne!' said EuStace
Hignett, pulling pair of mauve pa
jamas out of the kit-bag. SIN going
to be volcano"
Sam left the stateroom and headed
for the companion. He wanted to get
on deck and ascertain if that girl was
still on board. About now the sheep
would be separating from the goats:
the passengers would be on deck and
their friends returning to the shore.
A slight tremor on the boards on which
he trod told him that this separation
must have already taken place. The
ship was moving. re ran lightly up
the companion. Was she on board or
was she not? The next few minutes
would decide. He reached the top of
the stairs and passed out onto the
crowded deck. And as he did so,
scream. followed by confused shouting,
came from the rail nearest the shore.
He perceived that the rail was black