The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1923-11-16

makes me wish that had private
yacht
ut would be nice"
"a private yacht" repeated Sam,
sliding trifle closer. I'VE would sail
about visiting desert islands which
lay like jewels in the heart Of tropic
seas"
"We?'
Most certainly we. It wouldn't be
any fun IL you were not there"
That's very complimentary"
"Well, it wouldn't. I'm not fond Of
girls as rule :"
''Oh, aren't you?"
"Now said Sam decidedly. 1t was
a point which he wished to make clear
at the outset. mot at all fond. My
friends have often remarked upon it.
A palmist once told me that had one
of those rare spiritual natures which
cannot be satisfied with substitutes
but must seek and seek till they find
their soul-mate. When other men all
round me were frittering away their
emotions in idle flirtations which did
not touch their deeper natures was
+. l was j.. well, wasn't, if
YOU see what mean"
ooh, you wasn't weren't"
mo. Some day knew i should
meet the only girl could possibly love,
and then would pour out upon her
the stored-up devotion of lifetime,
lay an unblemished heart at her feet,
fold her in my arms and say, AT
lastr"
How jolly for her. Like having q
circus all to oneself"
"Well, yes" said Sam after q mo-
mentary pause.
when was child l always
thought that that would be the most
wonderful thing in the world
1.-THE most wonderful thing in the
world is love, pure and consuming
love, love which ~
"Oh, hellO!" said voice.
All through this scene, right from
the very beginning of it, Sam had not
been able to rid himself of a feeling
that there was something missing. The
time and the place and the girl-they
were all present and correct; never
theless there was something missing,
some familiar object which Seemed to
leave gap. He now perceived that
what had caused the feeling was the
complete absence of Bream Mortimer.
He was absent no longer. He was
standing in front of them with one
leg advanced, his head lowered as If
he were waiting for someone to
scratch It, Sans primary impulse was
to offer him Il nut.
''Oh, hello, Bream" said Billie.
''Hullow said Sam.
"Hullo" said Bream Mortimer.
Here you are!"
There was pause.
Il thought you might be here" said
Rream
yes, here we are" said Billie
Eyes, we're here said Sam.
There was another pause.
Mind If join your" SAID Bream.
"N-no,' said Sam.
NO" said Billie again. "No !.
that is to say oh no, not Mt
ALL"
There was third pause.
'On second thoughts said Bream.
Il believe I'll take stroll on the
promenade deck, if you don't mind"
They said they didn't mind. Bream
Mortimer, having bumped his head
twice against overhanging steel ropes,
melted away.
"Who is that fellow?e demanded
Sam wrathfully."
He's the son of fathers best
| friend" !
Sam started. Somehow this girl had
always been so individual to him that
he had never thought of her having a
father.
I'VE have known each other all our
lives" continued Billie. "Father thinks
a tremendous lot of Bream. l sup
pose it was because Bream was sailS
ing by her that father insisted on my
coming over on this boat. I'm in dis
grace, you know. I was cabled for
and had to sail Mt few days no.
| tice. :"
"Oh. hello"
"Why, Bream!" said Billie, looking
at him as he stood on the old spot in
the same familiar attitude with rather
less affection than the son of her ia
theirs best friend might have expect
ed. II thought you said you were
going down to the promenade deck"
II did so down to the promenade
deck. And I'd hardly got there when
fellow who's getting up the ships
concert tomorrow night nobbled me
to do a couple of songs. He wanted
to know if / knew anyone else who
would help. / came up to ask you,"
he said to Sam, IF you would do some
thing"
NO" said Sam. II won't"
Hes got man who's going to
lecture on deep-sea fish and a couple
of women who both want to sing The
Rosary but he's still an act or two
1 -. 10t,