Year: 1871




had made was not the truth in short, /
did not believe that there would be any
husband awaiting her upon the quay at
New York, and that after all it was but a
bold subterfuge by which single and
unprotected woman wished to shroud her
self in the respect paid to the married of
her sex


That she was respectable was undoubt-
ed but there was a timid. shrinking way
about her. so different from the quiet,
calm selfpossession of married lady ;
and felt assured that no one whose hus-
band awaited her upon the quay at New
York would so readily lay herself open
to remark by accepting my arm upon so
short an acquaintance


Isis that IA friend Of yours p
suddenly asked my companion.


Friend friend of mine" :" said,
in puzzled way. No, have no friends
on board-ot least only one, | hope" l
added, meaningly.


"l-l thank you" was the hesitating
reply, in the most gentle Of tones. Com
PEELED as we are to rely upon the society
of so few during a sea-voyage, friend
ships do soon spring up"


." But to whom were you alluding 2"
! said.


"Oh, it is nothing. but | am very
weak and foolish--L tanced that the
man, the gentleman you were speaking to
was watching US rather particularly"


Yes, yes, dare say, think though,
it is his habit. He looked just as ear
nestly at me short time ago. and he has
been staring at every one in turn. You
don't think he is looking after runaway
young LADY," | added, laughing.


In an instant my arm was dropped,
and though the veil was down, my COM
panions eyes seemed to fash fire as she
half turned round toward me.


| never professed to be very peuetrat-
ing, but | was keen enough to see that |
had touched upon chord which kept
bent the two ends of bow Of mystery.
saw, too, that, but for careful manage
ment, the advance had made in the
good graces Of an admirable woman
would be destroyed in an instant


Pray excuse my impertinentremark," +"
/ exclaimed, eagerly, 1.-The words were
meaningless, aud uttered without fore
thought


My companion apparently reassured,
took my arm once more, and uttered a
little low laugh.


Meaningless, indeed but for mo-
ment thought"


"She did not finish her sentence; for
at that moment my commercial acquaint-
ance passed close by us, gave me IA
milar nod and smile, waf ted cloud
of smoke into the lady's face, aud -valk-
ed on.


"Such consumate impertnence y |
said "You would hardly think that
had never seen that man before to-day"


Acquaintanceships do spring up rath-
er rapidly sometimes" was the meaning
reply; and glanced down, but the speak
er's head was slightly averted, aud it
seemed to me that she spoke in husky
tones.


For the next three days the number of
passengers who showed OH deck was
strictly limited in consequence Of the
state of the weather, and really the Of
fees of steward and stewardess could have
been no sinecure. For my part, can
only own to being qualmish on the Sec
ond day, and paced the deck hopefully
in anticipation Of the advent of my lady
friend. But go on deck when | would l
was certain to encounter the COOL easy
assured nod Of the bagman, whose con
sumption Of cigars must have been enor-
nous. He was as free and obstrusive as
ever; but one evening, just as it was
turning dark, | had the pleasure Of smok-
ing my pipe in peace for | saw him in
deep conversation with man had hard
ly noticed before, from the fact of his
being one Of the second-cass passengers.


TO my great astonishment, though, af-
ter had gone into the saloon, the bag
man came strolling in, followed short
time after by the man to whom he had
been speaking; and this latter seated
himself ON the opposite side Of the table
in an abstracted manner, sat thinking for
a while, and then slowly walked past me-
and out of the saloon door softly shaking
his head.


The next two days passed pleasantly
enough; for though unwilling to come
on deck, the lady passenger was nearly
recovered, and many pleasant tete-a-tett
| enjoyed found her most ladylike
aud thorougly we'll informed; while, as
our acquaintance warmed, if l may use
the term into something that was at least
friendship, / was delighted to find thai
mine had indeed been true surmise
| for she confessed TO having determined