Ethel Watts Mumford

“ A tall man in a long ulster was pacing back and forth, pausing now and then to lean upon the rail and watch the gurgling: water overside. Idly at first she observed his coming and going. There seemed something familiar in his walk the bulk of him, as he silhouetted against the sky—even the whiff of tobacco smoke that was wafted to her nostrils as he passed, evoked something sweet and companionable. The man was smoking a pipe, a stubby pipe, such as Gerald used. Now he passed quite close to her. Elida gasped, her eyes opened wide, her heart stopped beating. ”

“ The man stopped short; the pipe fell unheeded to the deck.
"Ellie!" he exclaimed. "Ellie! I couldn't stand it—I couldn't let you go! I came aboard at the last minute—forgive me!"
But Elida's feelings had undergone a change, sudden as magic. She no longer wished to be reasonable. "What do you mean?" she demanded furiously, "by writing me such a wicked, cruel letter? How dare you come near me? You ought to be ashamed of yourself." ”

“ Gains, Mrs. Challoner," she introduced, a challenge in her tone. "Gerald Gains, you know. Father spoke to you about him."
"He did, indeed! I understood that Mr. Gains has forfeited his right to be called your friend. I am, therefore, at a loss to explain his presence here."
The youth was unabashed.
"I'm awfully sorry," he began, smiling in a most disarming manner. "The truth is, I sneaked aboard at the last minute. I hadn't had an opportunity of putting things right with my—with Miss Loomis, and I made up my mind that the ship was the one place where I had her trapped—so here I am." ”

“ Elida's face was tragic, with the despairing, concentrated tragedy of extreme youth. The Chaperone opened her mouth to question, then wisely forebore. She turned away tactfully, pretending to watch the goings and comings of their fellow passengers. Then, excusing herself, she sought the deck steward, arranged for chairs, and selected strategic positions. She even took a turn or two about the deck before returning, but when at last she rejoined Elida the girl's face had not relaxed nor had her position changed. ”

“ He certainly had. And to touch that thick letter lying there surrounded by gardenias—like a corpse of dead love! Even to open it would be disobedience, flat disobedience! With a nonchalant gesture she leaned forward, picked up the box, and extracted the letter. She glanced guiltily at Mrs. Challoner; but that lady was busy with her own concerns. Murmuring something unintelligible, the girl crossed the little sitting-room to her own stateroom. Of course, she must tear the letter up unread. ”

“ For the first time since she and Gerald had quarrelled, she began to question whether she had been wholly right after all. Her absolute conviction that she had been justified the violence of her resentment and anger began to ebb away. Mrs. Challoner could not divine the nature of the distress, but it hurt her to see the lines of pain on that unclouded brow.
"Come to the cabin, and let's read for a while," she advised sympathetically. "We are both dead tired, aren't we?"
Mechanically Elida lifted her head from her hands and her elbows from the rail and followed to the stateroom. ”

“ Mr. Loomis—Benjamin Loomis, the multi-millionaire powder manufacturer—had sent her a polite note requesting an interview, concluding with an invitation to luncheon at his residence for the purpose of meeting his daughter, Elida, whom it was his intention to confide to her care for a half year of foreign excursioning. Hence, the nervous glance of Mrs. Challoner at her really charming reflection in the old-fashioned hall mirror of her boarding house. ”

“ Elida leaned her elbows on the lace table-cloth.
"You mustn't mind father," she said, dimpling. "I'm sure I don't know why In wanted to frighten you. But he's really an old dear, you know."
Politely, but with mental reservation. Mrs. Challoner agreed. But when she took her leave it was with mixed feelings of pleasure and foreboding.
A week passed, a hurried week of preparation. Twice during that time Mr. Loomis sought her, bringing the future arbiter and her charge together for a hurried luncheon or an elongated dinner. Always he was disconcerting abrupt, almost terrifying. ”

“ Challoner, who contributed a strangled, "Indeed."
"Yes," he boomed. "I had hoped you were as big as a policeman, and old enough to bark like a mastiff. But I guess you'll do all right, if you are warned. Lay down the law to her; and don't be too sympathetic. You see, she has had a painful love affair; broke her engagement with a young chap—my partner's son, Gerald Gains. He's treated her abominably. ”

“ The longest-living author of this work died in 1940, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 83 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works. ”

“ She found the most costly and luxurious suite on the costly and luxurious liner. There were many gifts and remembrances from many affectionate and sympathetic friends, but they were lost in the smother of American Beauties with which Mr. ”