WATERBURY EVENING DEMOCRAT, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 20. 1908.
ILady
Across the Water
By CN. 6A.M, WILLIAMSON
Cmpyrijkl. 1906. hy MeClmr. . Tblllln "3X C.
I couldn't think what either of tbem
meant, though at Drat I was afraid niy
man intended the other to understand
that the live minutes would be devoted
to knocking him down, or something
else violent, as a punishment for Im
pertinence to a defenseless foreigner.
But my mind was almost Instantly re
lieved, for the two men walked oil to
gether quite amicably and stood talk
ing at a distance,
A- moment later one of my boxes
went by, looking very fat and friendly,
on the shoulders of a porter who ap
parently had no head. I rushed out
end seized lt-not the bead, but the
li t; so there was something encour
K Ing, but I had two pieces of luggage
wait for still. ,
dost of the other "B's" were more
tunate about getting their things;
vertbeless they seemed far from
ay in their minds, and, though they
wotested almost tearfully that they'd
nj thing whatever to declare, stern per
ns la uniform stirred up their boxes
as I used to do with the nursery pud
ding when all the plums had sunk to
the bottom.
I was very tired and very hot, hotter
than I'd supposed people could be, ex
cept In a Turkish bath, and I was be
ginning to be hungry, too, for I'd lunch
ed principally off the statue of Liber
ty and skyscrapers, which were more
tilling than lasting as a meal.
I fanned myself with my handker
chief as well as I could and felt sure
I was slowly getting appendicitis, be
cause whenever Americans feel uncom
fortable in any way it seems almost
certain to turn eventually into that,
probably on account of the climate.
Would my other boxes never come? I
thought. Most of the "B's" were going
home. They had homes, lucky people,
and if they liked they could presently
have tea.
World without tea.
Ah me!
When I was small and my nurse
talked on Sundays about heaven and
hell, making the one sound Incredibly
dull, the other incredibly painful, I
used to think that I'd rather go to
neither, but Just be stuffed, like moth
er's Blenheim, Beau Brummel, whose
soul I fancied had leave to stop in his
body so long as moth and rust did not
corrupt. ; He seemed rather out of
things, though, poor dear, standing for
ever In the same position in a glass
case, with one paw up begging for
something which nobody gave, while
the years dragged on, and I'd begun
to feel as If I were falling Into his
state when I was roused from a stupid
dream by the man of the steerage sud
denly looming over me.
"I beg your pardon," said he, taking
eff his hat and 'speaking in a nice
American voice, aa nice for a mas as
Bally Woodburn's is for a woman.
"Please don't suppose I mean to be
hide or Intrusive, but I wanted to ten
rou that I think you won't be annoyed
igatn, and just one thing more. May
I thank you for your goodness on ship
yard? It brightened what would
therwlse have been a grim ezperl
mce." '
Blind Mrs. Ess Kay to pronounce
this man not a gentleman Just because
mme strange circumstances had forced
aim to travel lh the steerage! I did
wish that, without his knowing It, I
rould nave slipped Into his pocket my
BO.
"Oh, I did nothing.- I answered. "It
was the other people who did every
thing the little that was done. It's
who have to thank you for taking
that person away. He and the other
who came Just before were so rude."
"They didn't mean to be rude," he
aid. "They wanted you to tell them
something which they could put Into
their papers, and tbey live by doing
that kind of thing. I did the best I
rould with them, but I wish I could
lave saved you from being annoyed
In the beginning. I hesitated at first
(or fear you might misunderstand and
think me as bad as they were, but I
ish I hadnt now."
"After what I saw you do at sea I
wuhln't possibly have misunderstood,'
t said.
"Thank you for saying that," he re
turned, "though for what I did then
don't deserve any praise. It was
lone on the Impulse, and I'm uaed to
alt water. As a child I lived close
It for a time In California and swim
ming came almost as natural as walk
ing. But I'm not here to talk about
myself.. It was only to tell you how
grateful I was and am and shall con
tinue to be for your kindness on the
ihip. I couldn't go wltbont speaking
f this, and there's something now I'd
Uke to ask, Ton won't be offended?'
"If it's something you want to tell
tie. I know it Isn't the sort of thing
which could offend," I said, but I
Jldn't say It as calmly as It looks
when written. I stammered a little
ind got the words tangled hp, and I
felt my face growing hotter then ever.
"I thank yon again. It's only this.
If, while you're over on this side the
water, there's ever any way In which
t man a man who'd be as respectful
as your footman, and loyal as your
, friend could possibly serve you, I
wish you would let me be that man.
I know It seems now aa.if snch a thing
couldn't happen, but. nothing's quite
Impossible In this qneer world, and
' and anyhow I shall always be ready.
You could trust me"
' "I know that!" I conldn't resist
breaking in.
- 'Tm-mpIoyed for the present at a
elub In New York. If you'd send word
to Jim Brett at the Manhattan club,
there's nothing under the sun that Jim
Brett wouldn't do for yon, from find
ing a lost dog to taking a message
across the world." ' .
"first !nst eatch my Aug before I
etty
can lose him," 1 answered, laughing.
"But if I do, or-or there's anything
else, I shan't forget."
"That's a true promise, then, and I
have to thank you for the third time.
Now, I'm not going to trouble you any
longer. Goodby."
Without stopping to think who he
was, or who I was, I held out . my
band, aud his good looking brown face
grew red. , He took the hnnd, pressed
it hard once, dropped - it abruptly,
turned on his heel and walked away
without looking back. .
I was so Interested In g;-ng over the
conversation in my mind that I forgot
to feel like Beau Brummel with one
paw up In his glass case, nud though I
dare say ten minutes had passed, It
hardly seemed two, when a wonderful
little black Image In the shape of a boy
came sidling up to me, all rolling white
eyes and red grin, like a nice New-
foundland puppy. He had some news
papers tucked under his arm, but In
his hand was a small basket of
peaches almost too beautiful to be real.
But then, weren't they and wasn't be
part of my dream?
He grinned so much more that I was
afraid his round black face would
break Into two separate halves,' and
looking at me with his woolly head on
one side, he thrust out the basket
"Fur you, missy," said he, with a
funny little accent, for all the world
like Sally Woodburn's.
"They can't be for me. There nlust
bo a mistake," said I, wishing there
wasn't, for the peaches did look de-.
Ilcious, and there were two rosebuds
lying on top of the basket, one pink,
the other white. "I don't know any
one who could have sent them."
"The gent knows you, you bet,
missy," replied the image. "He guv
me a quarter and axed if I know'd my
alphabet 'nuf to find letter 'B' an' tote
dese yere to the prettiest young lady
I'd ever seed. Most wite ladies dey
looks all jes'- alike to me, but you's
different, missy, an I reckon de tings
must be fur you." i
I had a horrible vision of this com
pliment proceeding from the Flash
light or the Evening Bat "What was
the gentleman like?" I asked. '
"Like 'mos' any gent, missy, .'cept
that he was powerful tall, an' I reckon
if be keeps right on like he's doin'
now be 11 get mos as Drown as me
some day." t
Then I knew that I was safe in tak
ing the present, so I did and gave the
comical black Image two'or three lit
tle round white metal things I'd got
from the purser when I changed some
English money., . I didn't . know., bow
much they were, and they looked ridic
ulously small, but he seemed pleased.
When he had run off I turned my at
tention to the peaches. They were
so big that there was room only for
four in. the basket, and they seemed
dreadfully pathetic considering from
whom they had come. .
That poor fellow must be almost
penniless.or he wouldn't have been in
the steerage, yet he had bought peaches
for me and given a "quarter"'-what-rrtr
that was to his quaint black doll
f a messenger. I could have cried.,
S'evertbeless I ate two of the peaches
ind reluctantly presented the other
:wo, which I couldn't possibly eat, to
i gloomy "B" child sitting on a shawl
itrap.
As If for a reward of virtue, Just as
had disposed of my leavings aud
tuck the roses into my belt, the last
f the luggage arrived.'- There were
two custom bouse men nenr to choose
from, and, as I've heard, in choosing
Mtween two evils it's better to choose
the less, I smiled beseechingly at the
imaller man, who bad Just crammed
1 pile of lace blouses into the box of a
tody with nervous prostration.
Whether be was sated with cruelty,
r whether he was naturally of an an
gelic disposition, I shall probably never
know now, but the fact remains that
Instead of turning out the tieud I'd
been led to expect, he was one of the
most considerate men I've ever met.
He wouldn't even let me unlock my own
boxes, but took the keys and opened
them for me himself. (Didn't an ex-
scutloner braid the hair of some queen
whose bead be was going to chop off?
t must look the incident up when I
have time.) Anyway, I thought of it
when the custom bouse man was being
to polite, but the analogy didn't go
niy farther, for my head never came
off at oil, nd two of the boxes re
mained unopened.
"You're English, aren't you?" he
isked, and when I said yes, and that
( was only on a short visit, he treated
my belongings as if they were sacred.
If be disturbed anything, be laid it
back nicely, keeping up a running con
versation as he went on. I told him
that English women might bring
home all tho pretty clothes they liked
from other conntrias, and that I con
sidered It most uugallant in such a
chivalrous nation as America to deny
ladies a few Paris dresses.
"Do you happen to know, miss,
what's the Income tax in your coun
try T' he asked, tenderly putting back
some yellow hairpins which had fallen
out of a box of mine.
"Dear me, no." I exclaimed. "But I
think It's sometimes more than a shill
ing In the pound. I've heard my
brother say so. and as for the -death
duties. It's more than your life's worth
to die."
"A-ahr said the nice man. "Wa
haven't got any Income tax on this
aide, and folks can die In peace when
ever they please, fgiiess that kind of
evens things up, don't It?"
I didn't knew what to answer, so 1
thanked him for his kindness, and we
parted the best of friends.
Mrs. Ess Ksy appeared so quickly
afterward that It almost seemed as It
the must have been lying tn wait. Bbe
was looking pale and shattered, and
Louise, following close behind, was
positively haggard. Only Bully bad
weathered the storm without being
outwardly the worse for woar, but
veu she didn't took as good natured
is usual. ' . .
"How have you got along, you poor,
deserted darling?" affectionately In-
A little black image in Vie shape of a
' . boy.
quired Mrs. Ess Kay, undismayed 'by
a fixed gaze from Sally, which appar
ently signified reproach.
"It wasn't very bad, and I've Quite
enjoyed myself," I replied, forgetting
some tedious moments tn the light of
others not tedious and hoping that the
roses in my belt might pass unnoticed.
Fortunately they did. otherwise I
should have been In a difficulty, for I
Bhould have hated to vulgarize the lit
tlo episode by putting it into story
form for Mrs. Ess Kay. and presum
ably roses have not been taught to
grow wild on the New York docks, al
though .they say Americans are so very
luxurious in their tastes one would
hardly be surprised at anything.
A beautiful electric carriage, bigger
than a brougham, was waiting for ns,
and we left Louise, with a butler or
some other manservant out of livery,
to wrestle with the luggage and bring
It In cabs (which they called "hacks")
up to Mrs. Ess Kay's house in New
York, where I knew she meant to stop
for a few days before going1 on to New
port. The minute we drove away from the
docks I began to notice dozens of
things which made me tremendously
conscious that I was in a foreign coun
try. One would think, as so many of
these people were English, or, anyway.
British, before they were Americans
that their buildings and everything'
else would be enough like to reminds
one of borne. But each street we turned
into showed uie that this Isn't at all
true In New York. There are bits like
Taris at least you think so on a su
perficial glance but nothing lu the
faintest degree like London.
Something In the air,, too, made me
feel excited, as it does la Paris. Spai". 3
of electricity snapped in my veins, and
I had a presentiment of Interesting
things that must surely happen.
I've always been very sensitive to
smells, which can make me Joyful or
miserable, Just as music does. Vic
says I oughtn't to tell people this, as
it signifies I'm still in close touch
with brute creation. But I don't much
mind If I am, for so many animals are
nicer than we are dogs and horses, for
Instance; and then one has to ncknowl-,
lge, whether one likes or not, thnt a
monkey Is a kind of poor relation.
Each, place I've ever visited has Jts
own smell for me and even houses
and people. I would know the smell'
of Battlcmead Towers, if I were taken
there by winding ways, with my eyes
blindfolded, it's the smell of old oak
and potpourri, aud books and chintz,
and autumn leaves and pine trees,
mixed together. Mother smells like
a tea rose aud Vic like a wax dull.
London has a rich, heavy scent, which
makes you feel as If you bad a great
deal of money and wanted to spend It,
but not in a hurry. The smell of Paris
makes you want to laugh and clup
your hands and go to the theater. The
smell of Borne mukes you feel as if
you wished to be very beautiful and
move to the slow accompaniment of
a maguifleent church organ, with the
vox humana stop drawn out. But
New York the smell of New York!
How shall I describe the sensation It
gave me, as Mrs. Ess Kay's electric
carriage smoothly spun me up town?
The heavy feeling of homesickness
which I bad had on the ship for the
last few days was gone, aud instead
I felt a wild sense of exhilaration, as
If I'd come dashing home after a glori
ous run with the hounds and plunged
into, a cold bath with two bottles of"
eau de cologne poured into the water.
It was amazingly hot, but the breeze
gave a bint of the sea, and every shop
and house we passed seemed to keep
spices stored away, for the breeze to
blow over.
Eveu the old fashioned houses, no
higher thau those In. London, were as
different from ours as possible, and it
was extraordinary to see people nicely
dressed women and pretty girls perch
ed on the front steps under awnings
without so mnch as a pocket bandker
chief lawn between tbem and the
street. Persons of that class at home
would be far too shy to lounge about
and be stared at not only by the neigh
bora, bnt by twenty strangers a mln
Ote, yet here they sat on nigs and
read or did embroidery or swung back
and forth In chairs that rocked like
cradles, paying no-more attention to
the passers than if they bad been files.
By and by we came out of the quiet
streets walled lu with - monotonous
rows of red brick or brown stous
houses Into a scene of terror. It was a
street, too, but what a street! I thought
that I'd grown accustomed to motor
ing: through traffic, for once Stan took
me in Ms car all the way from Battle
mead to Pall. Mall, where be stood me
a very Jolly luncheon at the Carlton
hotel,' bnt that experience was nothing
to this. I felt a little Jumpy with Stan
if
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when we shot between "omnibuses in
a space which looked twice too narrow,
and once when I thought a frightfully
tall horse was goins to bite off my hat,
but I soon got used to it
If I were driven every day of my life
for a year through this terrible street
lu New York, though, I should be no
more used to it on the last day than.
on the first. The only change in me at
the end of that time would be in my
hair, which would have turned snow
white and be standing up permanently
all over my head like Strumpel-Peter's,
only worse.
London roars, a monotonous, canuon-
balls-in-the-cellar roar, with Just a light
tinkle of bansom cabs sprinkled over
the top of the uolid sound, but that
great straight Blreet luto which we
suddenly flushed had no solid sound.
It shrieked lu short, sharp yells, made
up of a dozen distinct noises, each one
louder and more insistent than the
other. '
There were trams and tram bells
and motors aud carriages and over all
an appalling thunder , of trains rush
ing to and fro above our heads on lines
roofing the entire street built upon
Iron stilts. Every minute they swoop
ed by, running north and south, and I
trembled lest they should leap their
tracks and crush us into powder.
'It's only the clevnted, deah," said
Sally, pitying my agitation, "and It's
never fallen down yet, so I don t be
lieve it will today. You shall take a
ride with me if Cousin Katherlne will
let you, which she probably won't
You can't think what fun It Is shoot
ing past the wlndowa of the houses;
Just like glancing into an exciting
story book you know you'U never have
a chance to finish. You do get a peep
Into tragedies aud comedies some
times."
"Mr aoodness:" I exclaimed. "I'm
thankful I don't have to live in one of j
those houses. It must be impossible
ever to take a bath or to get engaged
properly."
Fortunately for my iaoe of mind
we didn't stop very long in that fierce
street, but cut across again aud came
out in Fifth avenue, of which one
seems to be born knowing a little
more than of other streets in America.
Just as almost every one in English
novels lives tn Park lane, so all the
New Yorkers you read of live In Fifth
avenue, aud 1 should have been dis
appointed if Mrs. Ess Ksy hadn't, be
cause lu that case I should eventually
have to go home without studying
home life in the States from the right
standpoint.
. To B Continued.
Worm you" imeas eat
f towa of the 4ola le
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lh lwmocrat: S.1 yer,
42 ceatt nwsta.
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OPEN WEDNESDAY AND
IT DRAGS YOU SLOWLY DOWN
It's hard to keep an even temper
with a dull pain nagging all day at
your back; In fact, kidney troubles
are at the bottom of very much of
the nervousness and irritability that
are so common to-day. You wonder
why you are short and cross, can i
keep your mind on one thing, are in
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ject to fits of "blues" and despon
dency. Partly it is due to that pain
in your back, partly to the irritating
effect of uric acid on your brain and
nerves.
Uric acid is a poison that is always
forming in the body, and it is tho
duty of the kidneys to filter it out of
the blood and pass it off, dissolved,
in the urine. Healthy kidneys do this
work thoroughly and well, but weak
or sick kidneys get behind, and the
waste matter collects here and there
In the muscles. Joints and nerve cen
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the eyes, nervousness and heart trou
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s,. An nnt urmiritr at vnn r rondl-
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back aches continually, or you are
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