est himself. He
certain'y could. But ain't this boat the splendidest thing in the
wi-i-ide, wi-i-ide world? It certain'y is! It's a miracle! an' he her
captain and deservin' to be!

"Mis' Gilmo',--Miss Ramsey,"--the lovely heads came together,--"the's a
hund'ed pretty girls--an' rich as pretty--that ah just cra-a-azy about
him. But they might as well be crazy about a stah. They certain'y might,
an' they--know--why!" (Laughter.) "They certain'y do-- Law'! ain't Miss
Ramsey got the sa-a-ame o-o-ole la-a-afe, on'y sweeteh'n eveh? Sweeteh
an' mo' ketchin'! You certain'y have. No wondeh yo' call' the Belle o'
the Bends. But, all the same, yo' cruel. Yo' fame' fo' yo' cruelty!"
(Laughter.) "They say he's just telegrayphed yo' ma to come aboa'd at
Natchez. That's just ow Southe'n hospitality. But won't that be
fi-i-ine? It certain'y will!"

The three husbands came bringing the actor, the junior pilot, the
Californian, and his confidant of the evening before. Incited by Ramsey
the wives fell into queries on the coming election, rejoicing that even
should Lincoln be made President, and that incredible thing, a war, come
on, the great river and its cities--New Orleans, Natchez, Memphis, and
especially Vicksburg--would be far from the storm. While they made merry
Mrs. Gilmore got Ramsey aside.

"If Captain Hugh's telegraphed, why, then, your father----"

"Oh! my father, he's roaming over the boat somewhere with Commodore
Courteney! I'm going to change this hot dress for a cooler one. I'll be
back before a great while."

"Let me go with you. Are you not well?"

Not well! The girl laughed gayly. But as she drew her friend out upon
the guards and to her stateroom's rear door she talked with a soft
earnestness all the way.

"I don't see how I could have been so blind! If _he_ saw those things
why couldn't I see them? I thought of them, over and over; but always
the other things crowded them back into the dark--and there was plenty
of dark. He's right, my father does hold the key, and if I'd seen things
as I see them now I'd have made the twins give in, somehow, long ago. If
you should see mammy Joy, or Phyllis, or both, please send them to me."

She shut herself in, dropped to the berth's side, and let the tears run
wild. The nurse and the still handsome Phyllis appeared promptly,
together. But they found her full of sparkle; so full that Phyllis saw
under the mask; a mask she herself had worn so often in her youth under
a l