ich floated across
this refulgent background having the lower edges dyed of a rich crimson
that seemed to set the sea on fire and tipped the spars and sails of the
passing ship with flame.

She was flying the French Tricolor, and as our steamer went by, saluting
her with a couple of blasts from her steam whistle in friendly greeting,
the stranger vessel as a return, in accordance with the time-honoured
rule of nautical etiquette always observed on such occasions, dipped her
ensign.

This action, coupled with the similarity of the scene and its
surroundings, the ship in the distance with her flag half on the hoist,
the sunset glow, and the fact of my being on board a steamer then as
now, brought back to my mind at once the incidents of that memorable
evening of the past, more than seven years ago now, the _vraisemblance_
between the two being simply astounding!

"Elsie, dearest Elsie!" I cried with a start, as the strange
coincidence of the presentment struck me, the date being even identical.
"Do you remember what day of the month this is, _querida mia_?"

"Why, of course, Dick, I do," she answered, nestling up to my side as if
for protection, for we were sitting in a warm corner by the taffrail,
just abaft the wheel-house, and screened from the observation of the
rest of the passengers who were walking up and down the deck as usual
after dinner. "Why, Dick, dear, it's the seventh of November, your
birthday, you know; surely you have not already forgotten the little
present I gave you this morning, my likeness in a locket for your watch
chain, a miniature done by that clever artist at Orleans, and you told
me you would always wear it for my sake. Dick, my husband, where is
your memory?"

"No, my little one, I have not forgotten it," said I, kissing her,
thinking she was going to cry at what she thought was forgetfulness on
my part. "Here it is next my heart, like yourself," said I laughingly.
"But, Elsie, _alma mia_, I was thinking of another anniversary, and a
Friday evening too, to make it all the more wonderful! Don't you
recollect now?"

"Oh Dick, my dear husband," she whispered, seizing my arm and gazing out
over the taffrail at the ship, all ablaze now from the reflection of the
sky, and nearly hull down to leeward. "I see, I see. What a strange
coincidence. It is really wonderful!"

"It is, my darling," said I. "But it was more extraordinary still that
you should have seen me that memorable even