beautiful as yonder one (to my mind far more beautiful!) and he
recalled that in two years he had not seen her nor made strenuous
efforts to keep up the correspondence. Another good point added to
the score of love! And, alas! he might never see this charming girl
again, this daughter so full of filial love and care. He had sought
the captain, but that hale and hearty old sea-dog had politely
rebuffed him.

"My dear young man," he said, "I do all I possibly can for the
entertainment and comfort of my passengers, but in this case I must
refuse your request."

"And pray, why, sir?" demanded Mr. Robert, with dignity.

"For the one and simple reason that Colonel Annesley expressed the
desire to be the recipient of no ship introductions."

"What the deuce is he, a billionaire?"

"You have me there, sir. I confess that I know nothing whatever about
him. This is the first time he has ever sailed on my deck."

All of which perfectly accounts for Mr. Robert's sighs in what
musicians call the _doloroso_. If only he knew some one who knew
the colonel! How simple it would be! Certainly, a West Point graduate
would find some consideration. But the colonel spoke to no one save
his daughter, and his daughter to none but her parent, her maid, and
the stewardess. Would they remain in New York, or would they seek
their far-off southern home? Oh, the thousands of questions which
surged through his brain! From time to time he glanced sympathetically