The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1866-06-19
ON BOARD THE YORK.
\ Story OF Re al Life .
by NARY w. sTANLEY GIBSON.

We sailed from Liverpool on dark
spring day, with lowering sky above,
and fast roughening waves below, keen
wind blowing from the shore, and prom
Use Of a far heavier breeze when once well
ou, at sea.
The passengers in the first cabin were
few, aud some of them were already lying
in their berths before the Mersey was fair.
y left behind. One lady. however, who
seemed better sailor Than her compan:
ions. remained in the saloon reading a
book, while the doctor and | sat chatting,
not very far away.
Seeing my medical liriend glance Curl
ously once or twice that way, | took an
opportunity to follow his example. My
scrutiny was we'll rewarded, for never
have | seena lairer face. Soft, dark eyes,
shaded by long sweeping lashes, a finely
oval face, framed in bands and braiis OF
ietty hair, small mouth, whose express
ion Of paliout, hopeless sadness struck me
more forcibIy than anything else had ]
been an artist, instead Of a mere penny.a-
liner, my sketchbook would indeed have
contained gem.
While | sat gazing at her, rather rude
ly, perhaps, she raised her eyes suddenly
and met my own. A faint hush dyed her
pale cheek and in a moment or Two she
rose aud lett her seat, laid down her book,
and retrcaed to the cabin. Feeling vexed
and annoyed with myself tor having so
maniieslly driven her away, turned again
TO the doctor, and was about to make re.
mark "a that effect when tall handsome
man, apparently about thirty five years Of
age, entered the cabin, and slrolling to the
farther end, sat down upon the sofa, and
took up the very book which the young
lady had been reading, ] was almost as
deeply impressed by his appearance as
had been by hers. Although dressed in
plain clothes, his frank, open air, his sun
burnt cheek, and laughing dark blue eyes,
proclaimed the gallant sailor as plainly as
If lie had been giving orders upon his own
quarter deck. But spite Of his frank care
less manner, he secmad at this moment
absent and i'll at ease, and turned the
leaves of the book over and over, as if he
was more engaged with his own thoughts
than its contents, however interesting they
might be. Suddenly he started and glanc-
ed narrowly at the fly leaf. Something
was written there that made his swarthy
cheek flush deeply. lie bit his lip, cou.
sidered for a moment, and then coming
towards the doctor, asked him if he knew
where the list Of passengers could be seen
Being referred TO the purser for the iDiOr'
nation required he went out on deck, and
/, having the curiosity TO see what had
startled him so, took up the book which
he in his turn had left on the sofa. II
was a volume Of Tennyson's poems, bound
in blue aud gold. On the fly leaf wa:
written, in delicate running hand, "Jamc'
to Hilda. Forever true" And one Leaf
was turned down at the well known lines
Break, break, break, on the cold gray
crags, oh, sea"
"Here is indeed a romance" thought
10 myself, as | replaced the volume, and
awaited the next act in the drama, which
| faucied was about TO be uniolded before
our eyes.
The second bell rang, and all who were
able TO leave their cabins seated them
selves at the bountifully spread table, de
termincd TO do full justice TO the "frst din.
ner out, il TO no more. As took my
/ place, found the gentleman whose ap
4 pearance bad so interested me directly op.
/ posite, and even while ] answered some
observation of his about the weather, the
lady lett her cabin, and took q seat little
farther down. She glanced tmidly tow.
ards him, but be looked her full in the
face as be might have looked at ans
stranger, and gave not the slightest sign
of recognition, il, indeed, such bad been
expected.
Sorcly puzzlel, watched them both a.
tie meal progressed. The doctors keen
blue eyes were often bent upon the pair
bu, no one else appeared to connect them
with each other ia their minds at all. Ny
sailor neighbor talked rapidly and well
during dinner; bu, noticed that be cal
ii:tle. though be drank great deal Of
vine, and bis eyes shone with strange
restless light, as il he knew that seme I'M
portant crisis 70 his life vas fast approach
ing, which be scarcely dared to meet, yet
knew not well bow to avoid The young
iady ale little or noihing rose from the
table before the others. and repaired 10
the deck. The captain booked after her
with scarcely prcceptiblc frown- bit bis
lip, saye a slight shrug of the shoulders,
ard applied himseif once more to bis wine.
When be sent upoa deck. The young
lady stood BY the lfe boa, alone. her fol-
ded hsnds resting % the guussIe. and her
blae eyes gazing down intenlly on the