The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1866-05-25
On Board the York.

BY MARY w. sTANLY GIBSON.

and last lOugnenlnS waves OciOW,
keen wind blowing from the shore,
and a promise of far heavier breeze
when once well out ut sea.
The passengers in the first cabin
were few. and some of them We're al.
ready lying in their berths before the
M,rsey was fairly left behind. One
lady, however, who seemed better
sailor than her companions remained
in the saloon reading book, while
the doctor and [ sat chatting, not
very far away.
Seeing my medical friend glance
curiously once or twice that way, |
took an opportunity to follow his ex-
ample Ny scrutiny WAS well reward
ed, for never had / seen farer face
Soft, dark eyes, shaded by long, sweep
ing lashes, IL finely oval face, framed
in bands aud brmds of jetty hair, a
small mouth, whose expression of pa
tient, hopeless sadness struck me
more forclbly than anything else had
| been an artist, instead of n mere
penny -a-liner, my sketchbook would
indeed have contained gem.
While / sat gazing at her, rather
rudely, perhaps, she raised her eyes
suddenly and met my own. \ fnint
flush dyed her pale cheek aud in a
moment or two She rose from her seat,
laid down her book, and letrcated to
her cabin Feeling vexed and am
noyed with myself for having SO mani
testify driven her away, | turned again
to the doctor, and was about to make
Il remark to that effect when tall,
handsome man, apparently about
thuty-tive years of age, entered the
cabin, and stroliiug to the farther end,
sat down upon the sofa, aud took MP
the very book winch the young lady
had been reading was almost as
deeply impressed by his appearance
AS | had been 10y hers. Although
dressed in plain cloths, his frank, open
air hls sunLuned cheek, aud laugh
ing dark hiue eyes, proclaimed the
gallant sailor as plainly rs 1t he bad
been giving orders upon his own
quarter deck But spite OF ms frank,
careless manner, he seemed at tins
moment absent and i'll at case, aud
turned the leaves of the book over
end over, as If he was more engaged
with his own thoughts than It's con
tents, however interesting they might
be. suddenly he started, and glanced
narrowly ut the fly leaf. Something
was written there that made his
swalihy check flush deeply. He bt
ms mp, considered for moment and
then coming towards the doctor,
asked mn II lie knew where the list
OF passengcls could be seen. Being
referred Ia The puser for the intOrmu-
ton required, he went out on deck,
and /, having the curiosity to see
what had startled him no, took mp the
book which he IN his turn bad left
! upon the sofa. 1t was volume OF
I TenDyson's poems, bound in blue and
, gold Ga the lly leaf Was written, IN
al delicate running hand, James to
Hiida Forever true And one leal
d was turned down at the we'll known
lines, Break, break break, on the
cold gray crags. oh, sea.
''helo is indeed romance,
+ thought TO myself. MS | replaced the
= volume, and awaited the next act in
the drama, which fancied was about
to be mfolded Lefore our ewes.
The second bell rang, and all who
were able to leave their cabins seated
themselves atthe bountfully spread tn
bles, determined to do full justice to the
r FIRST dinner ont, if to no more. As
| took my place, | found the gentle
man whose appearance had so inter
ested me directly opposite, and even
while | answered some observation OF
his about the weather, the young lady
left ner cabin, and took n seat little
further down. She glanced tinidly
towards him, but he looked her full IL
the face, a. he might have looked a
any stranger, aud gave not the slight
est sign of recognition, if, indeed, sucl
had been expected
Sorely puzzled, / watched then
both as the meal progressed. The
doctors keen blue eyes were also of
ten bent upon the pair; but no on'
else appeared to connect them Will
each other i'll their minds at all. NJ,
SlllOI nelphbpl luihIN Idliilg "h'
V we'll during dinner; but | noticed tina
he ate little, though he drank grea
II deal Of wine, and his eyes shone will
Il strange, restless light, as if he knew
that some important crisis IN his hf'
was fast approaching, which he scarce
e ly dared to meet yet knew not vel
n how to avoid. The young lady at,
little or nothing, rose from the tab,
before the others, and repaired TO tn,
deck. The captain looked after he
with scarcely perceptible frown, bl
@ his lip, gave II slight shrug of tn
e shoulders, and applied himself one
= more to his wine.
q When we went upon deck, tn
$ young lady stood by the life-boa
y alone, her folded hands resting on tn
e, gunwale, and her blue eyes gam
u down intently on the water Ho'
a often since that evening have l IL
II called her face and form AS she stoo
II there, thinking -ah what 'ras sh
e. thinking OF AS she watched those cole
81 dark wayes2
70 The captain (for though passel
~ .,. ..,, ,l,,, Vae.,l fbis Nyus his nrOD6