Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1868-10-18


silly to the tapping of the waters close Il
my head, and the indistinct movement
and voices in the next cabin. ] suppos,
may have even dozed off for a time
but il so, | was aroused by louder ton,
raised as though addressed to a sleepy
listener.
% g Helen t'--lSo answer. Helenf L II
horribly cold, are not you7''
"Rather," was the reply.
(" Rather, indeed, " exclaimed Laura
"Why, I'm frozen to death. Frank
must haveyery dim ideas about blankets
81 dare say he has, said Helen.
"But what shall 1 do?" asked hel
sister. 81 have not got my warm shaw
down here
eco to sleep" Was the drOEsy re-
sponse, and no more could sthen elicit
ed /; but in few minutes Laura begsn
again. l-.'l 7O hl
MY feet and hands are like ice, 50
! what's the use of telling me to go to
sleep. 1t would be more to the purpose
| if you would fnd the matches and help
me to forage for something warm"
There was clearly some reluctance as
to this, and | caught muttered remon-
STRANGE. But Lagrs was persistent; and
presently heard step crossing the
cabin, the jingling Of pair of snuffers, as
they fell from the eandlestick to the
floor, and then the striking of a match.
I 4" Now for a voyage of discovery.
4 Come along, Helen. Take care-the
draught will blow it out All it's gone
and thero ism t another match in the box. y
" Then perhaps you'll let me sleep in
peace, was Helen's sympathising re-
joinder. l
"No, indeed-you' We no feeling for a
suffering fellow creature; but don't ina
CINE that I'm going to be beaten. Blank
cts | must and will have; and l dare
say there are some to be found"
1t is not at all likely" said Helen.
"Oh yes it is, was the reply. I
know there are two deep drawers on this
side; and what should they hold, if not
blankets2' 1saHrafa-t
Then ensued a cracking and rattling
as the drawers were dragged open; but
the search was unsuccessful.
Only old leather straps and bits Of
strings" observed Laura. " Stay
What's this2 Oh, clothes-brush. [
suppose that won't be Of much use ?"
To all this 1 listened chuekling.
This would be fine shaft in my quiver
to morrow morning. The shivering
damsei cropping in the dark, might be
made to play very absurd part.
Let me see, she suddenly resumed,
there was something box, / think
out here"
Her voics sounded much clearer she
had come over to my side of the cabin.
Then there was a pause, rustling, and
then- shall never forget the
strange sensation that thrilled through
me, as she exclaimed, " Hurrah patience
is rewarded the treasure is found 7" for
she seemed to be speaking from just un-
der my bed; but even that shock was
forgotten in the amazemeHt of the next
moment.
Something was touching my feet, or at
least the coverings round them, some
thing light and busy, something which
must surely be = human hand l just
snothared an exclamation, aud instinct
ivsly drew my feet cautiously up in bed
Only Just in time, for there was vigor-
GUS tug at my bed clothing, and gay
laugh.
Wasn't l right, Helen? I've come
upon 4 whole locker full of blankets,
only they are packed so tightly. Never
mind-here they come at last"
And here they did come indeed I
dared not hold on, and in another mo-
msnt l was bersft of all my bed covering,
and the wooden lid which formed the top
of the recess fell to again with a sound
ing clap.
What q situation was minel I sat
crouchsd up in bed hardly daring to
breathe, and listening to the spoiler as
she refreshed triumphsntly to her berth,
folded and arranged my blankets around
her, and finally composed herself to sleep,
saying eomplacently, "Thers, that is just
what l wanted. Goodnight, Helen;
you'll hear DO more of me till morning"
1t was, as Laura had observed, deci-
dedly chilly, especially when ones sole
covering was single sheet, and though
my teeth soon began to chatter, | did
not dare even to wrap my coat round me
till the deep brssthings in the next cabin
reassured me. But far worse than that
pitiful plight was the possibility of
Laura's discovering it for / knew full
we'll that no sense Of deeorum would be
able to quench her miscellaneous delight
in my total discontinue, and l shud-
dersd at the broad battery of railery
which l foresaw. Nol come what would,
l must contriye to keep my secret.
Sleep was hopeless now. If my cos
tune had been less airy, and my position
less ridiculous, still my mind was too
busy for slumber. So applied myself
to schemes for the morning, and its dan
gers. WeEere due at Ryde by 10, and,
till we were fairly of the yacht, any
chance accident might betray my paucity
of coverings and her redundancy. 1 must
keep up fast and furious war Of words
to stsve of any remarks about the nights
proceedings until we separated, and then
no fear that the murder would out. I
could not help laughing, even though
the circumstances were cheerless enough,
as recalled the sudden way in which
my property had been abstraeted.
As morning davned l tell asleep, but
only for an hour, before Franks knock
reused me. had just time to spring
up and draw the bolt. Another moment,
and he would have been in upon me- /
dressed then, but it was 8 O'Clock before
| encountered Laura on deck Ny lazi-
ness, Of course, was not spared; but |
was armed at all points, and gave her
full Play while watching her, as cat
might mouse. 1t was not till the mid
die of breakfast that she recalled her
adventures. ss1a
$50 you found some blankets, said
Frank, when she had recounted her woes
where, / wonder, "-'t In the locker, to
be sure
"In the locker r he repeated; why,
there's no"
At that moment my cup somehow got
knocked of the table, and when the bro
l -. e-oc,oo1..s ,rn.. ~.ll.,k,,J - a looEn-