Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-06-23

But the girl only looked at him incom-
prehendingly, and there was not the faint
est shadow uf recognition in the great
burning eyes that moved restlessly from
him TO Minna Waite. with, o, such pitt
full, despairing look in them But when
Captain Waite came and laid his hand on
Ralph's shoulder and told him he must
not stay there, that it was hurting her,
and he could not allow it, she put out her
hand and caught at Ralph's arm.
"Ycu shall not leave me 7! she cried,
half springing up; "haven't l suffered
enough won't give you up to hero
God, cannot!" She fell back, white and
breathless, but the little nervous hand
chung to his arm in fierce clasp.
II will not leave you, darling, never
again SO long as we both live; nobody on
earth shall come between u.s." he said,
soothingly, sitting down on the edge of
the bed, and taking the little hand be-
tween his, tenderly.
A faint smile fitted across her face, and
she lay moment very quiet, then she
said, reckoning him nearer, and looking
quickly about as If fearful some one might
hear
"He died, you see, and SO I haven't got
any name, yet-I never shall have any.
now-Im not anybody; but told her |
was Genevieve," glancing covertly at
Mrs. Waite, "and she believes 1t; isn't 1t
strange! But found his name among
the papers-O, what hard time had to
get them and III tell you what it was If
you'll never tell that he was my father.
Twas pretty name-Harry Montford-
don't YOU think SO? But you mustn't
ever tell" and so she ran on, sometimes
fancying herself in the cars, and some
times in the little officc-room at Montford
House, when she would wall out, "it's
not here I" and then again she would be
toiing through the snow, shiveriDg be-
cause it was $50 cold" And not unit!
she had sunk into troubled sleep, near
midnight, did Ralph Anderson leave her
for an instant, though he had not eaten nor
slept for six and thirty hours.
Then Minna Waite took him by the
arm and led him into the little kitchen,
which served for dining.room beside, and
insisted that he should drink cup of cot
fee and eat something. Captain Waite
was walking about the room in restless,
excited sort Of way, knitting his brows
fearfully, and gesticulating in an odd,
mute fashion. At any other time Ralph
would have noticed it instantly, but now
his whole mind and heart was full OF
her.
Mrs. Waite had returned to sit by her
patient, and Ralph had risen from his
light supper and was turning to go after
her, when Captain Waite laid his hand on
his arm with strong, nervous grip.
'tSee here! l want to know who she is.
quick /" he blurted out, sand don't tell
any long yarns, but come right to the
point"
at is very long and complicated story,
but suppose her real name is Viola Mont
ford-or ought to be am not sure her
mother was married, but | believe she
was" Ralph replied, quickly.
"And was she wrecked in the lie Brun
eight years ago, off the New England
coast, in gale and was her mothers
name Genevieve Mallard" he cried,
breathlessly, tightening his grip on Ralph's
arm.
eyes. Good heavens! you are not the
Captain Waite who commanded her!'
Ralph was white as death now, and his
ewes were black with excitement lie
was lost?" he added
"No he wasn't-don't / know" cried
the captain, Historically aren't l her
Do you want any better proof, young
MANI If you do you can ask the Bremen
vessel that picked me up forty eight hours
acterward, out At sea. might as well ha'
been dead, though, for all knew then, or
for six weeks afterwards, however
"But look here, young man" sinking
his voice, and speaking in sort of
abashed, reverental way, do you be-
lieve in Providence? mean special
Providence, such as ministers preach
about? You see never thought much
about such things, butt don't know
now listen: / knew this girl--this
Genevieve Mallard-nigh twenty years
ago, in Paris. She lived with some sort
OF cousin, believe, and this cousin sent
heavy consignments of laces and velvets
to different parts of the world in my ship
When went TO his house, as did several
times, / saw this girl, l never saw her
again until the day before the lie Brun
left home Then she came on board my
ship to take passage for Boston, Mass. An
old negro had engaged the passage tor n
lady and child three or four days before,
but had no thought it was her. knew
her, however, the minute put my eyes
on her, and told her so. She coloIed up,
but she seemed pleased, and said she had
never forgotten me, and was glad 1t was
my ship she was going in. But when the
blush died out of her face, noticed how
thin and i'll she looked, and 1t made me
feel sober, she used to be SO bright and
pretty. l didn't ask her if she was a
widow, but noticed her name on the
ships books was Genevieve Mallard, just
as 1t had always been, and thought, poor
child, perhaps che has been betrayed and
ruined, and so said nothing; but tried to
be just as gentle and delicate-like as /
could towards her. Well, when the storm
came on l determined TO save her and the
girl remember now that her name mas
Viola, and that called her Violet but,
Lord nobody could do anything towards
saving themselves in such . gale and with
such sea on, and when the mainmast
Q tapped of, and came crashing upon the
deck, was washed OF into the boiling
surf, and that was the last saw of the LIE
Byun or anybody that WAS on board Of
her. l didn't return TO shore for two
years, and then heard by the way Of La
Noir-who was on shore. and 90 was
saved--that every one who was on the ship
was lost and the woman and child were
washed ashore and picked up, but were
dead. or died soon after, he wasn't quite