Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-12-08
NO. 29o.

which the wife spoke of such catastro.
phe. SO alarming to her own ideas.
"Well, of course, We had rather it
should not happen" was the quick reply;
"but what's the use of thinking of that?
The real thing is to get out of it as quick
ly as possible. Mr.. Seaton has friends
who will come forward right away, just
as soon as they know it; and that is why
want you to carry those letters ashore
for me. Put them in your pocket-there
good soul-and keep them till ask for
them, and Mr. Seaton will not be in this
difficulty more than a few days. What it
would be ii cannot mail those letters at
once, really cannot say
Mrs. Ford slipped the letters into the
pocket OF her loose cloth jacket, and ar
ranging with the under-stewardess that
she would be back as soon as possible,
prepared to accompany Mrs. Seaton at
once.
| They reached the shore, and landing at
the custom-house wharf, as Mrs. Seaton
had anticipated, policeman instantly ar
rested her husband, who quickly walked
off with him, after exchanging signif-
cant glance with his wife. II told you
So" whispered she to Mrs. Ford, who had
been few steps behind, with the child in
her arms, but who now drew near, ex-
pecting to find the bereavcd wife in great
distress. Such, however, was not the
case. Mrs. Seaton was far more COM
posed than her companion, who felt too
much frightened and puzzled to pay at
tentlon to anything around her, or she
would have observed the scrupulous care
with which the baggage of these passen-
gers was examined. Mrs. Seaton was ac-
lively engaged in opening her boxes. She
paraded rather ostentatiously certain new
articles of apparel. and drew the officers
attention to her silks and gloves. "Oh,
yes she said quite c:.relessly, she knew
she would have duty to pay for those
) things, and was quite ready to do so. She
had no wish to smuggle--not she, indeed.
The officer eyed her keenly through his
hali-closed eyes, and continued his exam
inatIon with minute care. quite different
from the usual process. Nothing, howev-
er, of any Importance seemed to be the
result; the matter of duty was not very
complicated, and when the necessary steps
had been taken Mrs. Seaton drew Mrs.
Ford to the gateway and prepared to quit
the wharf in mental triumph.
''Ihis way, if you please, ladies'" said
another officer, who now stepped forward
to meet them. 1--WE must trouble you to
walk this way for minute. Allow mc,"-
and backing and bowing and backing as
if he had been groom of the Chambers,
escorting princess, he.ushered them into
a small room and closed the door.
Here stood two women whom the stew
ardess Immediately recognized as female
searchers, and somewhat startled at what
had occurred, she said at once there must
be some mistake; she was stewardess of
the City Oh, and was anxious to return
on board at once, having come on shore
only to carry Mrs. Seaton's baby.
You shall go as soon as we have done
with you," replied the searcher; with
something of a sneer; ''but whether on
board or not, depends on other matters.
Come. it's no use resisting" as Mrs. Ford
tried to evade the hands which began at
once to remove her outer clothing.
ATS no use, indeed" said Mrs. Seaton.
who seemed to treat the whole thing with
most serene philosophy, although any
one who had watched her carefully would
have seen an anxious glance at Mrs. Ford's
cloth jacket. The searcher took it off,
threw it on bench, and Mrs. Seaton, with
affected carelessness, Immediately laid
over it large railway rug which she had
on her arm.-''My good Mrs. Ford, you
and know it will be useless to search
either of u.s." she said. 1--WE have not the
first bit of smugged goods about US; at
least, | can answer for myself; and as for
you, as know you had no notion of COM
ing ashore, except to carry Freddy, why,
of course, you have not either. Freddy
is not contraband. suppose she added,
laughing; $50 | guess these good ladies
will have their trouble for their pains.
Take it easy, do now; there's good
woman"
But it was no use saying Take it easy"
to Mrs. Ford 1t must be an exceedingly
unpleasant operation, | should imagine,
being searched by strange woman, who
strips her victim in a cool, business-like
way, regardless alike of shyness and deli
cacy The stewardess knew it was un-
called for, and felt it an insult. Even to
less under very suspicious circumstances
and she, having been so often in that port
without even passing through the
searchers hands, could not understand
why. she should now be subjected to this
degradation. She would not submit quiet
ly. She pushed away the coarse hands
which intruded on her womanly feelings
of delcacy. She shrank from the exami-
nation. she cried, she sobbed she grew
hysterical and her nervous excitement
being mistaken for guilt, she was in con-
sequence subjected to more rigorous ex-
amiation. Every part of her clothing was
felt; even her hair and her boots were ex-
amined while each moment she became
more painfully agitated, and her sobs and
outcres grew londer.
The process was nearly completed, and
she was about half-dressed again, when
the uproar in the little room attracted at
tention without. For added to Mrs. Ford's
hystercal screams, were the remonstran-
ces of the searchers, delivered in the high
est key of Yankee voice, the attempt of
soothing on Mrs. Seaton's part, and the
loud cries of Master Freddy. who would
not be pacified after the strange hands of
these women had meddled with his own
little person. The noise arrested the at
tention of two persons passing by, who
opened the door suddenly and looked in.
s.What aro von doip o. fO my steWar(iesS ?o