The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1872-01-03
THE ST. WiRDESS' STORY.

1t was right on the Atlantic, and the
stewardess Of the steamship City of-was
preparing herself for bed, all the lady pas
sengi rs having re tired to their berths. when
Eer atIcntion was called by low tap at the
cabin door. Il seemed TO be given by eau,
tioUs finger, unwilling 10 be heard further
than was necessary; anJ. supposing it to be
awarniRg from the steward that il was time
ID put out the lights, she glanced at her
watch in surprise. and then going to the
door. she exclaimed:
why Mr.. Green. it is not IL yet, and
am not quite ready. Wait bit.''
'Itis not ~. Green" replied voice out
si!e. 81 want to speak to you. Mrs. Ford.
May come in:''
"Oh, certainly. madam" was the immc-
diatc reply, as Mrs. Ford opened the door
10 one OF the lady passengers. The young
woman entered, AID after closing the door,
she I'd iressed the stewardess in low, eau
u0aS tone, while holding and turning over
Along, thin parcel, which she drew out from
the toTel loosely wrapped around it
Mrs. ford, viii you put this in Your
trunk Tor me: You say we shall be in the
harbor tomorrow, and we don't want to
nave this little parcel Overhiued at the GUS
tom house. Do put it in your trunk till we
can take Il qTietlv ashoie.'
HrS. Ford Ecsiiated. Os course il was
not her business to Giso5lige passengers;
but, then smuggling was dangerous, this
locked something uncOmmoniy like it.
Stlil the lady vino made the request WAS
well known to the S.cwardess. and seemed
1 particularly friendly TO her. 1t was rot the
l first time she ana her husband had crossed
the Atlantic iii the same ship; so they were
already sIch old acqIaiutlnccs as 10 seem
Z quite Ike friends. Moreover, this time Mr
and Mrs. Seaton had an additional charm for
Mrs. Ford, being accompanied by their in
iant son. fine, lively little fellow, about
I two years old. Mrs. Seaton had kept her
berth, on plea OF si;Grcss, for most of the
voyage, and the stewardess had profited by
the occasion to become nurse to The child,
4 charge She gladly accepted, and fulfilled
Il with care.
Observing tl,a. She Acsi:a.cd, Mrs. Seaton
continued, III hail. srcless, half ilattcring
tone:
Il toll my husband you were so goodna-
turCd, L was sure you would oblge us in
triile OF this kind; but of course. il YOU
would rather net, there is an end of Il . mat
ter. We hope, if we are not disappointed,
TO make quite fortune for little Freddy
But if this is injured, by carelessness," and
mere she again glanced at the parcel in her
hands, my husband will be awful mad
II would be very glad to oblige YOU.
madam; but it would be very awkward. if
got mlXei up with any smuggling mat
4 ters. The Company would dismiss me- and
il one must think of oneself"
Smuggling :" said Mrs Seaton. smiling
Dldndiy goodness this is no smuggling.
lis JUST the most innocent little machine
IN The world. l am sure. kind as you have
Deeh 10 u, would be the last person to be
SO mean as TO iniure you. guess it will do
i you no harm, 9ng way. II would be too
nhknd 10 get YOU INTO trouble, when YOU
nay, teen 30 good 10 Freddy all along.''
-. 2m sue, gCu weTe welcome to any,
thlng could do fOr tha little darling, IN I'd.
an bat 1t is quite snorher thing-'
:. e., yes Enov that. But, bless you.
VIII not hurI you IL is a machine for
making spnols ard my husband wants to
& pay n II N The S,ates but then it is in just
such condition now, that, if it be meddled
with, 1t viii be ru ned, that's all. If they
w. " aiy chaIcr, Lc. hold Of it, we mus
ih Rus up WIN II, icing spoiled /; bur guess
H'ey VIII never interfere with you.''
foFG remembered, now, that, du-
4 ~ -iDe tue ias voyage, Mr.. Seaton had partic-
10y admired new kind of spool which
sa,. e iiiu Se' IN her wo!k box, and had asked
cI,'S Go customs concerning it; SO she con-
Suded that Il WAS in The manufacture OF sim.
) liar articles he was at present en1snsS am.
without further hesitation, she took rho mar
eel. Inc great weight of the article. com
q pared with It's bulk, surprised her "a sh. |
received it; it being, as she supposed
.!lih bar Of iroI, about six inches broad and
.wo ieet long, tut not, apparently, much
.nlcStr than pier of card board. She
slousht Of this as she laid 1t in the top of
ner frank, having misgiving whether 1t
hnsht not in some way. irjure the apparel
tene@th yet she felt unwilling to secrrte
~ ,i.i, iulthec Under the circumstances. Her
Ea.5 Ei3isor, with many thanks, retired. and Mrs.
eooh forgot the matter i'm sleep.
4 Lac IN the afternoon Of the following
Day, as they drew near the end of their
cUs'dsg cUsagg' last before going ashore at the
tus t 'on-house, Mrs Seaton sought another
Sete S e-a-tete, with Mrs Ford. She held in
.ba ea Band two letters, and, offering them to
ia Ia her hae"aratss p@ asked If i she would Slip them
uhued, 4" want you to come ashore With viii
The: The: and larry Freddy, if you do not mind
B tIon s. Ford replied that she had no oh,sc-
time. ''iaiu enc might not have |