Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1874-08-27


become Il frequent passenger, in the summer
"t is. on II steamboat leaving the wharves
New York, whose destination was Boston.
n person who has been fortunate enough to
make this journey in favorable weather need
not br told that the trip is delightful. particu.
larly so il il bc made in one OF those float
ing palaces belonging to the "Fall River
Line.
On one Of these occasions. just before the
boat started. pretty girl, of perhaps seven
teen or eighteen, stepped aboard, inquired
for the steward, and secured state-r0Om,
saying she was going through to Boston.
Her manner was easy and self-pOssessed yet
certain andaciOus sauciness in her splendid
brown eyes. the jaunty way in which she
wore her Turkish hat, her independent air,
and namelcss suggestion of mischief which
appeared to lurk in every movement, arrested
the observers attention, and seemed to ind-
cate that She was proficient beyond her years
in the worlds knowledge; that her tutclagc.
to say the least had partaken More of leni
cncc than of prudence. Her dress was rich
and cxquisitcly becoming. hut with no attempt
at conspicuous ornament. Her hair was Of
the same rich brown color AS her eyes. and
fell down to her waist, resting rs lovely on
her fair yOun. shoulders rs if eaCl. separate
hair were endowed with electric light.
From the moment the vessel started she
was the target of universal attention. The
ladies' eyed her very narrowly, and criticised
her dress and manner with that mercilcss
severity known only to the gentler sex. The
gentlemen cast sly glances Of admiration
from beneath their hats and behind their
newspapers, and the gravcst of them looked
more amiable ut sight of her bright eyes and
childish cOuntenanCc.
:,,V~ .lc0rn mo
on deck. where most of the gentlemen and
several ladies' were cOngregated, and directed
"A fusiladc of small conversation at the cap
txin. addrcssin. him in tone of reckless
levi,y. and with familiarity which startled
the ladies' and amused the gentlemen, and
otherwise conducted herself in a manner
which left no doubt rs to her social status.
In less than ten minutes every lady on board
was her avowcd enemy, and net at all afraid
to let it bc known; but she Chattered on, in
her rollicking way, regardless Of smiles or
frOwns, apparently the irredccmablc dcvOtee
of thoughtlcsSncss and folly.
The afternoon drifted slowly by, freighted
with Il delicious languor, rs the ajestic YES
sci plunged steadily onward through the
waste Of waters. The passengers lOunged
istlcssy from deck TO cabin, reading, dr0w-
sing. or musing, as their various tempcra-
ments inclined them; bu, all yielding, to
some extent. to tho dreamy COntentmcnt
which seemed to pervadc the atmosphere.
We were all on deck, shortly after tea, ad-
miring the sunset. which flooded the sea and
sky with transforming splendor. 1t was
amongst US all. The too intense heat of the
day had subsidized, and soft breeze had
sprung up; to breathe the air was, in itself,
an inspiration.
Our irrcprcssible and oo.confding young
lady passenger was there, and her childish
laugh rang out above the rest. She had Sc
lccted the good-nstured captain and one or
two of his officers as the especial objects of
her tppnnt, though by no means vicious,
raillery: and they permitted it, partly from
All acquired habit of sffability toward all pas
sengers and partly because they were amused
by her irresistible vivacity.
The lady passengers. of course, Stunned
and kept aIoOf from her MS from a noxi0us
poison. as if her very contact would breed
pesticnCc. The gentlemen did likewise, to
great extent: more, believe, from tender
regard for feminine opinion than from any
considerable instinct Of horror.
Suddenly the smile died on her lips, and
her face became ineXpressibly sad and earn
est, as she gazed far out across the water.
IlcI NuuuuC AIli cAPCSSIOtIs ~ SuC etOOu
thus. formed picture which will never fade
in my memOry she looked SO innocent, SO
childish. and SO intensely sOrrOwful.
In a moment she turned to the captain,
with something of her old manner. Reach
ing up her delicate white hands, she took
hold Of his abundant whiskers on each side
Of his face. as . reader hss seen petted
daughter caress her father, and looking up
into his face, asked, with great solemnity
Did you ever want 10 die, Captain 2
what surprised at her changed manner, II
can't say that ever had any great desire to
r;r"
Aid Il ycs hai such . desire, whai wou.d
YOU do"
''Oa ID that case. replied ne - he loessd
nI hands and turned away, Il :hink, - Il