The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1881-06-22


peared in his presence with a shadow
on her fair face.
To achieve this required not only a
most disinterested nature, but q cou-
rageous one, and Helen Herbert's was
truly the heart and soul of a heroine.
Entering the cabin, her first glance
was directed toward her fathers door.
1t va closed, a sign that his morning
slumber had been prolonged-and she
rcjoiced at the evidence of needed rest.
1t gave her time to quiet her " ex-
| element, and also to think of the poor
French sailor.
Once or twice she called her maids
name, in a low voice; but no n re-
sporded, and she concluded that Zil-
laa. Ar>~tty quadroon girl and q tire
: Tess fiirt, vas showing of her graces rs
usual for the benefit of the steward, a
mulatto from the Isle of France.
Il cannot let the poor fellow suffer-"
she said, by way of encouragement to
herself, and immediately walked up to
n of the small doors opening out of
the cabin, and tapped lightly.
1t opened instantly, and q dark, hand
some young gentleman stood before her,
who bowed profoundly.
"Oh, DR.. Conroy, pray excuse me y
she said, becoming confused the mo-
ment she found herself face to face
with the silent young physician. ~
am sorry to trouble you, I am sure, but
poor Pierre is i'll again, and I will be so
| glad if You will go to him"
Percy Conroy, the ships doctor,
bowed again to Miss Herbert, and in
her presence he was always strangely
reticent; but he strove to prove, by the
extreme readiness of his movements in
serving her, the deep respect which was
already expressed in his every look and
action.
She and he had not been strangers
before their meeting on shipboard. He
was q young man Of excellent position
in society, and they had met occasion
ally in fashionable life, when he had in
spired her with a decided admiration
for his manner and abilities.
But, to her pain and surprise, he re-
turned her outburst of cordial pleasure at
discovering him to be their fellow-voy-
ager with q distant and reserved respect
which had continued despite his devotion
to her father, whose untiring nurse, as
we'll as physician, he had constituted
himself.
This ceremonious treatment chilled
poor Helen's heart. She shrunk within
herself, abashed at his deferential ST.
lence, and often sought her W state
room, after one of his distant but pro-
found bows, with a heartache, eager to
hide her bitter, burning tears.
She did not note how, do as he might
to conceal it. his color changed at sight
of her, nor dream that silence only pre-
served the secret Of his emotions in her
presence.
"He avoids me. I am actually dis
agreeable to him." she often exclaimed,
in a burst of tears; and then added,
with a heavy sigh: "And yet he is so
kind-so very kind-to my dear father.
I am grateful to him. 1 cannot help
that, I am sure"
On this morning he was in such haste
to obey her that he started at once,
even without waiting to close the state
room door.
AS he left the cabin it blew back and
lodged against the wall, leaving, for the
first time, open to Helen S inspection
the little room in which he had spent
the greater part of their long voyage.
It was neat and pretty as the cham
Der Of a young girl. Everything was in
exquisite order, from his tiny library of
books to his still more compact case Of
medicines.
A few small pictures were fastened to
the wall. One was q crayon sketch Of
a fair, girlish face, with fluffy, golden
curls, and q broad-brimmed hat, just
such an n as she wore on deck 0 pro-
tect her from the sun.
There was q familiar look about it.
Had she seen the original anywhere?
The thought made her unhappy. She
dismissed it quickly, and cast her eyes
on the stationary desk before which his
armchair wa placed.
It was covered with books and chemi-
cal apparatus; but on its top stood
Could it be? No, no! her eyes deceived
her; and yet it really was her W dis
carded slipper!
It's mate had slipped off her foot on
deck, and been carried through a flow
ing scupper into the sea. While she
stood merrily laughing at the mishap
Zillah had brought out another pair,
which she put on, forgetting the odd
one until afteri it had disappeared. She
recalled how she had searched for it,
merely from idle curiosity as to its fate;
and here it was.
"What could have induced him"
she began, but did not complete the
question.
A footstep sounded without, and she
sprang up and shut the o. door be-
fore any eve but hers should rest on its
simple treasures.
Mr.. Sherwood came into tie cabin.
The angry cloud was como from his
brow, and he stood beaming on Helen
most amiably.
81 am afraid orr timid dove was
alarmed at our harsh sea discipline" he
said, with a caressing gesture that his
daring did not quite carry to her shrink
ing form. "But, my sweet friend, it is
necessary. We cannot sail without it.
It is as needful to a ship as a fair wind"
"Helen!"
"Yes, papa!" exclaimed the indig-
nant girl; and, delighted to escape from
Malcolm's unwelcomo presence, she
fastened to Join her father.
She found him very much shaken by
a painful dream, from which he had not
been quite able to arouse himself.
"Where's the captain, Helen?"h he in
CURED. "Where's John Sherwood, the
sailing-master of the Albatross? I hope
he doesn't leave his work to boobies and
land-lubbers, but does his duty like Il
man, and watches his ship as if it were
a human life! Eli, child-ch?"
eyes, yes, papa-certainly!" Helen
tried to say calmly, while in her heart
she knew that Captain Sherwood in
trusted the vessel and all it held to the
management of his nephew, Malcolm,
while he gave himself up, day after day,
mere and more completely to the bale
full influence of intemperancc.
In times past the captain had been
an excellent and accomplished officer.
Such he was, in Mr.. Herbert's expert
ence and belief; and it was owing to his
u~nwavering trust in his seamansllip that
he had not only engaged him as COM
mander Of his ship, but yielded to him
the entire selection Of the crew.
Had the unfortunate captain secured
an able and reliable assistant officer,
his. own failings might have been con-
cealed, or, at least, productive of no
absolute evil; but he was entirely ruled
by his nephew, who had contrived to
establish a strange influence over him;
and Malcolm Sherwood was, as We
have seen, a man Of narrow mind and
brutal passions.
"You look pale and appear nervous,
Helen," said her father, observing hcl
WI