The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-06-26


Her cabin was aft the smoke stack
and not particularly attractive. As these
| boats do not engage in passenger traffic,
the space forward being occupied by a
deck load of lumber.
Gosh, but she's carrying a good
looking stewardessr exclaimed Rick,
who could sight lady's ribbon further
than a distress signal.
His admiring burst called attention
to a female figure leaning against a
stanchion on the promenade deck. She
was clad in black, relieved by dash
of red here and there, with dusky hair
and eyes. Her cheeks but for the pallor
of late qualms of sea-sickness would
have dimmed her ROSY ribbons. Her
hair showed the neglect of unaccus-
toned travel, and a cinder in her eve
kept a handkerchief to that organ, dis
playing pretty though not over-clean
hand. In spite of cinder, disordered
hair and dress, there was something
attractive in her. appearance, as she
stood and gazed with q wistful, troubled
expression off into the smoky, yellow
haze that hung over the roofs of the
city. don't think there was a man
aboard but felt a vague desire to help
and protect her from the trouble fore
casted in her face.
''She amt the stewardess, nuther,'
said Rick, who between the execution
of orders found time for second
scrutiny.
Just then Davy stuck his head
through the companionway and threw
overheard a pan of dish-water. He
looked around to see if there was any
lady passengers in sight, for he was yet
sensitive about his effeminate occupa.
| ton.
Yes, there was lady in sight. His
| look broadened into an astonished, in
credulous gaze. Rattle bang, went the
dish-pan out of his clutches, glancinS
from the rail and saucily bobbing off on
the miniature waves of the river.
Captain Tousley. who could have wit
messed the Carrying away of every
stitch of canvas on the hooker with
equanimity, roared like a maniac at the
sight of the escaping dish-pan.
His noise attracted the attention of
the fais passenger, who was now abreast
and aot over a biscuits toss distant.
Her glance at once turned upon Davy,
and her countenance underwent a re-
markable change. Dazed surprise not
unmingled with Joy, intense yearning,
bewilderment and love-light followed
each other in rapid succession. All this
time Davy stood motionless. She tot
tered little as ashes and roses each in
turn showed up signals in her cheeks;
but recovering, grasped the rail and
leaned far out over the water. With Il
gesture of unutterable tenderness, -
stretched forth both arms toward the
big Scotchman.
Gomez
We couldn't hear it for the swish of
escaping steam. the clangor of bells and
the shrieks of whistles, but her lips
moved, and we who knew Davy's story
.comprehended the situation. 1t was
Jessie Duncan following in his wake
and coming to overhaul the man she
had sent adrift, with her love and for
giveness -.'doing the Evangeline act, I"
said Rick, who reads poetry Sundays
when we are lying on the market.
The look, the gesture was enough for
the hot-blooded Davy. With bound
like a deer from a precipice, he leaped
into the greasy, yellow-green water,
and with lusty stroke struck out for the
barge.
"Man overheard! Heaven liner
A couple of coils OF rope from the
hooker and one from the tug fell near
him splashing dirty water in his face.
He pushed them aside with an express
IS no
the after fender of the barge and in an
instant was on the deck beside Jessie.
A sudden bashfulness seized him as
he realized the figure he was cutting.
She herself was labOrfng under feel
inc of misgiving somewhat akin to diff
fidence.
Good mornin'," he said, in a
strained, repressed tone, taking her
limp hand hesitatingly in his dripping
palm.
Her reply was inaudible. Neither
said much, but each looked deep down
into the others eyes, and there they
saw mutual penitence, mutual forgive
ness. mutual fOrbearance, and back OF
it al a towering and all-pervading love.
The big propeller moved out of the
way, the bell on the bridge ahead rang,
the people on it started into run as it
began its slow swing, the barge wheel
churned up yeasty hillock of dirty
water, it slowly moved up the river,
and the two figures, their faces illu-
mined by the light of their great and
newly found happiness, still clinging to
each others hands and gazing into each
others faces, were watched by us on
the hooker until bend in the river hid
the m from view.
Thus Davy left us-as suddenly as he
came. Clarence 4. Webster, in III.
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