The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1885-03-01
a SHIP OF 40.
AR0MkACE OF CALIFORNIAN THREE PARTS
By BRET HARTH.
PART SECOND.
Copyright isss. BY Bret Hart& All Rights Rssssvsd.
CHAPTER III

II Mr.. Renshaw INDUCED In any further
curiosity regarding the interior Of the Pontiac.
he did not make his active researches manifest
to Rosoy Nor. In spite OF her fathers invita-
ton. did no again approach the 0Aley-a fact
which gave her her first vague impression Ia
his favor. He seemed also 10 avoid the various
advances which Mr.. Mott appeared impelled to
mike. whenever they met In the passage. but
did so without seemingly avoiding her. and
marked his half contemptuous Indifference to
tho elder Mott BY an increase OF respect to the
young girl Sho would have liked to ask him
something about ships. and WAS sure his con.
versation would have been moro interesting
than that OF old Capt. Bower. to whose cabin
he bad succeeded. who had once told her
ship was the devils hencoop." She would
have liked also to exb plain to him that she was
not in the habit Of wearing a purple bonnet
But her thoughts wore presently engrossed By
an experience which interrupted the even
tenor OF her young life
She had been. as she aiterward remembered.
impressed with . nervous restlessness one
afternoon. which made 1t impossible for her to
perform her ordinary household duties, or
to even indulge her favorite recreation Of read.
ing or castle building. She wandered over tho
shin. and impeed by the same vague feeling OF
unrest desce nded to the lower deck and the for.
open hatch. 1t had not been again disturbed.
nor was there any trace Of further exploration.
A little ashamed. she knew not why. OF revisit-
ing the scene Of Mr.. Renshaw's researches, she
was turning back. when she noticed that thu
door which communicated with Do FerriArs's
loft was partly open. The circumstance was
SO unusual that she stopped before 1t in sur.
prise. There WAS no sound from within; IL
was the hour when It's queer occupant was
always absent: he must have forgotten to loci
the door. or it had been unfastened By Other
hands. After q moment OF hesitation she
pushed 1t further open and stepped into thu
room.
BY the dim light Of two portfolios she could
see that the floor was strewn and piled with
the contents OF q broken bale Of curled horse
hair. OF which a few untouched bales still 70.
manned against the wall A heap OF morocco
skins. some already cut In the form OF chair
cushion covers. and a few cushions unfinished
and unstuffed. lay In the light OF tho ports and
gave the apartment the appearance OF Cheap
workshop. A rude instrument for combin@
the horse hair. avis. buttons. and thread
heaped on small bench showed that active
work had been but recently interrupted. A
cheap earthenware ever and basin on the door
and pallet made OF an open bale OF horse hair.
on which q ragged quilt and blanket were dunc.
indicated that the solitary worker dwelt aud
silent beside his work.
Tho truth flashed upon the young girls active
brain. Quickened BY seclusi on and fed by soil.
tary books. She road with keen eyes the mis-
cradle secret Of her fathers strange guest in
the poverty stricken walls. In the mute evil
dences OF mental handlcrait performed In
loneliness and privatlon. In this pltsous adap-
tation OF IN accident to save the conscious
shame OF premedtated toll. sho knew now
ho hoI Ill viu rae,,o "a %
her fathers offer to buy back tho goods he had
given him: she knew now how hardly gained
was the pttance that paid his rent and sup.
ported his childish vanity and grotesQue pride.
From a peg In the corner hung the familiar
masquerade that hid his poverty-the pearl
gray trousers. the black frock coat. the tall
shining hat-in hdeous contrast to tho penu ~
of his surroundings But II they were hore.
where was he. and In what new disguise had he
escaped from his poverty A vague uneasi-
meas caused her to hesitate and return to the
open door. She had nearly reached 1t when
her eye fell on the pallet which it partly illu-
minated. 4 singular resemblance in the ragged
heap made her draw closer. The faded quilt
was dressing gown. and clutching Its folds
lay white wasted hand
The emgrant childhood OF Rose Mott bad
been more than once Swallowed by scalping
knives. and she was acquainted with death.
She went fear essly to the couch and found that
the dressing gown was only an enwrapping OF
the emaciated and lifo,ess body OF De FerriArcs.
She did not retreat or call for help. but exam
inel him closely. He was unconscious but not
pulseless: no had evidently been strong enough
to open the door for air or succor. but had
afterward fallen in Il. on the couch. She NV
to her fathers locker and tho galley dre. re-
turned. and shut the door behind her. and by
slyilt ,,l,, hoxu xrhi oLnv
had the satisfaction OF seeing faint color t. ks
the place OF the faded rouge In the Rhastly
cheeks. She was still chahns his hands when
he slowly opened his eyes. With start. he
made aQuick attempt to push aside her hAn1s
and rise. But she gently restrained him.
Ell what" he stammered. throwing his
face back from hers with an effort. and tryiug
to turn it to the wall.
"You have been ILL.," she said quietly.
Drink this"
With his face still turned away he lifted the
cup to his chatterin: teeth. When he had
drained 1t he threw trembling glance around
the room and at the door.
There's no ono been here but myself" she
said quickly. happened TO SEQ the door open
a. passed. didn't think it worth while 10
call any one"
Tho searching look he gave her turned In 10
an expression Of relief! which to her Infinite
uneasinsss again fseby ightened into one Of
an,iquatel galIantry. He drew the dressing
gown around him with m air.
All. it is a goddess. mademoiselle. that las
deigned to enter tho Gel! where-where-I-
amnss myself. 1t Is drol-is 1t not2 Ican,s
here to make-what you cull-the experiment
OF your fathers fabric. l make myself-h,l
ha!-liko Workman. All. bah! the heat. ths
darkness, the pebeian motion make my head
to 60 round, | StaCyer flint | cry ont IA.
But wha, OF that? The great God hears my
cry and sends mo al. angel. Volta"
He attempted an easy gesture of gallantrv,
but ovsrbalanced himself and fell sideways on
the pallet with gasp. Y.t there was 40 much
genuine feeling mixed with his grotesque At
fectation. SO much piteous consciousness OF
the ineffectiveness OF his falsehood. that the
young grl. vino had turned away. came bacs
and laid her hand upon his arm.
You mus. iir still and try to Sleep" she said
gently. Il will return again. Perhaps" she