The Democrat. (Scotland Neck, Halifax Co., N.C.) 1884-1896, 1885-07-02
fHE PURsER's STORY.
by LUKE SHARP.

BY LUKE SHARP.
don't know that l should tell this
ory.
When the purser told it to ME know
was his intention to write it out for a
aoazipe. In fact he had written it.
Iii understand that noted American
Iagazine had offered to publish it, but
have watched that magazine for over
hrce years and have not yet seen the
ursers story in it. am sorry that l
ii not write the story at the time, then
erhaps l should have caught the ex-
uisite peculiarities of the purser's way
telllngit. find myself gradually for
citing the story and l write it now for
ear l shall forget it, and then be har
assed all through after life by the re-
nembrance of the forgetting.
Perhaps after you read this story you
will say there is nothing in it after all.
Well, that will be my fault, then, and
can only regret that did not write down
the story when it was told to me, for as
sat in the purser's room that day it
seemed to me that had never heard any
thing more graphic.
The pursers room was we'll forward on
ihe Atlantic steamship. From one of the
little red -curtained windows you could
look down to where the steerage passen-
gers were gathered on the deck. When
the bow of the great vessel dove down
INTO the big Atlantic waves, the smother
d foam that shot upward would be borne
aiong with the wind and spatter like rain
against the purser's window Something
about this intermittent pattcr on the
zane reminded the purser of the story
and so he told it to me:
There were great many steerage pas
sengers getting on at Queenstown, he
said, and as you saw when we were there
it is quite hurry getting them aboard.
Two officers stand at each side of the
gangway and take up the tickets as the
people crowd forward. They generally
have th.ir tickets in their hands and
there Is no trouble. l stood there and
watched them coming on. Suddenly
there was fuss and jam.
What is it," asked the officer
Two gir's, sir, say they have lost
their tickets"
l took the girls aside and the stream
Of Humanity poured in. One was about
II and the other, perhaps, years old
lhe little one had firm grip of the
elders hand and she was crying. The
larger girl looked me straight in the eye
as Slquestioned her.
where's your tickets2"
I'VE lost thin, sur"
'Where2"
81 dunno, sur"
"Do you think you have them about
you Or in your lnggage?"
we've no luggage, sur"
us this your sister?"
'She is, sur"
Are your parents abroad2"
They are not, sur"
Are you ali alone2"
"We are, sur"
You can't go without your tickets, y
Inc younger one began to cry the more
anu the elder answered:
~Mabhe we can foind them, sur"
They were bright-looking, intelligent
ehilfen' and the larger girl gave me
such quick. straightforward answers, and
II scented so impossible that children sc
Young should attempt to cross the ocear
Without tickets that l concluded to let
.hem come, and resolved to get at the
uath on the way over.
AeXt day told the deck steward t.
0f,ng the children to my room.
lney came in just as | saw them thu
u'y before, the elder with light grip OF
'"c hand of the younger, whose eyes
never caught sight of. She kept then
,esoi'ltely on the floor while the othe
'ooked straight at me with her big, blue
eyes.
We'll, have you found your ticketss'
No. sur"
What is your name?"
Bridget, sur''
bridget what.
"BIidget Mulligan, sur"
Where did you live2"
In kildormey, sur"
,,,, here did you get your tickets7"
From Mr.. O'Grady, sur"
Now | knew Kildormey as we'll as
an auoW this ship, and l knew O'Grady wa
sai agent there. 1 would have given
s sooG deal at that moment for fe,
MUS Mon! with him. But l knew Of n
,hu ,htuligans there, although, of course
:. w. L was DOIn myself OILY
Wv ~ miles from Kildormey. Now, think
Ls@ ~ myself, if these two children ca
nnate purser that's been twenty year
rs .ne Atlantic when they say the
",e lfom his own town. almost, by th
nnaers tha they deserve their passage owe
nle ocean. | had often seen grown pee
msr p's Try to cheat their way across, and
ships. ' " 'Aeln succceoeo Oh III
..n nnnere's your father and mother2"
,,n' both dead, SURF
.,r who was your father2"
..us; NE was pinshoner, sur"
.c Tnere did he draw his pension2
7on, Where n did you get the money to br
helm me neighbors, sur, and Mr.. o'Grai
shs mhat neighbors2 Name Them"
man" enhesitatingly named o numbe
A'ay OF whom l knew, and as that b.