Bridgeton pioneer., 1885-03-12
A MAIDEN FAIR.
BY CHARLES GIBBON.

did not understand, and which at the mo-
ment did not impress her mind.
There was the one horrible fact he had
been drinking and so had imperilled all
their lives!
The first sickening sense oe dismay over,
she became calm again, and bethought her
that something ought to be done to restore
him to consciousness. Who was to help
her? She dare not speak to her father and
she would not speak to Cargill. By-and-by
she would be able to get one Of the men,
but none of them could be spared at pres
ent.
Meanwhile she got q towel, dipped it in
cold water and laid it on his head. Next
she shook him roughly by tho arm but he
made no sign. Then that was all she could
90.
There was one thing more. She called
him by name; but he made no sign. Whilst
doing this she became little more con-
scious Of the presence of that somethingbe-
sides the fumes of whisky, only she was too
busy in her efforts to rouse him to give it
particular heed.
And she was wondering. How could this
miserable shame fall on Bob Ross? In all
that she had ever heard Of him there had
been no hint of this. Quite otherwise; one
of the qualities for which he had been spe-
cially noted was his sobriety. Then how
should it come now in the hour when he
was most anxious to please her father9
She could not understand. twas strange;
that was all she could say, and in her be-
wilderment begin wondering again. And
as she was wondering there came suddenly
pain in her breast and dull aching in the
dry eyes, for was not his shame hers?
''Oh, how brave and noble she had be-
1ieved him to be! How much above all
other men in everything pure how
strong and faithful in all that became
man! And 10, there he Law helpless-such
a sorry sight!
She could not bear it and she covered her
face with her hands, rocking herself to and
fro as she knelt beside him. Strange, pit
eous cries in her brain, but no sound coming
from her lips. The idol seemed to have
fallen from its high place-fallen so low
down and still was loved.
She did not care now who knew it. She
loved him and she would help him though
everybody else should turn from him.
She knew by the sounds on deck-tramp-
ling of feet loud voices-and the varying
movements of the engine, that they were
nearing port. Whether OF not the noise had
ally GutCU Ill lOuSlllS llul, ltOoS db lCllS I'll
stirred from his lethargy.
He moved slightly as if to turn on his
right side. With anxious face and ready
hands she assisted him. He muttered some
thing in a husky whisper, but she was unable
to make out what he said.
She called him by name twice and her
voice seemed to reach him at last. There
was spasmodic movement of the body, and
ic r,uftoripp lictrof n1rcrl,
for her to comprehend
''Starboard, starboard, ,confound ye. There's
the Dun Buy-we must hold off,"
The rest of his words faded into indis-
tinctness again.
The turmoil above grew louder, and the
movements of the engine more eccentric
than before.
She dipped the towel into cold water and
bathed his face and hands. He breathed
more freely and regularly than he had been
doing for some time, and presently he open
ed his eyes.
What weary, wild eyes they were, staring
at her without the least sign of recognition.
They frightened her, and yet they brought
the tears which relieved her own parched
eyes.
''Do you ma ken me. Bob?" she hesitat-
ed little over the name.
The wild expression disappeared and
slowly there came a smile of recognition.
ma ken you, Annie! how could that ever
be? My lass! But what dream L hae
habitat got fou and let the boat gang on
the rocks and"
But there the glimmer of intelligence
faded, and a vacant expression took its
place. This was not the expression of i'm
booi1ity hnt bot of yxyhn 10 ot
something he cannot see and searching his
mind for something he cannot find.
Suddenly he made an effort to rise, but
tell back helpless.
''Try again." she said eagerly; ''if you
could only get on to the seat, it would make
me less wac to look at YOU"
Mechanically he made the effort, and with
her strong help succeeded after few trials.
in getting on to the seat. He leaned back,
unable to support himself, still looking at
the something he could not see.
"Can you bide there that way till l get
you q drnk?'
She brought him glass of water and held
it to his lips. He drank greedily rs if his
throat were parched, and he seemed to re-
vive. She took both his hands in hers and
gazing earnestly at him said
''Can You ma tell me how this happened?
Try to mind. Where did you get the drink"
Il Gamma tell. l got whisky, and I saw
the Dun Buy and the Bullers, and wanted
to keep clear of them. But something aye
pulling tho wheel ou. O. my hands. There
was"
He ended tho sentence By shaking his
head hopelcssly and muttcring wcarily, II
Gamma tell dinna ken."
She saw it was no uso pressing her Qucs-
tions further at that time, and indeed she
had no opportunity of doing so. Although
the noise above continued, the engine had
stopped, and she knew that they were in
port Her father came down. Partly in
consequence of his dread of any further ac-
cident, and partly out of wise discretion,
knowing his own temper, he had delayed
coming until the Mermaid was safely moor
ed in Peterhead Harbor. Now when he
came, he found her holding Ross's hands
and speaking softly to him. His passion
blazed up in spite of himself.
What are you doing there with that
scoondrel? Come DOT O. that this moment"
She did not move and Ross was apparent
ly quite unconscious of the angry and bitter
words