The Arkansaw traveler., 1885-09-26
MIR. L'ESTRANGE.
A Tale of an Atlantic Liner.
lChambers' Journal.l
 CHAPTER l.

My native land, good night 1"
 l murmured Byron's line almost un. consciously, as the dark mass, that had been sinking into the green-gray waters, seemed suddenly to founder In them and to be replaced by formless cloud. Eng. land had passed into shadow land 1 Should 1 ever know it again as a real land2 Was it and all that loved pass ing into mere reminiscencep Was l. like millions before me, going into per petual exile2
 The green died out of the sea, the gray grew darker. It, too, died out; and the vast space over which my eye ranged be- came black, save where the waves broke into snowy drifts. A feeling of terrible Loneliness came over me, and strange fear of impending troubles. Everybody had descended from the deck to the Sd. loon at the sound of the dinner. bell; and l remained solitary, under the lee of the huge tunnels that poured out wild rib bons of smoke. was in no mood for eating, still less did desire society.
 For long time had been in weak health, and recent fimily matters had se- riously lessened my strength. My father had died suddenly. leaving his affairs so confused that bankruptcy became inevi- table. l was recalled from my legal studies in London, being the eldest son. But neither my knowledge of the law nor my devotion to the family welfare could prevent the ruin which came upon us In few months our changed social level was reached. A cottage replaced our pleasant country villa, the plainest food
 
 sisters accepted this painful reverse of fortune with astonishing bravery. At least, before me and my younger brother Theodore, they appeared cheerful and re- signed, and prophesied that we should again rise to the sphere from which we had fallen. Loving and united, capable and ambitious. we could not remain poor in world where such traits led to wealth and success. My career as barrister was at an end, at least for time must earn something for the good ana gentle and heroic women who regarded me as the head of the family now. had tried several paths that seemed suited to such talents and requirements as l possessed {; but ! could not get even bread for my single self.
 My health failed rapidly and at times feared my own death would be added to the calamities of the family. My brother Theodore had been in my fathers ofhce. He was thrown upon the world as helpless as child. Although twenty years old, he was ignorant of everything that produces income in the lower mid. dle-class grade to which we had fallen. He had played at business, as at every thing else. A universal favorite, hand some as Apollo, courageous to folly, and with more health aad high spirits than a dozen like me, Theodore, who ought to have jumped into good position at once, could not get even the humblest clerkship. His belief in his duck 1" seemed to grow in proportion to his fail- ures smiling irresistibly in our anxious faces, he would say: "Cheer up, cheer up, good people; my ship will come in, and when she dses, her cargo will consist of pure goid, and all our fortunes will be made in one grand coup"
 At last matters became desperate. Curtailed to mere necessary food and housing, still our expenditures went on consuming the scanty wreckage of our meaRs. My mother smiled rarely my sisters went out on furtive errands, and SSncsaAy Samc oaSk iooktnS wan and jaded. We all grew taciturn, except Theodore. Nothing dampened his glow ing heart. His heief in himself never faltered for an instant but it had ceased to inspire us.
 Oae day l counted the little sum that had 'sft--it was just over five pounds. My spirits sank into utter eclipse, and