Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1890-05-17

that time of the year, was flooding the
atmosphere with its yellow rays.
The dark waters of the Mersey lay
bathed in the soft sunlight which tipped
the crests of the tumbling waves with
gold, Hither and thither along the river
the ferry boats and other craft sped, and
the farther side of the shore stood out
clear and dark against the horizon.
The great landing stage on the Lam
cashire side of the stream was alive with
people, Here aud there ran business
men as if a fortune depended on their ce-
leritv, Small lots of pleasure-seekers-
for the great seaport Is invaded by Wis
itors the whole year through-were walk
ing quietly to and fro, waiting for one or
other of the ferry boats; and not few
Ioungers of the "moucher" type lounged
against the chains and light pillars which
fenced in the stage from the sea.
A couple of steamers, one from the
Isle of Man and the other from Ireland,
were disgorging their passengers at the
north end of the huge floating structure,
| and flooding the wide space of timber
with thick stream of human beings,
| among whom were conspicuous not few
! sons of Erin, clad in the characteristic
| and familiar green corduroy.
1
| ple three persons were standing-Mark
| Eliot, Nellie Pemberton and the latter's
! foster mother. Mark was TO set sail
| that afternoon for America and the two
women had come to see him
| Hoff. -
They were waiting there for the arri-
val of the tug which was to carry the
young voyager and his belongings to the
great steamer which lay a mile or so
away at the mouth of the Mersey and just
outside the bar.
As vet the lovers we're cheerful enough,
for the dire moment of parting had not
vet come. They stood talking of the
scene before them, and commenting
| freely on the unfamiliar pictures they
were looking upon.
Yet each of the two were a little
ouieter than usual. There was tone OF
restraint in the voice of each which spoke
of the anxiety the prospect of part
ing had engendered in their
breasts
In few minutes the tug came steam
ing up to the stage and Mark and his
companions went on board her. The
women had resolved to remain with
Eliot as long as possible, and they wished
to see the great Greyhound of the
|
chester, which was to carry the young
man to the new world.
Away the tug steamed down the river
and our friends stood at the stern end Of
the boat. The women were watching
the spume-fecked currents which tore
past the vessel and marked her wake,
and Mark was wondering when he would
again set foot on the soil of Lancashire.
Had he only known then what terrible
trouble and distress of soul his departure
would entail upon himself and the beau
tiful girl at his side, he would have set
his back to the West and returned to
Warringham to face again the annoy
ance, the Indulgence and privation he
was going to America to escape.
But to no man is the power given to
read the book of fate, and Mark was
iourneying towards the new land with a
great hope filing his heart, although his
bright honest face was overshadowed at
present with the thought of leaving lis
sweetheart behind him.
Alongside The frowning hull of the great
ocean steamship the rug presently drew
I'D and our friends transferred them
selves to the larger vessel. They had an
hour yet to spend together, and that they
eoent in looking at the bunk set apart for
| MARK; IN WAuG6TluB LHlOuBAOuI INV
magnificently furnished state rooms and
frst-class cabins, and in watching the
numerous groups of picturesque foreign
ers-Hungarians, Germans, Italians and
Russians-who were herded together in
the steerage.
At length the moment of parting came
A bell was rung to warn all off the YES
sci. save those who were to sail in her,
and a tug lay alongside to carry ashore
the friends and relations of the passen-
gers.
Beside the step gsngway, which joined
the two craft our friends stood, making
the last adieu. Mark first wrung Nam
cy's big strong brown hand in his own,
wished her the best of good luck, and
then he turned to his sweetheart.
HGood-bye, darling. We shall not
be parted long, hope. We shall soon
meet again, never to part any more!
His voice was hoarse and tense with
emotion, his eyes dim with gathering
tears. Only those who have borne the
stress of such a parting can realize 1t:
unspeaksble pain.
"Good-bye, Msrkl" Nellie cried with
a sob, breaking down utterly at that su-
prame moment. "Good-bye, and re-
member that 1 am ready to come to you
whenever you say 'come!'
ssGod bless and keep you, darling!
Goodbye. Take care Of her for me,
Nancy!"
They clasped hands for a moment
kissed each other passionately, regard
I less of the crowds that surged about and
past them, and then they parted.
And then the tug steamed shoreward
its sides lined with sobbing people wav'
ing fareBerls to those aboard the grea
} ship.
| iswider and wider grew the space o.
, swelling water betwixt the vessels, anC
} the lovers stood by the bulwarKs regard
ing each other until the distance hid eacl
! | from the others view.
(To he Continued