The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1891-05-17
A STRANGE PASSENGER.

was preparing to sail from Liverpool fol-
q New York l was warned to take pre-.
cautions against receiving as passenger
certain Mary Youngson, who, while
nursing her sick husband-a man con-
Biderably her senior-had poisoned him
10 death, laid hold of all the money and
4 galuables she could get and then had
made off. 1t was thought that she
would try to leave England on some out
ward bound ship-most likely for Amer
4 lea, where she had friends-and there
! fore l sharply scrutinized the passen-
i gers, eight in number, who were brought
off to my vessel in tender.
4 AS they stepped aboard l was relieved
4 to perceive that none of them tailed
a with the description had obtained of
a Miss Youngson, who, l was told, was a
beautiful woman, over thirty-five years
4 of age, about feet inches in height
d and very slender, with brown hair, dark
eyes and a clear complexion. She had
been born and educated abroad, but her
/ father had been an Englishman and an
! amateur actor, from whom she had in
/ herited remarkable capacity for de-
ceiving people as to her character.
Two of the female passengers who
now came aboard were married ladies,
and of dark complexion. There were also
two young women of about twenty-one;
one Miss Lorton, plain and stout; the
other, Miss Merwin, slender and tall,
apparently not less than 5 feet 9
inches, with the most childish, innocent
looking face, for one of her age, that l
4 ever saw. She had brown hair and eyes.
small, babybke features, and smooth,
glowing cheeks, which were constantly
dlmpled with smiles. AS she slightly
lifted her long skirt we saw that instead
of shoes or boots she wore ornamented
buskins of some kind of soft leather,
which made no noise when she walked.
Afterward we heard that she wore them
because she had lately sprained her feet
and could not yet bear harder leather.
From the first l could see that nv son
Tom, young man of twenty-five, and
chief officer. was greatly impressed by
this girl.
He had always liked tall women, and
anything ''babyish" in their looks or
manners particularly pleased him. Still,
was surprised at the end of one short
week after we sailed to learn that he
had actually proposed to her and been
accepted.
"She is SO artless, so ingenious, so
free from guile of any kind" said he,
"that you can read her heart at once!
We are to be married on coming back
to Liverpool at the house of her aunt,
who is expecting her. With her usual
childish frankness she informed me that.
although having small fortune in three
per cents. left to her by her father, who
was merchant, she is at present short
of cash which would hinder her from
purchasing, on landing, certain little
articles she desired toward a wedding
outfit. was so touched by her shy, in
fantile way, blended with timid distress
at having to tell me this, that | at once
went to my room and procured the |
$1,000 United States bond, which YOU
know l lately bought with my savings,
and gave it to her, telling her where she |
could get it cashed, and babe her then |
take out of it whatever she needed"
why, Tom, you don't say so?" cried.
rather startled.
''Of course he answered. "Whv not?
We are engaged, and it ought to be the
Same about money matters as if we were
married"
He went below, and / sat long in the
clear moonlight, thinking it over in as a
hasty, foolish piece of business. when
suddenly was startled by the cry of the
lookout forward.
Sail, hol right ahead!"
The stranger-a large ship-put her
helm a-port, so | had no doubt she
would pass us safely enough; but as she !
was going by, her helmsman raising his
wheel too soon, her bow swung off. and
her Jlbboom caught under my spanker
sheet, hitting the spar and swapping it off
with crash.
There was noise and confusion as we
worked briskly to keep the two vessels
apart and prevent further damage. in
the midst of which several of the passen-
gers came running up, somewhat fright
ened, to find out what the matter was.
1T Is nothing; We are all right now,'
l cried, 10 reaSsure them, as the other
ship swung clear of U.s.
Miss Merwin had emerged from the
companionway after the others, and as l
looked toward her form, distinctly re-
vealed by the moonlight and one of the
stood stock still in the utmost
for. as true as l am hy- I
ng man, her stature now seemed at least
,hree inches shorter than had hitherto
'een it. {
was the only one who noticed her at {
hat time, and on meeting nv gaze she /
rev back as quick as a flash and van V
shed in the cabin.
The strange phenomenon l had wit e
lessed for a moment almost took away c
ny breath. lily whole mind was fixed
ipon this one thing, and when nv son
anne up few hours later TO take the :
ieck described the singular change | !
lad noticed in Miss Merwins stature.
He stared at me at first as if he thought
ne mad, then broke out into an incredu-
Gus laugh, saying that my eyes or the 4,
imperfect light must have deceived me- :
! knew better, however; but finding
could not convince him told him to =,
want until the young lady should appear !.
{ breakfast in the morning, when he :,
night see for himself. !,
Two hours later the second mate came n
Ip TO relieve Tom, who then went he-
ow. The officer, seeing me seated in n h
evere on the quarter deck. walked h
where he stood looking cara :.
essly forward. :
All at once, Judge OF my sr1-rr;sa -