The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-05-22
A STRANGE PASSENGER.

When my packet ship, the Hermione.
was preparing to sail from Liverpool for
New York | was warned to take pre-
cautions against receiving as passenger
a certain Mary Youngson, who, while
nursing her sick husband-a man con-
G0erably her senior-had poisoned him
70 death, laid hold of all the money and
xaluables 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
lea. where she had friends-and there
fore | sharply scrutinized the passen-
gers, eight in number, who were brought
of to my vessel in tender.
AS they stepped aboard was relieved
to perceive that none of them tailed
with the description had obtained of
Miss Youngson, who, was told, was a
beautiful woman, over thirty-five years
OF age, about feet inches in height
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 Engf2hman and an
amateur actor. from whom she had in.
herited a remarkable capacity for de-
oeiving 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;
ono Miss Lorton, plain and stout; the
other, Miss Merwin, slender and tall,
apparently not less than feet 8
inches, with the most childish, innocent
looking face, for one of her age, that !
ever saw. She had brown hair and eyes,
snan, babylike features, and smooth,
glowing cheeks, which were constantly
Sdimpled 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 my son
Tom, a 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,
I was surprised at the end of one short
week after we sailed to learn that he
had actually proposed to her and been
aecepted.
''She is so artless, so ingenious, SO
free from guile of any kind" said he,
shat you can read her heart at once!
We are to be married on coming back
30 Liverpool at the house of her aunt,
who is expecting her. With her usual
childish frankness she informed me that,
although having a small fortune in three
per cents. left to her by her father. who
was a 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
ut having to tell me this, that at once
went to my room and procured the
5000 United States bond. which you
know | lately bought with my savings,
and gave it to her, telling her where she
could get it cashed, and bade her then
take out of it whatever she needed"
.Why, Tom, you don't say SOP Icried.
rather startled.
''Of course, he answered. why 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. no! right aheadf'
The stranger large ship-put her
helm a-port, so l 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 jibboom caught under my spanker
sheet, lifting the spar and swapping it off
with a crash.
There was noise and confusion as we
worked brislkly 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 nowr'
1 cried, to reassure them, as the other
ship swung clear of us.
Miss Merwin had emerged from the
cOmpanionway after the others, and as ]
hooked toward her form, distinctly re-
vealed by the moonlight and one of the
lanterns, stood stock still in tie utmost
astonishment, for, as true as / am a liv-
ing man, her stature now seemed at least
three inches shorter than had hitherto
eeen it.
was the only one who noticed her al
that time. and on meeting my gaze she
drew back as quick as flash and van
ished in the cabin.
The strange phenomenon 1 had wit
messed for moment almost took away
my breath. My whole mind was fixed
upon this one thing, and when my son
came up a few hours later to take the
deck described the singular change
had noticed in Miss Merwin's stature.
He stared at me at first as if he thought
me mad, then broke out into an incredu
lous laugh, saying that my eyes or the