The morning call., 1891-11-23
PRETTY MRS.
AVONLEIGH,

"Mr. Fawcett, pray come here an in-
slant Thanks; now do tell me who she
Is"
"Who who is, Mrs. Klein ?"
''Tbat pretty Mrs. Ayunleigh."
Tho speaker was lady seated by another
on the deck of n New Zealand ship home
ward bound. He whom she addressed was
its first mate, we'll looking, brOnzed,
manly sailor of about so.
Really" he smiled. II know no more
than you do. She Is a passenger-and she
is Mrs. AvonleiEh; that is. l have no reason
to believe otherwise"
"Oh! [ didn't mean that. But she is SO
pretty, so young, so delicate, and-irs
rather strange she is quite alone"
~ don't know" said the mate; 'she
says, you know, she is TO be reunited TO her
husband in England"
Until when" remarked the other lady,
with little frivolous laugh, ''the captain
will see to be comfort; am sure he is very
attentive"
at is his duty TO see TO the comfort of all
his passengers" rejoined the mate, gravely.
Ladies young and alone are especially IN
der his care"
Not very onerous or unpleasant duty,
apparently, in Mrs. Ayonleigh's case"
smirked Mrs. Klein.
Really. you ladies are more observant
than l." replied the mate, a trifie stittiy,
who, pretending lie had an order to give,
soon quilted them. BIS expression, how
ever, was decidedly grave as he descended
TO the lower deck.
What chatteTing scandal mongerS those
two women are!' he reflected. Though
F,l=e hIa-a i fpnndl
it. The skipper is very attentive to Mrs.
Avonleigh, and looks like bear with
scald head il any one else tries to be so, she
Is so very nice ard pretty. He need not be
Jealous though, for she treats all other ad-
yances with bare ciYility, yet can smlle very
sweetly upon the skipper. No wonder the
passengers begin to talk"
Mrs. Avonleigh had come on board just
i've minutes before the steamer steamed
away from Christchurch; not even maid
with her. She was young, delicate. in
stantly winning the sympathy OF the males,
passengers and crew.
All that was known of her was that she
was in weak health, that she was 10 join her
husband in England, and that she possessed
q nervous terror of the sea. upon which,
save in rowing boats. she had never been.
Tie cagtain al first received as he would
sny other passenger but before the Arahna
had been thret days al sea twas whispered,
with meaning smiles, that the skipper was
very attentive to the pretty passenger; that
he addressed her more frequently than he
did the others, and had been come upon
talking to her in low tones en- tete-a-tete.
That floating prison, the passenger ship,
is frequently a hot-bed OF scandal. Some
people nave said the passengers are like one
family. If it be It IS rarely quiet, har-
monious, happy family. There, are the
retIy jealousies, scandals with those who
have nothing to do and are always being
thrown into each others society. In such
a case it was not wonderful that there was
a unanimity in most of the passengers TO
make pretty Mrs. Avonlelgl the chleI topic
of conversation.
she was decidedly Trctty small. delicate
featured, pale, with soft, golden, nut-brown
hair and tender hazel eyes fun of a latent
power. And what a sweet smile she had.
II mas the only reward she gave TO those
who paid her any little attention, which,
however she generally ev6,ded, save IL the
case of Captain Hewson.
II was no good denying it. The smiles
she gave him were different from the other
smiles Her eyes, too, would follow him as
he went about the deck until she seemed to
become conscious of what she was doing,
when she would avert her gaze quickly.
thus strengthening the belief that there
was something between the two"
As TO Captain Hewson, he was oftener
looking at pretty Mrs. Avonlelgh than even
she at him; while every evening be lent her
his arm TO pace the deck as constitutional
before she went below, for her health de-
manded earlier hours than even those OF the
ship.
NV dear" remarked Mrs. Klein, tits
mystery-no, | don't mean that; it's no
mystery, it's as clear as day. The captain
tries to hide it, but if ever l saw love-ador-
alton might say-ln any mans eyes, see
it In his"
at is shameful. my dear. 1t is an insult
TO every lady on boardW calculated Mrs.
Klein. did you notice this afternoon.
when Mrs Av0nleigh tripped over rope
and nearly fell. how he sprang forward,
uttering a low cry, and quite pale? Eark!
What is that"
THAT horrible Mrs. Boyde stumbling
downstairs, tipsy again. l suppose"
"Oh, my dear!'
"Well, If she does not indulge in wine
I'm certain she takes opium or she is mad.
nervous at having her on board, and fancy
the captain is too. I'm certain he keeps a
watch upon her"
So the conversation drfted from Mrs.
AVanleigh for a time In few minutes
Mrs Klein's companion went down to the
saloon. Mrs. Klein remained where she
was Tho evening was calm and warm. A
crescent moon, sailing in a dark blue sky,
lighted the deck with dim, soft radiance.
The deck seemed deserted, when Mrs Klein
heard low murmur Of voices.
At heart spy, she stopped a little for
ward and beheld two figures standing in the
deep shade thrown by sail. She leaned
atill a little more forward and a CLEAN Of
satisfaction appeared on her countenance
as she recognized the captain and pretty
Mrs. Avonleigh. They stood talking in low
tones and the spy was positive that their
hands were clasped. Her face WAS raised 10
his-he was locking down into hers.
Mrs. Avonleigh had been so indsposed
that day that she had scarcely appeared on
deck at all.
aSta raama m hava recnyarad nrn+ty wall
by this time" mentally commented Mrs.
Klein; II pity her husband, that | do; it
would be hut right to tell him. At any
rate l think this kind of thing should be
stopped"
She drew quickly back into shadow, for
the two side by side were coming forward.
What were they saying? Eagerly she
listened, but some one was singing in the
cabin, and she could only catch disconnected
words:
''We must be cautious" remarked the
captain; "observation-not risk discovery
only three weeks now"
Then Mrs. Avonleigh went down the cabin
stairs. Captain HewsOn watched her. After,
TO Mrs. Klein's relief, he went up to the
bridge, giving the spy the opportunity to
glide below.
ats certain" she exclaimed, mentally,
II knew l was rightr' with much satisfac-
ton; I'VE must call a committee, and she
what is TO be. done; it's shameful-shame-
ful-that it isP'
Like thread Of acid upon steel Mrs.
Klein whispered her fresh piece of news to
her fellow-passengers.
A select conclaye was held the next
morning. and it was unanimously agreed
the ca plain should be spoken TO.
The question was, who was to do II? The
skipper was one of those men whom 1t is
not always pleasant to tackle.
Finally it was decided to taboo pretty
Mrs. Avonleigh, whom, whether really mar
ried or not. il WAS evident the captain had
known before her coming on board.
Then why did he not own it?" suggested
another.
because he dared notP' remarked Mrs.
Klein.
There's something behind all this" put
In q gentleman passenger. ''t's a mystery