The Press., 1891-05-07
tared at him with hot Hush rising to

stared at him with hot hush rising to his face.
 Sometimes they are so very ill that they die," the captain went on. ''Deli- cate women, you know-ittle children and delicate women."
 Pat still looked at him in silence.
 "When said that we had a very un- pleasant voyage 1 meant" said the cap tain, "that we had serious illness-that we had death on board. Two steerage passengers died. One was William !O'Rourke, an old man coming over to live with his son."
 his forehead.
 ''The other, who was very i'll, was a woman," said the captain, "a young woman, and very pretty. MT. Nolan, we have to prepare for storms in this life-we have to brace up and bear them as we'll as we can. They are very hard to bear. have had great many my self At my age that goes without say ing; but you are young and full of hope. am very sorry to say that am afraid you are about to suffer terrible shock. It is painful task to tell you. Brace up, my lad. The other passenger was young woman, and her name, as we have it written here, was Annie OBrien."
 All the color had gone out of Pats face by this time. It was white, lips and all. He dropped his arms on the table and hid his face on them. and great sobs shook his frame.
 The captain wiped the tears from his own eyes.
 "Talk does no good" he said. 'Time only can comfort you" ''It seems as if could not believe it, captain" Pat cried, lifting his tear swol- len face. "Annie-my little Annie! Are ye sure it was Annie?"
 'There was but one Annie O'Brien on our list," said the captain. ''She gave her name just before she breathed her last. The only steerage passenger of the name of O'Brien died on the voyage of fever. The doctor cared for her as well as he knew how. The women nursed her kindly. We buried her at sea, and the burial service was said by a Catholic clergyman who was on board. You might like to know that. so tell you.".
 My Annie-ny Annie at the bottom of the say!" moaned poor Nolan. An I'll niver see her again; niver kiss her red lips: niver feel her two arms about me neck! An, Annie, won't live after you-I won't live after you! Life is too hard to bear wid that to think of. It's turned me to woman, sir, I'm thinkin'; but it's the worst blow iver had in me loife."
 There was a knock at the door just again.
 No admittance just now," cried the captain.
 II didn't mane to come in, Ilase, sir, " said a sweet voice, "but I'd like to spake to ye, captain, af yell let me. I'm waitin' this long time till me frind comes aboord to bring me home, and I'm get tin anxious, fearin' something has hap pened him. What will I do. sir? know no one in Americay. Perhaps he might be on boord and me not know it. He'd be askin' for Annie OBrien, and he'd be Pat Nolan, that I'm promised to. Would ye"-
 But the captain had flung wide the | roar like that of buffalo had flung his arms about her.
 ! "Glory be to God and all the saints!' he cried. "You're not dead at all You're alive! I've got you safe and sound! They've been tellin' me you were dead. God help the man that put the thrick on me, for I'll lave but the bones av himr'
 "Quiet, therev' shouted the captain Down with your fists, or I'll put you in irons! What did you mean by asking for Annie OBrien, a steerage passenger when you wanted Annie Bailey, a first cabin passenger? That is the girl that stands there. That is the name she gave us-Annie Bailey"
 Captain, dear," cried Annie, clutch ing her Pat by the coat tails, captain darlin', Pat niver knew-he did not Since writin' him, my mother-a widdy married again wid MT. Peter Bailey that kapes foine tavern in our town So long as was goin' from her, and h. proposin' to her, why wouldn't she? Ant he, havin' money to spare, said should come like lady, and paid me passage in the foinest place; and out iv eompli ment to him-being my mothers hus band and so generous to mel sailed a! Annie Bailey. That is the way it was captain; and indade all the throublt arose from it-for wanted Pat to ind me sated in the illigant saloon, and re- mained there waitin' for him."
 You'll excuse me, sir, i" said Pat, bow ing low, Ion account of what I've beer through"
 "Au right, my man," the captain an swered; and then Pat threw his arm about his Annie and led her away, tho happiest fellow alive.-Mary Kyle Dal las in Preside Companion.