Los Angeles herald., 1891-05-10
A STRANGE PASSENGER,


cautions against receiving as passenger
certain Mary Youngson, who, while
nursing her sick husband-a man con-
siderably her senior-had poisoned him
to death, laid hold of all the money and
valuables 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
off to my vessel in tender.
AS they stepped aboard l 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 5 feet 6 inches in height
and very slender, with brown hair, dark
eyes and 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 8
inches, with the most childish, innocent
looking face, for one of her age, that
ever saw. She had brown hair and eyes,
small, babylike features, and smooth,
glowing cheeks, which were constantly
dimpled 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 could see that my 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,
l"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 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 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 so?" 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 l 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 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 iibboom caught under my spanker
sheet, lifting 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.
sit is nothing; we are all right now!"
cried, to reassure them, as the other
ship swung clear of u.s.
Miss Merwin had emerged from the
companionway after the others, and as
looked toward her form, distinctly re-
vealed by the moonlight and one of the
lanterns, stood stock still in the utmost
astonishment, for, as true as am liv-
ing man, her stature now seemed at least
three inches shorter than l had hitherto
seen it.
was the only one who noticed her at
that time, and on meeting my gaze she
drew back as quick as flash and van
ished in the cabin.
The strange phenomenon 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 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
imperfect light must have deceived me-
I knew better, however; but finding
l could not convince him told him tt
wait until the young lady should appear
at breakfast in the morning, when he
might see for himself
Two hours later the second mate came
ND to relieve Tom, who then went be-
low. The officer, seeing me seated in
-oxo~,a nv, +ha nuartar deck walked