The morning call., 1891-11-23

That's Mrs. Ayonlegh and that terrible
Mrs. Boyde. If it's not drink the matter
with her. repeat it's madnessp
lie was, according to the doctor, mixture
| of the two. Mrs. BUyds was one of those
| unfortunate beings who slowly kill the m
selves with opium and choral. She rarely
mixed in conversation, but held aloof from
| the rest; her manner was lost, half uncon-
scious; her large dark eyes were dreamy
! and lusterleSS, save at times when Wild
| light would shine in them, and her manner
would be excited, at which brief periods
| she appeared to hold at particular enmity
! any one who addressed her.
| TITS the effect OF those detestable drugs
upon a once strong BRAIN" had remarked
| the doctor to the captain. Il imagine she is
| harmless enough as yet She is all safe
| when in her cabin, but perhaps on deck she
| had better be watched. She might try to
| throw herself into the sea, then it will need
| some force to hold her. for her strength
| would be great
This WAS the woman to whom Mrs. Klein
| had referred when the conclave broke up.
| That very day the tab0oing commenced :;
| on the ladies' part ii was too apparent not
to be noticed. None of them asked Mrs.
Avonegh's health; DO one entered into
! conversation with her. Those she sat by
! soon made Il preteXt for moving from her.
| The effect WAS greater on the captain than
| on ;aretty Mrs. Ayonleigh; she took no
! notice. Indeed, once she was observed to
smile quietly; but his bronzcd, handsome
| face grew very stern. Once, as he stood by
| her, she whispered:
Pray take no notice; [ do not mind
| really, dearest"
Oh, if Mrs. Klein had heard those words! !
That night, when the Arahna was speed
ing on through the calm ocean, and, eppa-
| rentlY, all in the ship slept peacefully but
| tine watch on deck, the midnight stiffness
| was broken by loud piercing shrek, fol-
| lowed by screams for help, making those
who heard spring hastily from their berths,
| ard looming some portion of their attire,
run t. ascertain the cause.
Could it be the vessel had struck-was
| laundering? No; it was going smoothly
| enough.
Hark! Great heaven! What was that9
| A word that made chill the heart of all who
| heard.
| Fire!
| Soon every cabin was deserted. Where
| did the screams come from?
Mrs. Boyde's cabin.
II knew it !' screamed Mrs. Klein. as she
| hurried forward with the rest.
The door was ajar. They flung it wide
| What a scene presented itself!
| Ga the floor was a heap OF glowing wood
| and smoldering articles of dress, filling
| the air with q heavy, choking sm oke. 1t
seemed to have been scattered somewhat
| while over il a thick wooden rug had been
| partly thrown.
In the center Of the room stood Mrs.
| BnSde, dressed, struggling with pretty
| Mrs. Avonleigh, attired in her dressing
! gown, her hair streaming over her shoulders
| The madwoman'S handS-for mad her wild
! ewes showed she was-were tightly gripped
| around the others white throat; helpIessy
| the poor lady was trying TO free herself, as
| she cried for aid.
! As for a moment the crowd stood para
| lyzed at the door, the captain dashed
| through.
Amy p he exclaimed. Great heaven i!
| What is this?"
At his appearance the madwoman re-
eoiled, when Mrs. Avonleigh. casting her
self on the captains breast, calculated
" Arthur Arthur, save me-save the ship
! she Is mad-she was setting fire to it,"
| Even at such moment Mrs. Klein looked
meaningly into her neighbours face and
| nodded.
| Almost before the passengers we're aware,
the cabin had been cleared, Mrs. Bayde put
under restraint and pretty Mrs. Avonleigh
conveyed to her berth insensibe. where the
| doctor was attending to her hands, which
were severely burned.
He said Amy-she Arthur" thought
Mrs. Klein, as shn laid down again. Hell
! have to explain it now"
1t certainly was the CAPTAINS intention
| The next morning he requested the passen-
| gers to assemble in the saloon, when he
said:
a. am aware that you all look for an ex-
| PLANTATION OF what occurred last night and
| am about to give 1t. \ on know, or should,
| that we poss bly, owe our lives to Mrs
AYOnleigh, for but for her brave conduct
this ship might have been burned to the
waters edge"
The gentlemen cheered.
Being delicate and light sleeper, lying
awake, she fancied she heard the wretched
madwoman moving in her cabin. Aware of
my fears regarding her. she arose, went to
her door and listened. She heard the crack
ling OF wood. smelt fire. Without delay she
entered Mrs Boyde had made a pile of
cUmbustibles and lighted 1t to set fire 10 the
ship. Mrs. Avonleigh. needless of burns,
scattered it with her hands, tried to extn-
guish it with the rug. the while screaming
for help.
The madwoman, however, attacked her,
and had not aid arrived would certainly
have murdered my wife"
~ our wife,! burst from many throats.
My wiie!' said the captain. Let me
explain. 1t is the will of the company |
serve that on no account shall captain take
his wife on board with him. l was married
. year ago in New Zealand. My home is in
England. My wife is delicate-as YOU know;
she breads the sea. That dread was so great
that the doctor feared the shock to her ner-
vous system without she had some one with
her to rely upon. There was but oas thing
TO do-wrong or right did it. 1t was agreed
that she should come on bnard-a stranger
as Mrs. Avonleigh, her maiden name. We
did not suspect the"-he looked round al
most with contempt" unpleasantness that
would arise from it. Nevertheless, l re-
joice (as we all nav that my wife was on
bOsrd-yes, though ] lose my post by break
ing the company's rules-for by her means,
perhaps at the cost of her own life, the ship,
and, probably, your lives, have been saved.
have nothing more to say"
Bowling, Id left the cabin.
Great now was the revulsiou Of feeling
Hard were the things said of the company.
No one could show enough attention ITO
pretty Mrs. Avoneigh," who was unable
to leave her berth until they had nearly
sighted England.
The first to apologize to her was Mrs.
Klein.
But, my dear" she said. surely your
good husband will not lose his post"
Yet he did. The company dismissed him
the .Arahna'; but Immediately gave him
far finer ship-at the same tins making
handsome present to pretty Mrs Avon
Leigh" the captains wife.
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