The morning news., 1892-02-21
CHAPTER TX.

Little Mrs. Potter, her MUD charged with
the most direful memories OF her voyage
from home, got on board ship oarly, and
Immediately sought her berth, being deter
mined to sleep away as much of the time as
possible. She had charged Sam to bs on
board, being determined to sleep away as
much of the time as possible She had
charged Sam to be on board at least three
hours before the vessel sailed, and since in
thess early days of married life her hus-
band had obeyed her every wish, and had,
IN fact, conducted himself with an aston
ishing subserviency and meekness. she had
no doubt whatever that he would present
himself at the time appointed. The little
woman fell asleep, and did not awake until
the vessel fell asleep, and did not awake un-
ell the vessel had passed the Heads, when
she became conscious that the ship was
pitching and rolling. and that she was
about to be dreadfully unwell She issued
feeble wall for Sam. No Sam responded
10 her call, and in little while she had for
gotten even him in the profound misery OF
sea sickness. For three days and nights she
lay PROSTATE in the grip Of that most
agoniZing or maladies, and when at length
Quiries about her husband, she was hun
dreds of miles from land, with a voyage Of
three months duration before her and no
possi bility of news in all that dreary time
Her first discovery of the fact that Sam was
missing was met with wild hysteric
search throughout the vessel, and a frantic
questioning of everyone she encountered
Then came tears and bewailings, and with
them the consultations of her fellow passen-
gers. In all her grief and anxiety she felt
that her position gave her q certain import
ance. Everybody, without exception, from
the captain to the meanest steerage passen-
ger, was curious and interested about her
story, and she told it. FIRST and last. hun-
dreds of times. Everybody was sympathetic,
and almost everybody took an encouraging
view of tie case, SO that IN a while, being Of
disposition naturally sanguine, she grew
TO be quite certain that Sam had missed the
ship by some trifing and unharmful acci-
dent, and that he would join her at home
within month of her arrival. Perhaps he
might even take steamer aud be on shore to
welcome her when she reached England.
The Melbourne lawyer, who had conveyed
to Sam the news of bis accession to fortune.
had supplied him with sum of e20O which
Sam had, like dutiful husband, handed
over to his wife, substracting only the
amount necessary for the purchase of their
berths. Her husband was thus left without
her that the lawyer would make no diff
Guilty about a further advance, and as the
voyage progressed she took a constantly
Frightening view of things.
There was no Sam to meet her at Black
wall, however, and that was a dreadful dis
appointment. There was renewal of her
tears, and for a while the little woman sat
among her belongings on the wharf in a
complete abandonment of grief and lonei-
ness. Remembering after time that she
was at home again, and within reach of her
friends and relations, she took heart OF
grace, summoned a hackney coach, saw all
her belongings slowed about it and within
1t, and ordered the driver to a street of
Gray's Inn Lane. Alighting there before
house, the whitened steps, trim muslin
blinds, polished brass plate and door handle
and bright new paint, of which STRUCK
briskly on the eye in the midst Of surround
ings generally dingy, she ran the bell anc
waited in a state of huttering expectancy.
A gaunt serving maid, in a lace cap and
clean apron answered the summons, ard re-
garding the wealth Of luggage on tht
hackney-coach made instant way for the
visitor. The little woman had been cryins
anew, and kept her veil down TO hide hel
tear-swoilen eyes, but she was no sooner
within the hall than she clutched the gaun
serving maid with both hands.
20. Selma" she asked, with new burs
OF tears, don't you know meF
know you," calculated Selma, taker
back by this unexpected greeting. Lord
bless you. not from Adam''
Little Mrs. Potter raised her veil, and a
the sight of her face the gaunt maid fel
upon her and embraced her, crying shrill,
upon Tilda. At this formidable-lookins
female in black silk rustled into the hall.
"What, is this Selinas" she asked
It's Tilda," cried the maid. Its Tildl
Thoms."
"Dear me, cried the formidable lady. III
the world at an end because Tilda Thoms ha
come back againl How do you do, Tide
ThomsP'
Very well, indeed, thank you, aunt, u tht
little woman answered, 'but I've lost mJ
husband, and rm broken-hea ted"