The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1892-11-12

addressed. of you had only told me
last night"
THAT will do! Last night is dead
dog! You. Denping?"
81 could take to-morrow's steamer,
sir"
''Too late! Fraser, what's to hinder
you?" Mr.. Cruikshank vas waving
his hands violently by this time.
Nothing. sir, only"
"'Onlyr Only never gets there!
You, Johnson"
my wife is sick, sir, and ] cannot
leave her"
Mr.. C%ruikshank looked rapidly
around the room. glancing at the clock
where the minute hand seemed to
move with a terrible velocity. Appar-
emily he did not see Stella, though his
eyes rested on her a fraction of a Sec
ond in their rapid sweep, SO he was
greatly surprised when she stepped
quickly forward saying in her low.
clear voice:
"May l go?7
The man looked sharply up into her
face, and his own cleared.
Think you can? All right. I'll send
down and get a berth for you. My
carriage is. at the door now. Jump into
it, go home and get your traps, and
drive down to the pier as fast as posi-
bic. ! will meet you there with writ
ten instructions and some English mon
ey. You have just n hour and five
minutes"
While he had been speaking Stella
had been resuming her hat and Jacket.
and she was out of the door by the time
the last word was spoken. A few
moments later she was in the room she
had so lately left exclaiming:
My chance has come, Kitty! | start
for England in an hour"
Kitty rose hastily. "What can | do
to help you?' she asked, her face flush
ing with generous pleasure.
Nothing" replied Stella, only to
write and let M mother know; and
don't work yourself into a fit of sick
ness before / get back"
While talking, Stella was putting into
her satchel a few toilet articles, a
change OF underclothing, a nightdress,
a pair of rubber shoes and a water
proof cloak.
"Good-by," she said; and with a
warm kiss the friends parted.
Arrived at the steamer, Stella was
met by Mr.. Cruikshank with a rug IN
his arm, and in his hands a guide-book
and a well-flled purse.
Il thought you'd need the rug" he
said, land, as this is your first trip, you
might not think of it."
Though not handsome, Stella was
very pleasing in appearance. The Sc
we're lines of the dark blue-cloth bust
ness suit, relieved by touches OF narrow
gold cord, which she always wore
whsn at her work, was becoming to
her tall symmetrical figure and clear,
healthy compilations; and so was the
little hat of dark blue velvet with
a bunch of gold acorns, which rested
firmly on her abundant coils of chest
nut hair. She looked alert, but much
calmer and cooler than her employer.
"Yes," he said, as if answering some
unseen objector. Il think you'll do it;
and if you do. I'll" Apparently he
was about to promise something, but
thought better of it.
II will do it" she said firmly, without
waiting the conclusion of Mr.. Cruik-
shank's sentence, while a rich glow
mounted to her cheek, and the light of
courage and self-reliance came into
her eyes.
Eyes, Think You will. I've watched
you a good while, and | know that you
have social tact and sound business
Judgment. You may depend upon it,
that, though | probably should not
have thought of you had you
not offered, | should not have accepted
your offer to go had | not already
known your qualities and qualifica-
tions. In this envelope you will find
full instructions; but, of course, your
success will depend on the use you
make of them. Good by" And shak-
ing her hand cord ally, Mr.. Cruikshank
ran off the gang-plank at the last mo-
ment.
Notwithstanding the season, the
weather was pleasant during most of
the voyage, and Stella passed much
time en- deck, enjoying to the full the
bracing air and the sense of freedom
from care of every sort She knew
that she had been intrusted with an inn
portant matter. She must secure, and
that quickly, the powers necessary to
enable Mr.. Cruikshank to act for the
English directors in agrave emergency.
Some of these directors, as she had
gathered from their correspondence,
were ~distrustful, and, in the words ap-
| piled to Carlyle by his mother, slightly