The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-26
CHAPTER XIV.

SHE TAKES LODGING AT wooLWICH.
This gave me exactly fortnight in which
to prepare for my departure, for now it was
settled that the ChlIde Harold was to drop
alongside H. NJ. S. Warrior on the 10Th of
November, receive her cargo OF convicts
next day, then proceed 10 GTayesend. where
the crew would come on board, and then
head direct for the Antipodes. What ar
engagements had ] TO make. do you ask?
First as to the disposal of my home. l had
sometimes thought Of selling it. eonceiving
that If Tom lived to regain his liberty he
would abhOr a country from which he had
been inhumanly and unjustly expelled, and
settle abroad. But on reflection l made
up my mind to keep the house, knowing
that II was always very salab.e property
should l wish to convert it into money.
So a day OF two after VIII and had come
to 8 thorough understanding. and every
thing was arranged for as far as human
foresight could provide. l sent my maid
downstairs to request Mr.. Stanford to see
me. he came aud l opened my business
with him at once without any needless
civiiltes.
lam going abroad, Mr.. Stanford" said
l. Il am going to leave England and l
make you an offer of this whole house fur
nished," and l named a price by the year.
He wished to question me as TO where l
was going and how long l would be absent;
but my behavior soon forced him TO swallow
his curiosity and to eonfne himself to the
question of the hire Of the house. It ended
in his agreeing to take tile house off my
hands on my own terms. and that same day
got Mr.. WOofe to draw up an agreement,
which Mr. Stanford and | signed / then
wrote 10 NY trustees TO inform them that l
was about to cave the country, and gave
them instructions as to the receipt of the
rent from Mr.. Stanford and the payment of
my income The plate and many cherished
objects which had come TO me from my
father aud mother were packed and sent TO
my bank.
recount all this in plain. sober-headed
way. but let me tell you it was a time of
wild and fTightful excitement to me. hal
a hundred things to think Of a hundred
stratagems to practice. / gave money 10
VIII TO procure a stock Of TODD for hiding
warily by degrees in the black lodging |
was 20 occupy under the forecastle. He
found be could not manage single-handed;
though he was en- apprentice in the ship
and could 20 on board whenever he thought
proper, his services we're not required
until tie vessel was equipped and
ready to drop down to Woolwich; lie feared
he would be noticed and then watched
If he was seen frequently TO enter the fore
castle, and il ended in brlbing a rigger. who
was brother Of one of the crew of the
Childe Harold during her last voyage, to
help him 10 store water bottled for ME TO
drink whilst l was in hiding. The man
asked no questions. my cousin told me. he
merely gfnned when be said the siOwaway
was an old sehoolfellOv of his whose father
had failed IN business, and he griDned again
when VIII tipped him two soveregns.
For my part | was wholly fearless when |
looked forward. My heart beat high; had
but two anxieties-one lest my uncle John
stone should discover what l was about and
stop ne by warning tie captain OF the
Chlide Harold; the other lest Tom at the
last should be detained on board the hulk
for later ship. For this latter difficulty
1 bad provided with VIII. But as 10
my uncle and aunt, / told them plainly
that l was going out to Tasmania.
and that l only waited to learn that Tom
was on board the Chide Harold TO follow
him by the first ship. You viii suppose
that neither of them had the slightest sus-
picion that my ship was TO be Toms convict
ship herself How could such an idea enter
their heads unless VIII babbed, which lie
had taken his oath not TO do? Mr.. John
stone could never dream that / meant TO
dress myself up as Boy and hide andeT the
Cbilde Harold's forecastle.
One night, and that was the last | spent
al his bouse near the Tower he talked of
My resolution to follow Tom till we rose TO
high words. VIII was out. or | daresay my
temper might have brought him TO side
With his father and mother. which would
have raised feeling between US and ruined
my hopes so far as he went. Mr.. john
stone said he thanked God l was no girl Of
his. he thanked God his only child was a
by. What would my father. if he were
al Of nv frff -
9 convict?
Unanswered that my father was q true
man and would always wish me TO be true
woman Ny father was not man to
obige me to betray and desert Tom because
n dreadful trouble had come upon the poor
fellow; aud here l cried little.
''Still. my dear. Captain Butler Is a con-
viet," said my aunt Il wish to say moth
ing about his guilt or innocence, but he
wears felons clothes; be is loaded with
irons; be lives with the SCUM of the ma
ton"
And, guilty TT innocent. he is irrecover-
ably Gisgraced," broke in my uncle.
why do you undertake his defense
then?" l cried
"a man is innocent until be is proved
guilty." answered my uncle. "By the logic
OF the law l undertook the defense Of q
guiltless person."
This enraged me. It was like burning or
cruelty wounding or torturing me any saw
age way TO speak i'll of Tom or to cast
doubt upon his innocence.
The quarrel was put an end to by my uncle
walking cut Of the room. | stayed little,
wishing 10 cool down that / 10 ight say good
by with grace and heart, with something
INDEED OF the real love and gratitude | felt;
for knew when ! said farewell it would be
for the last time. But my aunt was cold and
Vexed; she resented several things Ihad said
In the heat Of the QUARREL she took my kiss
Hfelessly and went out Of the room. On the
landing / paused / lOnged 10 return and
kiss her warmly and seek my uncle, that
this parting might have the tenderness
my heart longed for now that my passion
WAS ended; but l said TO myself, No,
they may suspect final leave-taking in my
behavior" and so | stepped into the street
and drove home.
had told my maid / was going abroad.
and next day l paid her and gave her a sub
stantial gift in money over and above her
wages, and she left me 'ryiDg. l grleyed
70 part with her. She was good and faith
full girl and would have been glad to 90
with me anywhere. even to the other side
Of the world.
Five days before the ship was to haul
alongside the hulk ! went TO Woolwich and
took lodging as close to the river as the
respectable accommodation of that dirty
town permitted. l hired two rooms for the
week. The landlady asked no questions.
She was satisfied with my paying for the
lodglngs IN advance. Alter / had engaged
those rooms | crossed the river afresh
and returned 10 StepneV to fetch little
trunk. l was to be stowaway, and of all
ocean travellers the stowaway is the one
who sails with the fewest effects. A hack
ney coach stood at the door to convey me to
Blackwell; l carried my little box down.
stairs and put il with my own hand into the
coach. / then returned and stood awhile in
my room thinking. The walls and tables
were stripped Of all that l cherished the
room locked somewhat bare / slowly cast
my eyes around and thought of the past; /
con1ured up my father and mother; ] re-
called my early life; my lonely holiday
trips, much Of " hat had felt and suffered;
l then kne!t down and prayed, rose, and
going to the wall kissed II, and with dry
eyes but with sobbing heart departed.
Whether Mr.. Stanford saw me or not