The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-02-05
CHAPTER IX-rCoNrIxUEDl

CHAPTER IX-[CoNTINUEDl
was glad Of the delay in his coming. 1
had time to collect myself and to force an
expression of calmness into my face. On
sudden he appeared! lie came in by the
side of a warder from the direction of a
ward, in which my uncle afteTward told me
the united prisoners took the air. He was
dressed in his own Clothes in seafarng
apparel somewhat sOiled by wear. l had
feared 10 see him in the vile attire of con-
vict. and was spared a dreadful shock when
! looked a d beheld my dear one as ! re-
membered him. But oh, not as l Temem-
bered himl He had let his beard grow.
He was shaggy and scarce recognizable with
il. and his hair was longer Than formerly.
His cheeks were sunk, his eyes dull like the
eyes of one who has not slept for weeks,
his lips pale. his complexion strange and
hardly describable, owing TO the pallor
that had sifted through, so 10 speak, and
notified the sun brown Of his skin But his
old beauty was there to my love. My heart
gave a great leap when l saw him, and l
cried his name and extended my arms
against tie wire OF the grating.
He looked al NE steadfaStly for some mo-
ments with his teeth hard set upOn his under
lip as though he dared not attempt TO speak
until be had conquered his emotion and
mastered such tears as burn like fire in the
brain of man. My uncle gently saluted
him through the bars and then motioued
with his hand, and taking me by the arm
led me down 10 the extremity of this Jail
meeting place. and Tom walked on the Op-
posite side until he was abreast Ny uncle
then moved some distance away and stood
watching the Jew priZe-hghter. A warder
walked leisureiy to and fro. and others at
little distance stood like sentinels.
by sweetheart'S first words we're: Ma
Tian. before God am innocent"
TEN, / know til know il. dearest, and
your innoceBcc shall be proved"
Before God I am innocent" be repeated
softly, and without passion In his tones or
posture. 1T Is a deyilish plot OF ROtch to
ruin NE l don't know why the carpenter
NOdder should swear against ne, 1 had no
quarrel with the man. but he'd 90 to the
gall0ws for drink. aud 10 that R0tch found
his opportunity since he needed a witness"
You will be able to prove your lnuo-
cence."
"R0tch." he continued, still speaking
softly and without temper. bored holes in
the lazsretJe. then plugged the lining and
hid the anger in my cabin NOdder swears
that l borrowed the auger from him. A lie.
Marian, a wicked, horrible lie. Why should
borrow an auger? Why should l, as cap
tain, handle such a tool as that when there
is a carpenter in the ship? Roch brought
some Of The men aft TO listen 10 the water
running into the i3Zarette- He says that he
went below 10 break cut stores and heard
It. A bellish.e, Marian. lie swears that
be plugged the holes 10 stop the leaks and
came up with tie men to search my cabin.
l was IN my cabin when they entered, and
on the scUuudrel ROtch charging ne with
attempting to uttle the bark and lmperll-
Ing tile lives OF the crew 1 pulled a pistol
out Of drawer and would have shot him;
they threw Themselves upon me, and
R0tcF called 70 them 10 search the cabin.
and they found the anger In the place where
the villain had hidden it. But this was not
all; R0lch sW0Te before the Consul at Rio
that he had seen HE 60 into the iaZaTette
and that he had mentioned the circumstance
TO NOddeT, but that neither suspected what
/ aas a0.5g until Roich himself went below
for some bOatswains' stores, and then he
head the water running in. Marian" aud
here he slightly raised his voice, 'it is
conspiracy, aFUuiy planned, aTtfully exc
cuted, artfuiIy related, with the accused
accident Of the OYeT-iDsured venture TO
make it significant as death, and God alone
knows how it may 60 with me.
a warder paused and looked at US, then
passed on.
Don't say that" cried, sit breaks my
heart to hear you say that You are inno-
cent My uncle VIII employ clever men.
They will question and question and prove
the wTetches liars, and then cur turn viii
come"
Il blundered by OYer-insuring, but blum
dered more feaTfuily still when in q moment
Of confidence | told the villain Z ten what
money had embarked in this voyage, and
to what extent had protected myself"
Tom, whatever happens am with you.
Oh, If il should come TO their killing you,
thew shah Kill HE too, Tom"
He pressed his hands TO his heart and
sobbed twice or thrice. Ny love, my grief
my misery ragged in NE. felt that | bad
strength 10 tear down the strong iron graf
ings which separated Us that 1 might get to
him, clasp him TO me, give him the comfort
of my bosom, the tenderness Of my caress-
ing cheek. Il worked like madness in my
soul TO be held apart from him, 10 see him
and not be able 10 fling my arms around
him.
We ooked at each other In silence. was
about TO speak when a bell rang and a
strong voice called out, Times up" The
priZe-dghter was gone. A ward4r marched
quick along TO Tom and touched him On
the shoulder. and my uncle called to me,
Come, Marian" Tom cried God bsss
you, dear" but my vision was blind with
tear, q sudden swOOning headache made
N staggeT, and until | was In the street
was scarcely sensible Of more than Of being
led through the passages and out through
the gate by my uncle.